Transcript Stress
Nafsika Marina Tsouni
What is stress?
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and
engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in
more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance. It refers to
the consequence of the failure of an organism — human or other animal — to
respond adequately to mental, emotional, or physical demands, whether actual
or imagined. When the person perceives a threat, their nervous system responds
by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These
hormones rouse the body for emergency action. The stress response is the
body’s way of protecting the person. When working properly, it helps in staying
focused, energetic, and alert.
Causes of stress
A lot of things can cause stress. You may feel
stress when you go on a job interview, take a
test, or run a race. These kinds of short-term
stress are normal. Long-term (chronic) stress
is caused by stressful situations or events that
last over a long period of time, like problems
at work or conflicts in your family. Over time,
chronic stress can lead to severe health
problems.
Post-traumatic stress
You may need help dealing with stress if you
have faced a life-threatening or traumatic
event such as rape, a natural disaster, or war.
These events can cause acute stress
disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD)
Symptoms
Signs of stress may be cognitive, emotional, physical, or behavioral.
Cognitive symptoms
Memory problems
Inability to concentrate
Poor judgment
Seeing only the negative
Anxious or racing thoughts
Constant worrying
Behavioral symptoms
Eating more or less
Sleeping too much or too little
Isolating yourself from others
Procrastinating or neglecting
responsibilities
Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
Physical symptoms
Aches and pains
Diarrhea or constipation
Nausea, dizziness
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
Frequent colds
Emotional symptoms
Moodiness
Irritability or short temper
Agitation, inability to relax
Feeling overwhelmed
Sense of loneliness and isolation
Depression or general unhappiness
Stress at school
Stress related to school is most common
among pupils at the upper (senior) levels of
compulsory school and upper secondary
school. It is more common for girls to have
high demands on themselves and to be
stressed about homework and tests than it
is for boys.
7 TIPS TO EASE STRESS RELIEF
1. Vitamin C, Vitamin B- Complex and Magnesium help lower stress levels.
2.Eat lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
3. Take small breaks throughout the day.
4. Use self-acupressure to help you relax.
5. Try some simple meditation, such as yoga.
6. Breathing deeply helps relieve stress.
7. Take time out to enjoy life!