Vocabulary
Any physical or psychological situation that produces stress
What is a stressor?
Includes increase in heart rate, increase in blood pressure, changes in metabolism, changes in alertness, changes in sleep, and changes in immune function
What is the physiological component of stress?
The first stage in the GAS response; A person’s ability to withstand or resist any type of stressor is lowered by the need to deal with the stressor
What is the stage of alarm?
Efforts to manage a stressful situation regardless of whether those efforts are successful
The feeling that there are too many demands on your time and energy
What is overload?
A defensive reaction that prepares the organism for conflict or escape by triggering hormonal, cardiovascular, metabolic, and other changes
What is the flight-fight–freeze response?
The appraisal of a situation as absolutely or potentially damaging to one’s physical or psychological well-being or a threat to one’s survival, and believing that one’s personal resources are insufficient to ward off or overcome the threat to one’s well-being
What is the mental component of stress?
The main hormone that gets released during stress
What is cortisol?
The belief that one can change things for the better (optimism) (Hint: an aspect of a coping mechanism)
What is the key feature for problem-focused coping?
A sense of unease and apprehension—frequently accompanied by physiological symptoms such as upset stomach, restlessness, sleep problems, irritability, and “nervous” eating—that precedes the taking of an exam
What is test anxiety?
A coordinated physiological response to stress involving the hypothalamus of the brain and the pituitary and adrenal glands
What is the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis?
Individuals who believe they can influence the course of their lives are likely to experience less stress than are individuals who believe that their fate is determined by factors outside of their control.
What is personal control?
Physical and mental illnesses resulting from severe trauma
What is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Limit or eliminate interaction with the stressor, set attainable goals, seek social support, reduce physical tension
What are some ways to practice problem-focused coping?
Making the most of the time you have by using strategies such as being energy efficient and not multitasking
What is time management?
A three-phase biological response to stress
What is the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)?
Stressful events that include death, loss of property, injury, and illness
What is a harm-and-loss situation?
Stress contributes to illness by causing the mind and body to become exhausted, worn down, and damaged; by weakening immunity; and by fostering unhealthy behaviors.
What is the stress-illness relationship?
The best coping mechanism for dealing with situations not amenable to change but which must be faced, such as the death of a loved one, illness, or coping with a natural disaster
What is emotion-focused coping?
Realistically appraise the importance of an exam, give yourself periods of quiet time in which to relax and visualize yourself taking the test, focus your awareness on the test by getting your test taking materials together before test time
What are some solutions to test anxiety?
Appraising and accepting a stressful situation as not immediately changeable and adopting an attitude that lessens anxiety and brings comfort
What is emotion-focused coping?
Perceived as opportunities for growth, mastery, and gain. Includes distress and eustress
What is a challenge situation?
Flashbacks to the traumatizing event(s) or recurrent unbidden thoughts and dreams of the experience; persistent avoidance of cues that symbolize the traumatizing event(s); difficulty sleeping, outbursts of anger, and being hyperalert and easily startled; and having little interest in daily activities, feeling cut off from others, and a sense of having a limited future
What are the diagnostic criteria for PTSD?
What is denial/distancing/giving up?
An example of test anxiety that focuses on worrying that others will notice their possible failures
What is the fear of autonomy and exposure?