Stress and Coping

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Keiser University *

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3314G3

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Psychology

Date

Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by AgentPowerSparrow30

1 Stress and Coping Stress and Coping Adlih Rodriguez Health Psychology, Keiser University Health Psychology CLP3314GP4-108012022 Professor Dominguez August 10, 2022

2 Stress and Coping Abstract From changing jobs, getting married, or having a tough conversation, stress can disturb a person’s mental and physical health everlastingly (SingleCare Team, 2022). Three hormones are stimulated when the body considers itself in a stressful situation. These hormones include epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol (Singer, 2012). Stress is always thought to be solely wrong. However, it can be a good motivator as well. It allows you to get up from bed every morning and even get out of your comfort zone (Singer, 2012). Stress can have many benefits, including something as simple as completing an assigned task (Holland, 2017). The Mayo Clinic (2021) expressed that yoga, meditation, communication, and laughing, among others, are ways to reduce your stress. While stress can provoke long-lasting illnesses, it can also be an extraordinary stimulus in getting things done. You have to find the correct equilibrium between stress's constructive and destructive effects.

3 Stress and Coping Stress can permanently affect an individual's mental and physical health (SingleCare Team, 2022). Stress can be ingrained in change, from a new job to a wedding, but it can also branch as far as a person's immediate surroundings, like a family argument (SingleCare Team, 2022). Stress is the body's mental, emotional, and physical response to an external stressor. When the body distinguishes a potential threat, it releases hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. These hormones augment awareness, strain muscles, and increase blood pressure (SingleCare Team, 2022). We have learned that this is our body's "fight or flight" response. Typically, however, we are not under constant attack from a physical aggressor, so that stress can cause disturbed sleep patterns, stomach problems, and headaches (SingleCare Team, 2022). Prolonged standing stress can cause chronic illnesses like high blood pressure, anxiety, and gastrointestinal issues. While not all bad, stress can cause a surge in efficiency and focus (SingleCare Team, 2022). Three hormones become activated the moment the brain distinguishes a stimulus: Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol (Singer, 2012). Epinephrine dilates the bronchial tubes for more oxygen to pass through the lungs, charge the heart and permit a more significant amount of blood to push through the body. This now more oxygenated blood will go to essential organs like the brain and muscles for them to be ready if we need to take flight or fight (Singer, 2012). Norepinephrine constrains the veins leading to the heart, for the returning blood can flood the chambers intensely and exit with a more potent force (Singer, 2012). Lastly, cortisol gathers the cells' accumulated energy for the energy to continue throughout the stressor (Singer, 2012). Cortisol is the highest in the morning and the lowest at night (Singer, 2012). When we think of stress, we always accompany it with a bad connotation. It may come as a surprise, however, that stress in moderation can also be beneficial. Without stress, we would

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4 Stress and Coping not have the courage to ask for a raise, get out of our comfort zone and do a musical play, or even get out of bed in the morning (Singer, 2012). Good stress is experienced chiefly whenever there is an event that you might have control over. According to Singer (2012), Sapolsky described positive stress as "voluntarily relinquishing a degree of control and predictability in a benevolent setting." An example of this may be a roller coaster; even though the ride may cause stress hormones to rise, you are aware of your safety and know this ride will be over in minutes (Singer, 2012). In my personal experience, I try to keep a good balance of positive and negative stress. However, due to circumstances in life, the negative stress seems to be on a larger scale. I live with my in-laws, and it has not always been easy. The difference in opinions has caused a vast number of arguments. These arguments have caused stress in my life that has sometimes even caused me to feel as if I had anxiety attacks. With the older generations' opinions and need for you to agree with them, they do not understand that generations have changed, and I must do things my way. The most stress has been caused by the way I have always wanted to raise my daughter. My mother-in-law is old school about how she raised her kids and always did things the way her mother did. I have now begun to realize that it is not to my benefit to keep this unhealthy amount of negative stress. My daughter causes me positive stress, from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. She is always getting herself into trouble, but not enough trouble to cause her to get hurt. My schoolwork also causes me stress, but when I finish a paper and get an excellent grade, the reward is better than the stress it caused me. Stress can have an abundance of benefits. This includes motivation to reach your goals and even complete simple tasks (Holland, 2017). It allows you to build resistance to any stress of the future, like taking pivotal decisions (Holland, 2017). Lastly, a study at the University of

5 Stress and Coping California – Berkely found research that suggests that stress can create new nerve cells in the brain, advancing mental performance (Holland, 2017). However, on the negative side, stress can discourage you by causing you anxiety and chronic illnesses like heart disease, bronchitis, and glucocorticoids (Shaw et al., 2018). In my personal experience, I have allowed stress to be a good motivator and discourage me. When it comes to school, I allow stress to be my motivator to do better, get better grades, and become the success I have always wanted. However, stress also discourages me when it comes to finding a job. I have been on a job search for about six months now, and every time I get denied for a job application, I get stressed, discourage, and I feel like I should not continue to search for jobs. According to the Mayo Clinic Staff (2021), there are a few ways one can relieve ourselves from stress. Any form of physical activity can reduce stress, including walking, exercising, or body movement (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021). Eating a healthy diet and avoiding unhealthy habits like drinking too much alcohol or smoking (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021). Meditation and Yoga can shift your focus from stress to a quiet stream of thoughts. Laughing can help you feel better, and it will be able to lighten your stress and mental load (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021). Speaking with others, making social connections, and becoming assertive will allow you to manage your to-do list and stress (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021). Keeping a journal will enable you to write down your stressful thoughts, read them over, and either make sure you are not overreacting or figure out a way to solve them (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021). Getting the correct amount of sleep will positively affect your mood, energy, and concentration. Lastly, if any of the things above do not seem to work, seeking counseling will allow you to cope with the stress and understand and work through your stress (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2021).

6 Stress and Coping Out of the things the Mayo Clinic recommended, I have been able to utilize them to reduce my stress. The ones that worked the most for me were Yoga and meditation. When I used to do Hot Yoga, I used to be able to leave all my stress outside of the door of the yoga room. I could concentrate on my inner peace, thoughts, and the teachers' words to understand that I did not have any stress for that hour. I have also opened my conversations with my family about what is currently stressing me and how they can help me reduce it. I listen to music, watch my favorite television show, and read my favorite book to reduce my stress. While stress can induce chronic illnesses, it can also be a high motivator in getting things done. You have to find the correct balance between the positive and negative.

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7 Stress and Coping References Holland, E. (2017, June 16). How to use stress to your advantage . Chopra. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://chopra.com/articles/how-to-use-stress-to-your-advantage Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, March 18). 12 tips to tame stress . Mayo Clinic. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in- depth/stress-relievers/art-20047257 Shaw, W., Labott-Smith, S., Burg, M. M., Hosting, C., Alen, N., van Tillburg, M. A. L., Berntson, G. G., Tovian, S. M., & Spirito, M. (2018, November 1). Stress effects on the body . American Psychological Association. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body Singer, T. (2012, March 12). The perfect amount of stress . Psychology Today. Retrieved August 7, 2022, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201203/the-perfect-amount- stress SingleCare Team. (2022, April 26). Stress statistics: How many people are affected in the U.S.? The Checkup. Retrieved August 7, 2022, from https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/stress-statistics/

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