Stresses and Coping - Term Paper Example

Stresses and Coping Case Three: Stress Factor Predictability of the stressor: A stressor is anything that would cause someone to be stressed up. In most cases, people can have stress, depression or even trauma after they have been through traumatic events in their lives (Coon & Mitterer, 2014). In the case of Tom, he is starting a new marriage and is the kind that easily becomes stressed up. To help Tom, there is need to tell him not to run away from his problems, but instead concentrate on finding solutions to the problems in their marriage through open communication. Their marriage is still in its initial stages; there is not both to understand the challenges new couple sometimes face. With this, they will be better able to solve some of the issues. People respond to stress in acutely or on short term. Alternatively, Tom could wait and see if the problems could be solved in the long run than rushing at conclusions early. Social Support: People who are stressed need social support so that they can share their problems and get assistance. In the case of Tom, he could introduce a third party to deal with the problems affecting them. Better still, he could seek the services of a counselor who will take them through guidance and counseling and help them overcome their miscommunications and misunderstanding (Kasper et al., 2003). The counselor could help the couple to have a happy relationship after discussing the issues affecting them. Tom could also be advised to join social support group comprising married people who have been through the same situation as them; and who have overcome their problems. Perceived or actual control over the stressor: These describe a person’s internal beliefs that they can handle stress. People with high self-efficacy can handle stress better than those without. Tom could handle the stress he has by being in control of the situation. This will act as an important buffer of the stress he has. This is because when a person is in control, they can handle stress better than when they are out of control (Coon & Mitterer, 2014). This is true even when they perceive that they are in control. People may also feel cannot control stress because they have low coping skills. This could be the case with Tom. He needs to have better coping skills; handle the situation than run away from it. The amount of stress: People respond to stress differently depending on the amounts of stress they have. This is precisely the case with Tom. There is need for him measure stress and deal with it. Given that stress can be caused by major changes in life such as marriage, it is important for Tom to track his stress and evaluate what exactly is stressing him. Keeping track of the stressor will help Tom know how much stress he is feeling and what he can do about it. This will help him take better steps to alleviate stress and manage it better. Exercise: Exercise reduces stress by engaging the body in activities that are more meaningful. It makes the brain active. In fact, exercise is a better way of managing stress. It is a coping strategy that Tom could use to handle stress he is experiencing in marriage. It improves mood and releases hormones that make one handle stress better. John could engage in any form of exercise that makes him feel better. Cognitive appraisal: Cognitive appraisal refers significant factors that contribute to people’s response to stress. One of the factors is the repercussions of the stress on an individual and the looking at resources that are required to minimize the stress or eliminate the stressor altogether (Coon & Mitterer, 2014). In this regard, Tom should find appropriate ways to deal with stress such as involving other people and sharing his problems with them. Relaxation: Relaxation and being easy about stress is major step in handling stress. If one is experiencing stress, they should realize the stress is out of their control. So they should devise healthy and better strategies of dealing with the stress they have; they can relax through reading self-help books; having healthy imaginations and visiting a counselor. Tom could borrow these strategies. He will need to substitute his unhealthy behaviors with more meaningful activities. Explanatory style: Handling stress requires optimism. Pessimists may not be able to handle stress effectively. While pessimists have a negative explanatory styles, optimists have a constructive explanatory style. They explain events and cause of stress in their lives positively. They tend to see positive events while pessimists will always look at the negative events (Coon & Mitterer, 2014). In Tom’s case, he should look at the positive things in their marriage than just concentrating on the negative things. This will help him to appreciate things and events better than have the stress take its toll on him. Personality ("Type-A"): Type-A personality refers to how people react to stress. It is a theory that was devised by Friedman and Rosenman. They found out that people with Type-A personality are more vulnerable to stress than those with type-B personalities (Kasper et al., 2003). The term is now widely conceptualized to include responses in behavior. Tom is a type-A personality. He will need to remain composed and deal with his stress through finding better coping strategies to stress such as exercise and relaxation and the others already discussed. Overall, understanding how one responds to stress is the first important step in dealing with it. The "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (Gottman): According to Gottman, couples may sometimes attack one another’s character in marriage without looking at their weaknesses. The most destructive and the major ones that are responsible for most divorces and separation are defensiveness, contempt, criticism and stonewalling (Kasper et al., 2003). While almost very relationship will