Assignment 1 Esther Kamenetsky PSYC6104A

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Feb 20, 2024

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1 Case of Stress Management: Psychological and Biological Factors Esther Kamenetsky Department of Behavioural Sciences, Yorkville University PSYC6104: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Counselling Dr. Angela McCoy-Speight February 4th, 2024

2 Introduction To begin, I will introduce my presenting issues that I have brought forth with my therapist. In recent weeks, I took to therapy because I have been struggling to cope with stress. I am aiming to perform well at my new job and keeping up with colleagues’ expectations. However, the new role presents many challenges and responsibilities that are demanding more time and attention, which I had not been anticipating. The role is related to my future field and I feel a pressure to show up for everyone, including clients, my team, and my partner. However, in processing the changes, I have not been looking after myself and I find it difficult to allocate time to complete tasks, and worry about getting let go. Alongside adjusting to my new job, I am trying to balance my Master’s program. I recently fell ill with a cold, further complicating matters and affecting my ability to do fitness classes with friends, an activity I enjoyed. My parents come from Russia and have both grown up in strict households where they seldom had choice about their future. When asked to reflect on my formative experiences, I explained that my own priorities were confounded with paternal demands. My father, due to certain personality traits, expressed his opinions and interests onto me in a forceful manner. Nowadays, I rarely enjoy my downtime and find it difficult to sustain focus or initiate important tasks, feeling like a failure and emotionally overwhelmed. I have also distanced myself from my partner who makes me feel sad about my slower ability to function in activities such as getting out of bed, completing chores, or responding to simple questions. Additionally, I have been feeling spaced out, a weight on my chest, eating less and feeling tired. I have been especially feeling a lack of control in managing my stress and calming down. Therefore, I reached out for professional guidance in the matter to address my concerns.

3 Biological Factors My counselor helped me understand that an excess of elements in my environment led to impaired neural transmission, the biological process responsible for daily functions (Pinel & Barnes, 2022). Furthermore, acute stressors triggered a biological reaction in my hippocampus, releasing glucocorticoids and epinephrine ( Meléndez-Fernández et. al., 2023) ; affecting neurogenesis –the ability to form new neurons for proper cognitive function, (Shebib, 2022) hence why I could not perform my daily tasks. My counselor also introduced homeostasis , our ability to regulate normal functions like sleep, digestion, and cell reproduction. The increased intake of artificial evening light and mistimed food intake disrupted homeostasis ( Meléndez-Fernández et. al., 2023) . This created a buffer for my recovery and created a physical and mental barrier to exercising, socializing, and fostering awareness, which are all beneficial coping responses (Mayo Clinic, 2023). The counselor explained that epigenetics – the interactions between my environment and genes–could explain the maintenance of stress wherein trauma was passed down from my lineage and from adverse experiences (Pinel & Barnes, 2022). Growing up in a hostile environment contributed to a difficulty in managing energy resources though it also fostered resilient to adversity as my synaptic connections underlying stress management behaviors could simultaneously facilitate stress management. With neuroeducation, my counselor explained the former factors as neurological processes involved in mental functioning (Shebib, 2022). The counselor inspired hope to that hobbies and exercise will promote neuroplasticity (Shebib, 2022). This counselor’s competence

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4 and ethics were evident as they provided empathy about my experience while honoring my beliefs, culture, and values (Slay-Westbrook, 2017). Psychological Factors The counselor noticed that I was experiencing psychological difficulties in managing my stress caused by fear conditioning (Pinel & Barnes, 2022) . My complex familial dynamics contributed to my distorted self-efficacy. My reputation as the “responsible child” unconsciously created pressure which, in turn, caused me to neglect my inner guidance system. I discovered that due to adverse childhood experiences of not being able to fight or flee from stress, I would often subject myself to fawning– a defensive people pleasing behaviour causing one to turn anger, pain and upset inward to avoid upsetting others (Morton, 2021). This manifested in feelings such as sadness and lethargy during stress (The Hindustan Times, 2023). My struggle with thoughts of failure which affect my focus in facing present issues such as doing well in school and work. The therapist proposed that this learned hopelessness could be impeding my task initiation and causing ineffective coping. Instead on focusing on negative self- beliefs, the counselor encouraged mindfulness for better health outcomes (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Furthermore, the therapist emphasized that social support from colleagues is key to facilitating stress management. After I shared that I was able to be vulnerable and discuss topics of frustration with a counselor appointed by my employer, the counselor shared that workplace culture can support my success by applying practical tools for stress management, such as self- reflection, mindfulness and somatic techniques. Having known that I experienced subjugation, the therapist focused on regaining my sense of control that was neglected in childhood to better manage stress and overcome adversity.

5 The therapist approached my situation from a respect-focused therapeutic lens by showing unconditional positive regard, acceptance, sincerity and validation of my feelings while accepting the entirety of my situation rather than my issue alone (Slay-Westbrook, 2017). For that, I felt respected and was able to incorporate changes based on our therapeutic alliance.

6 References Childhood experiences that can lead to fawn trauma response. (2023, Jul 21). The Hindustan Times. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/childhood-experiences- that-can-lead-fawn-trauma/docview/2840197608/se-2 Kim, E. J., Pellman, B., & Kim, J. J. (2015). Stress effects on the hippocampus: A critical review. Learning & Memory, 22 , 411–416. https://doi.org/10.1101/lm.037291.114 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2023, October 26). Stress management . Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/stress-management/about/pac- 20384898#:~:text=Stress%20management%20approaches%20include%3A,your %20emotional%20awareness%20and%20reactions. Meléndez-Fernández, O. H., Liu, J. A., & Nelson, R. J. (2023). Circadian Rhythms Disrupted by Light at Night and Mistimed Food Intake Alter Hormonal Rhythms and Metabolism. International Journal of Molecular Sciences , 24 (4), 3392. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043392 Morton, K. (2021, September 20). [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=OP6SXMr-6_g Slay-Westbrook, S. (2017). Respect-focused therapy: Honoring clients through the therapeutic relationships and process . Routledge.

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