Stress Basics
A reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges?
What is stress.
The body's initial response to a stressor, also known as the "fight-ir-flight" response
What is the Alarm Stage?
The process of dealing with stress through mental or behavioral efforts?
What is coping.
A prolonged feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and sadness.
What is depression?
The body system that becomes weakened by chronic stress, making a person more susceptible to illness like the common cold.
What is the immune system?
Any event or situation that causes stress
What is a stressor.
What is adrenaline?
A strategy to help reduce stress, such as deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation.
What is a relaxation technique?
The ability to bounce back from adversity, trauma, or stress.
What is resilience?
An increased risk of this major cardiovascular problem is a long-term consequence of unmanaged stress.
What is high blood pressure?
Positive stress that can motivate and help you focus?
What is eustress.
The second stage, where the body adapts to the stressor and works to return to normal?
What is the Resistance Stage.
These "feel-good" chemicals are released during physical activity and help relieve tension.
What are endorphins?
A common emotional warning sign of stress, characterized by irritability, difficulty concentrating, or mood swings.
What is being easily frustrated (or moodiness)?
A type of unhealthy, stress-related behavior that involves relying on substances like tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs to feel better.
What is substance abuse (or self-medicating)?
Negative stress that can cause feelings of distress and anxiety?
What is distress.
The third and final stage, which occurs when stress continues for a long time, leading to a breakdown of the body's defenses?
What is the Exhaustion Stage?
Getting 7–9 hours of this each night is crucial for mental and physical restoration, helping the body recover from daily stress.
What is sleep (or rest)?
The way you feel about yourself, which often drops when a person is under chronic stress.
What is self-esteem?
A condition that results from chronic workplace stress that hasn't been successfully managed, leading to feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced professional ability.
What is burnout?
A physical or mental illness caused by an event or situation, like the death of a loved one or moving to a new city?
What is a major life change (stressor)?
Common physical symptoms of prolonged stress, such as headaches, stomachaches, and high blood pressure?
What are psychosomatic responses.
One healthy way to cope with stress by sharing your feelings and experiences with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor.
What is talking about your problems (or seeking support)
A term for the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, often a symptom of anxiety or stress.
What is insomnia?
The most effective strategy against stress, involving identifying and changing the source of the stressor before it overwhelms you.
What is managing stressors (or planning ahead)?