have these factors, healthy relationships should not use them. In the case of Tom, he should find better and healthier ways of addressing the issues in their marriage; being more positive and avoiding being “the accuser”. Case 4: Personality and Psychological Disorder Part One Jessica is suffering from major depression because she has shown signs/symptoms that are meet those of people suffering from major depression. She has a sense despair and hopelessness because she cannot meet the high standards of performance she has set for herself (she is a high achiever). She does not concentrate on her work anymore; worse still sometimes fail to show at all, only giving one excuse after another. People with major or clinical depression find it difficult to study, sleep, eat, or enjoy activities they used to before (Kasper et. al., 2003). Jessica has no interest in sex, for instance. She fails to communicate with her husband. Jessica is sad and feels low. She no longer does the things she used to do before. She is depressed moist of the time and sometimes even want out. She exhibits most, if not all, symptoms that are characteristic of people suffering from a major depression (Guerra, 2008). The feels fatigue; a sense of worthlessness; she lacks concentration. Other symptoms include insomnia, anhedonia, thoughts of suicide, restlessness and weigh loss, and failing to communicate with loved ones. Although she has never considered suicide in all her life, Jessica has apparently changed and could even commit suicide. In a nut shell, she has exhibited most of the symptoms associated with major depression. She needs help from psychotherapist. Most important though, is that she begins with accepting her situation as this will aid the process of recovery. Part Two As a way of understanding Jessica’s behavior, it is important to look at the stressors or factors making her to be stressed up. She has always been a high performer. Some people are unique in that when they fail to meet their dreams of expectations, they develop stress. Jessica fits the bill. She is in the medical professional, which needless to say is demanding and energy-sucking. At the practical level, Jessica seems not to have met her set objectives. Biopsychosocial model suggest three ways in evaluating the cause of a stress: (1) the relationship between physical and mental actions; (2) estimations when deeming effective treatment options; and (3) encouraging a more clinician-patient rapport why treating the depressed person. On her part and part and on the part of the psychotherapist on her case, there will be need for self-awareness, mutual trust, and empathic curiosity, reducing bias, formation of therapeutic bias, informed intuition, and using clinical evidence to facilitate recovery (Guerra, 2008). Jane is very critical of herself. She is blaming herself for not meeting the standards that she set for herself. It will be important that she be realistic with herself and expectations. She should be more practical about life. Jane has struggled with feelings of shame and worthlessness. Perhaps, she has failed to deliver her ‘level best’ at the workplace. Open communication with work colleagues, family and friends will help towards the process of recovery. Part Three Since Jessica suffers from a major depression, the best treatment for her would be psychotherapy would be best treatment for her. She will have to talk about her condition and her general feelings and perceptions about failure and success. Different psychotherapy options exist; all of them are effective and include interpersonal therapy, acceptance therapy and cognitive therapy (Bruce et al., 2010). Jane has a major issue of setting unrealistic goals and expectations, especially those revolving around her education and career. She will need time to adjust to her crises. Psychotherapy will help her identify negative behaviors and beliefs; rather, she will be counseled to replace them with positive and healthy interaction (Dilts, 2001). Discussing her issues with friends and family will also be critical. Jessica will be guided on how she can find better ways of solving her problems and coping with stress (Guerra, 2008). For instance, instead of running away from her problems, she should be positive and face them. Psychotherapy helps victims of stress to list trigger factors for their depression and alter behaviors that worsen them (Dilts, 2001). Jessica will be guided on how to regain control of her life and redeem her sense of satisfaction. Through psychology, she will be able to alleviate symptoms of depression such as insomnia, hunger, hopelessness and feeling of worthlessness. Perhaps most important she will learn to set realist goals (about her education and career). Jessica will be able to be more tolerant and admit distress by employing healthier behaviors (Bruce et al., 2010). If her symptoms persist even after psychotherapy, other treatment for depression such as electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation will be used. Usually, the ability of a victim to cooperate determines whether they will recover faster or will take time to recover. References Coon, D., & Mitterer, J. O. (2014). Psychology: A journey. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth/Cengage Learning. Bruce, T. J., Jongsma, A. E., & John Wiley & Sons. (2010). Evidence-based psychotherapy treatment planning: Arthur E. Jongsma ; Timothy J. Bruce. Place of publication not identified: Wiley. Guerra, B. A. (2008). Depression. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Kasper, S., Boer, J. A., & Sitsen, J. M. A. (2003). Handbook of depression and anxiety. New York: M. Dekker. Dilts, S. L. (2001). Models of the mind: A framework for biopsychosocial psychiatry. Philadelphia, PA: Brunner-Routledge. Allen, J., & Brock, S. A. (2002). Health care communication using personality type: Patients are different!. London: Routledge. Read More