Stress as a Complete Lack of Ability to Handle a Seeming Risk - Essay Example

Stress Is All In The Mind Affiliation Stress Is All In the Mind Introduction Stress is a condition of psychological or emotional pressure or conflict that results from unfavorable or extremely difficult circumstances. Stress has been defined from different perspectives for some time now, further revealing varying approaches to its impact on people. Besides, varying ways have been adopted to derive ways of overcoming stress and the contributing factors. This paper distinguishes between the different definitions/approaches to stress. It also presents a critical evaluation of physiological and environmental explanations of stress and a discussion of the role of individual differences to stress regarding psychological research. Finally, this paper puts forward a conclusion of the findings and arguments presented regarding stress. Different Approaches/Approaches to Stress Stress can be seen as a complete lack of ability to handle a seeming or existent risk to an individuals mental, sentimental, physical or spiritual happiness. In this regard, an individual ends up experiencing some physiological reactions and adjustments. Hans Selye argues that stress is caused by many factors, which he refers to stressors, such as bio-ecological, social and psycho-interpersonal influences. Hans Selye defines stress as an unclear neuroendocrine reaction of the body (Sandor, Yvette & Arpad 2012). Later on in the years, Selye expounded his definition of stress and left out neuroendocrine reactions. Selye argued that other organs of the body, such as the pulmonary, cardiovascular and renal systems are impacted in different ways and levels of stress reaction. Roughly in the year 1960, Hans Selye claimed that stress forms part of human life. On the other hand, Richard Lazarus defines stress as a situation of nervousness or constant worry created when activities and accountabilities go beyond a person’s ability to handle (Lazarus & Folkman 1984). According to Petticrew and Lee (2011), stress can be a hindrance to the way an individual conducts his or her daily life activities. At times, people suffering from stress may begin to show other symptoms of health problems, such as mental health problems. One will manage to overcome his or her stress when they attain physical happiness, such as regained ability to have every physiological system of the body operating in the most favorable ways (Petticrew & Lee 2011). Also, a stress-free person entails an individual, who has regained his or her mental happiness. Professor Robert Sapolsky, in a documentary aiming to understand the impact of stress on the human body claims that, for some time now, humans have managed to use stress responses to save their lives (Stanford 2008). However, in the present day, we seem not to manage the situation any more. It is apparent that long-drawn-out exposure to stress can lead to a number of health related problems – physically, cognitively and sentimentally. How we react to stressing factors becomes even more stressing than stress itself. An Evaluation of Physiological Explanations of Stress Stress can be defined from a physiological perspective. Stress is equally psychological and biological especially when experiencing a risk that one may not have sufficient abilities to handle (Kagias, Nehammer & Pocock 2012). A progression of physiological stress reaction begins when the body establishes the existence of a stressing factor. This is tagged along with triggered signals that are sent to the distinctive sympathetic, brain and hormonal responses so as to minimize or get rid or put the stress to a manageable level. The Nervous System At the point when the body establishes a specific stressing agent, signals regarding the exact cause are conveyed to the brain. As a result, the hypothalamus is triggered further stimulating the Automatic Nervous System (ANS) that manages various body organs, such as the lungs, heart, stomach, glands and blood vessels (Kagias et al. 2012). The ANS is classified into two sub-categories, which includes the parasympathetic and the sympathetic nervous system (Kagias et al. 2012). In particular, PNS helps in regulating energy and protecting the body from the gland discharges, for example, tears, gastric acids, mucus and saliva. Sympathetic Reaction The SNS is responsible for immediate actions and responsible for the secretion of noradrenaline to the nerve ends. Noradrenaline triggers the following: boosting energy to the skeletal muscles, increasing the heat beat, boosting of the sugar and fat level in order to supply the body with the right amount of energy needed (Kagias et al. 2012). Hormonal Response One of the major body stress reactions is the adrenal glands located in the kidney, which has nerves linking to the SNS. In a psychological stress reaction the adrenaline medulla (the central location of the glands), the adrenaline and nor-adrenaline are secreted into the blood circulation (Kagias et al. 2012). It is at this point that the thought of taking off or fighting back comes to mind. Normally it is accompanied by a rise in the heart beats, widening of the bronchial airway and an increase in the rate of metabolism that boosts the energy. McGonigal claims that there is an urgent need to change the way stress is perceived from the harmful and unhealthy correlation to a friendly and happy factor in life. From McGonigals arguments, it is clear that many people suffer from the effects of stress through developing negative perception towards stress and the possible stressors. If a person perceives stress as a terrible health risk in their minds, then it will lead to further health complications (TED 2013). It is possible to live a healthy life if we perceive stress positively. This will enable us to change our bodys responses to stress. It is the bodys natural response to help rise to a stressing problem through a number of physiological responses, such as the increase in the rate of heartbeat and sweating. McGonigal talked about the Oxytocin hormone pointing out that it is a neuro-hormone it fine tunes