Reflective Paper: Stress and Illness - Essay Example

?Running head: STRESS AND ILLNESS Stress and Illness Introduction Life is full of hurdles, issues and problems. At all stages of life, there are issues that affect an individual intellectually, emotionally, and even physically. When we have health problems, our first instinct is to rush to a doctor and request for medication. However, rarely do we consider other factors that may be causing such physical strain. In most cases, physical illness is usually as a result of stress. Stress can be defined as the natural way through which the body responds to demands from the environment, both internal and external. Such demands may either be good or bad. When stressed, the body reacts naturally by releasing chemicals into the blood that increase energy, strength and alertness. In case the stress results from physical factors, such energy can be released to counter the stressing factor. However, in the event of emotional stressors, such energy is bad if it is not provided with avenues for release. It may be impossible to avoid stress, but it is possible to deal with stress and attain either positive or negative results. Aspects of stress and illness most valuable to mankind Different aspects of stress have different impacts on human life. Aspects of stress that enable us to respond to environmental stress factors are valuable to the human species. For instance, survival stress can help an individual to cope with environmental stress factors, and to be in a better position to escape from such stressors. At times when we find ourselves in situations that pose physical danger, our ability to act fast and get out of the dangerous situation is crucial for our survival. The sight of a wild animal such as a leopard will, for instance, increase the level of stress in our bodies. This stress is good because it enables us to flee from the danger through increased energy, and away from the stress factor, which in this case would be the leopard. Stress for students can be good or bad depending on an individual’s coping mechanism. Stress may lead to better preparation in an academic environment, leading to impressive academic performance. As such, stress can help students to improve their grades depending on how they handle it. This is because it motivates students and increases their energy level while preparing for examinations. This would, however, depend on how individual students perceive themselves in relation to the stressing factor. If they perceive themselves as being in control of their internal psychological environment, then the effects of the stress would be positive. On the other hand, impairment in control would result in negative effects and could even lead to psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression (Roddenberry & Renk, 2010). The ability to cope with a chronic illness is associated with the level of stress as a result of the illness, and the ability to control it. Stress affects how individuals perceive their own health problems, and in turn, it affects the actions that they take to remedy the situation. Increased stress will, for instance, make chronically sick patients more aware of their health issues resulting into more worry about their health. The eventual result of this is that the patient takes palliative steps to immediately counter the situation that they perceive as negative or life threatening. As a result, a patient will prioritize seeking treatment and adopt higher-level soothing strategies such as having more rest, taking all the prescribed medications in the prescribed manner, taking the right diet, and seeking the services of a qualified health professional in dealing with the situation (Karademas, Karamvakalis, & Zarogiannos, 2009). The result of these actions which are occasioned by stress is faster recovery and healthier living in the case of chronic illnesses. Family financial stress levels can motivate individuals, especially young adults, to put more effort in their day to day lives, thus increasing their overall financial welfare. Family financial stress is perceived as playing an important role in the health and development of young people. Some will put more effort in their studies to improve their family’s financial position in future. Family financial stress will impact on an adolescent’s perceived self health. Such perception acts as a motivator to improve ones life in the future. This motivation can result in positive outcomes, such as increased responsible behavior and involvement in positive activities that seek to build character and enhance future earning potential. As a result, moderate family financial stress is important in influencing positive responsible behavior among the youth. On the other hand, extreme financial stress can result in delinquency, depression or even drug abuse (Pu, Huang, & Chou, 2011). How knowledge of stress, illness and wellness can be used to improve quality of life Knowledge of stress and illness can be used to improve the quality of life in a number of ways. Students in schools and colleges can be taught how to cope with educational stress for positive results. They would thus be able to handle stress emanating from the educational environment more positively, resulting in higher academic achievements. For instance, learning how to manage their time well as they prepare for an exam would lead to improved performance academically. Knowledge about stress levels likely to be experienced in different settings can also help in putting up relevant remedy centers to correct negative effects that may arise as a result of stress. Such centers would include a guidance and counseling department in schools to guide students on how to harness stress for positive academic results. In a hospital setting, a counseling department can, for instance, handle chronically ill patients and help them to deal with stress occasioned by their conditions. Other forms of assistance to chronically ill patients would be in the form of support groups, in which the patients come into contact with other patients undergoing similar experiences. Through sharing, they are able to manage negative stress and improve their lives. Knowledge of stress and illness can also be used in designing different approaches towards treating various illnesses. For instance, studies have indicated that financial stress may increase smoking and drug abuse. In designing remedies for those who seek to stop using drugs, it would be necessary to consider other stress factors in their lives that lead them to those situations, such as financial stress. Thus, drug abuse treatment efforts should incorporate, for instance, financial stress detection measures. Clients who experience financial stress in their lives should be provided with additional counseling and resources to counter the other stressors, and thus enhance success of the current program (Siahpush, Yong, Borland, Reid, & Hammond, 2009). This is only possible if there is full knowledge of stress and illness. Nature of stress and its impact on medical illness and psychological disorders There is a positive correlation between stress and illness. Stress can cause illnesses, and it may also help in enhancing solutions for the treatment of various illnesses. Research reveals that people with lower stress control levels experience higher stress and low self-esteem. There is also a direct relationship between stress and illness. Medical practitioners should thus consider the impact and effects of stress in treating patients. Some ailments are directly as a result of stress, while others are aggravated by the presence of stress factors. The impact of stress on medical conditions, both physical and psychological, should be considered when recommending treatment (Roddenberry & Renk, 2010). An individual’s cognitive appraisal of their medical and stress situations should also be evaluated. This is important because how people view their ailments affects how they respond to treatment. If they have a negative attitude towards treatment as a result of stress, they will probably take longer to recover. The opposite applies to patients with a positive outlook on their condition. Thus, an approach that helps control the stress component in medical conditions or enhances it positively is important in aiding treatment (Roddenberry & Renk, 2010). Conclusion Stress is important in our day to day lives. It gives us motivation to overcome what would otherwise be insurmountable challenges, and triumph over life’s hurdles. However, if unchecked, stress can be the cause of damage to our physical, emotional and psychological well being. It is thus imperative that we manage our stress levels to benefit from stress’ positive effects without necessarily suffering from its negative impacts. Good as it is, this needs a tough balance, and has proved difficult for majority of mankind to accomplish. References Karademas, E. C., Karamvakalis, N., & Zarogiannos, A. (2009). Life context and the experience of chronic illness: is the stress of life associated with illness perceptions and coping? Stress and Health , 25, 405-412. Pu, C., Huang, N., & Chou, Y.-J. (2011). Do agreements between adolescent and parent reports on family socioeconomic status vary with household financial stress? BMC Medical Research Methodology , 11 (50), 1-8. Roddenberry, A., & Renk, K. (2010). Locus of Control and Self-Efficacy: Potential Mediators of Stress, Illness, and Utilization of Health Services in College Students. Child Psychiatry Human Development , 41, 353-370. Siahpush, M., Yong, H.-H., Borland, R., Reid, J. L., & Hammond, D. (2009). Smokers with financial stress are more likely to want to quit but less likely to try or succeed: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey. Addiction , 104 (8), 1382-1390. Read More