the brain and social instincts. Oxytocin pushes one to undertake activities that strengthen social relationships, such as longing for physical contact with friends and family. It gives individuals the ability to help and support each other. McGonigal explains that Oxytocin is a stress hormone pumped by the pituitary gland whenever one experiences stressing situations or are around stressed people (TED 2013). It also, protects the heart from the effects of stress, enabling the heart cells to regenerate from the effects of stress. From her argument, it is clear that the Oxytocin hormone continues functioning even better when one interacts with others in times of stress. For example, caring for others reduces the rates of stressful suffering, where resilience is created. In my view, distinctive perceptions (positive or negative) of stress will dictate how stress impacts on life. In this regard, stress is in the mind. If we chose to look at stress positively while connecting with friends and family, we would be resilient to stress. An Evaluation of Environmental Explanations of Stress Stress can be defined from an environmental perspective. The environment is commonly associated with significant contributors to mental and physical health problems to individuals, in the present day. Krantz and Raisen (2011), claim that stress can be evident in the life of an individual; when the immediate environment appears to pose significant pressure on them against their capacity to lead a normal life or overcome the stressing factor. It is apparent that stress causing factors can be established in a normal environment. People living and working in any environment will always encounter environmental stressors that bring about discomfort to their lives. For instance, noise coming from the television, alarms, sirens or loud music is a basic example of an environmental stressor in a home environment. Extreme temperatures can also bring about distress to children and adults. Other examples of environmental stressors include the following: overcrowded areas, polluted air, colours, natural disasters, isolation, war, light or insects. Studies show that major environmental stressors include extreme temperatures, overcrowding and noise, which lead to ill feelings, fatigue or constant worry (Krantz & Raisen 2011). Professor Sapolsky points out, in a Class day lecture, about the uniqueness of humans that we are similar to other living species in many domains (Christian 2014). For example, we can show concern, empathy, and reward or even communicate, kill and revenge similar to animals. Also, Professor Sapolsky mentions that human beings are socially/culturally inclined and tend to behave in uniquely synchronized ways when socially active. However, he argues, irrespective of our similarities, humans play a significant role in making themselves sick from being stressed out (Christian 2014). This is completely different in animals, such as the baboons, which can keep themselves stressed out but never become sick as a result of their stress. Role of Individual Differences in Relation to Stress with Reference to Psychological Research Studies show significant definitions of stress, basing them on environmental, psychological, physiological, sociological, anthropological and theological perspectives. However, it is clear that the there are various differences in how individuals relate to stress with reference to psychological research. This is evident in how different individuals cope with stress from different social, political and economical perspectives (Carver & Connor-Smith 2010). For example, people with low economic statuses will endure stressing situations considering that they may not have the essential economic resources to overcome the stressing factors (Ben-Zur 2009). Women have a distinctive way of coping with stressful situations. In particular, women have a second stress reaction referred to as connectedness that is an essential coping technique for stress. Taylor et al. (2000) believe that this distinctive aspect in women is engrossed in the womens DNA and released through their hormones. However, Taylor et al. (2000) believe that whenever the women fail to cope with extremely stressful situations, they flee, similar to men. The Stanford prison experiment establishes the effects of prison on human behaviour (Zero Media 2015). It presents how students in a research study react to stress. It was evident, in the video, that the prisoners attempted to fight with the stressors (guards), at first and when the situation was unbearable, they begged to be removed from the stressing situation. The prisoners reacted from the stress caused by the guards by shouting and screaming out loud. They developed unremitting fear and anxiety. They cried out loud pleeding for help with an aim of fleeing from the stressors regardless of being locked up in the prison. This is a significant example of emotional disturbance where the prisoners could not take any more stress. They reacted in an emotional display of an urgent need to flee from the stressor. Conclusion In conclusion, stress can be defined from different perspectives and approaches. Stress can be based on environmental, psychological, physiological, sociological, anthropological and theological aspects. Also, the findings indicate that stress has a physiological response where various organs of the body prepare adequately when presented with a stressing factor. This paper established how the environment can present various stressful factors to an individual. It also found out that individuals have special ways of relating to stress, from social, economic, political dispositions. Women may have a hormonal difference in coping with stress but still will flee when they cannot cope. Finally, it is possible to claim that stress is a state of the mind, if you do not perceive it then you may not experience it. 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Available from: https://youtu.be/RcGyVTAoXEU Zero Media 2015, The Stanford prison experiment, [Online]. [Accessed 22 June 2015]. Available from: https://youtu.be/3XN2X72jrFk Read More