Module I: Stress

• Meaning & Nature

• Characteristics
• Types of stress

The terms stress has been derived from ‘stringere’ that is a Latin word and means ‘to draw
tight’ (Cox, 1978). It has today become a very commonly used term in every context whether
school, workplace, day to day life and so on. We often come across people who say that they
are stressed or experiencing stress in their lives. We ourselves experience stress often.
Stress is a state of discomfort experienced by an individual. Stress is the term used to
describe the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses to events that are
appraised as threatening, demanding or challenging.
Hans Selye (1974) described stress as a response of the body to certain demand that is made
on it, and he further stated that this response was non-specific. Stress, according to Selye, is
the body’s automatic and general reaction to any challenge or demand, regardless of
whether the demand is positive or negative.
Baum et al. (1981) have defined stress as a “process in which environmental events or
forces, called, stressors, threatens an organism’s existence and wellbeing”.
Schafer (1998) defined stress as “arousal of mind and body in response to demands made on
them”.

The following are the features of stress.

 Stress is both psychological and physical aspect.
 It is common to both the genders.
 It results from the deviation of expectations from actual situation.
 Stress is an interactive concept. It does not spring from the internal organs of the individual.
It comes from the interaction of the human being with the environment. Thus, environment
has a profound influence on the stress.
 Stress is related to the attitude of the person. Stress does not occur when the person is
having an indifferent attitude to the opportunity. Stress is not caused only by the external
event (stressor), but by how the person interprets or evaluates it.
 Stress is associated with certain common biological disorders such as heart attack, stroke,
diabetic, blood pressure, neurological disorders etc.
 The stress is caused when a person has needs, desires, wishes and expectations and certain
forces prevent the person from doing the desired activities.
Stress is an intrinsic and universal aspect of human life, manifesting as the body and mind’s
natural response to any demand or challenge that disrupts our equilibrium. It’s a physiological
and psychological reaction that occurs when an individual perceives a situation as threatening
or demanding, triggering a wide array of internal processes designed to help the person adapt
or cope with the situation. This response includes the release of hormones, such as adrenaline
and cortisol, that prepare the body for what is commonly known as the “fight or flight”
reaction.

While discussing the concept of stress it is also important to understand the term stressor,
that can be described as situation, event, person or anything that leads to the stress
response. Gerrig and Zimbardo (2005, pg. 430) defined stressor as a stimulus event that
places a demand on an organism for some kind of adaptive response”. At a given point of
time an individual may have various stressors in his/ her life. It could be an upcoming official
event, an impending report, examination and so on. Stressors can also be described as
varied external and internal stimuli that may lead to stress. Stressors can be categorised
into physical, psychological, environmental, social and as life events. Stressors could
range from adjusting to change, financial issues and problems, life events like separation,
divorce, illnesses or death of a loved one, managing varied roles and responsibilities, facing
frequent challenging situations and even technological changes and development.

Nature of stress
The nature of stress is characterized by several key features:
1. Subjectivity: Stress is a subjective experience, meaning that it varies from person to
person. What one individual perceives as a stressor, another may not. This subjectivity is
influenced by personal factors, past experiences, coping strategies, and individual differences.
2. Adaptive Response: Stress is not inherently negative. In fact, it can be an adaptive
response that helps individual respond to challenges and threats effectively. In some
situations, stress can motivate individuals to act and enhance performance.
3. Physiological and Psychological Components: Stress has both physiological and
psychological components. Physiologically, the body responds to stress by releasing stress
hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare it for a "fight or flight" response.
Psychological stress can manifest as feelings of tension, anxiety, and emotional strain.
4. Short-term and Long-term: Stress can be acute or chronic. Acute stress is short-term and
results from immediate stressors or crises, while chronic stress is long-term and may result
from ongoing life difficulties, work pressures, or personal issues.
 5. Effects on Health: Prolonged or excessive stress can have detrimental effects on physical
and mental health. It has been linked to various health issues, including cardiovascular
problems, weakened immune function, anxiety disorders, and depression.
6. Coping Mechanisms: Individuals use various coping mechanisms to manage stress. These
can be adaptive, such as problem-solving, seeking social support, or using relaxation
techniques, or maladaptive, such as substance abuse or avoidance.
7. Influenced by Environmental Factors: Environmental and societal factors, including
socioeconomic status, access to resources, and social support systems, can significantly
influence the experience and impact of stress on individuals and communities.
8. Stress Management: Effective stress management involves recognizing stressors,
developing healthy coping strategies, and making lifestyle changes to reduce stress levels.
Stress management is essential for maintaining overall well-being.

TYPES OF STRESS
Eustress describes a type of stress that is positive, helpful, and motivating. Unlike distress,
eustress encourages people to work hard, improve their performance, and reach their goals,
even in the face of challenges. Eustress happens in response to actual problems or threats to
provide the energy, motivation, and focus needed to confront or solve the problem.
Whether a person experiences distress or eustress mainly depends on their perception of
themselves and the stressor. For example, individuals will more likely experience eustress if
they believe they can solve a problem. This positive assessment of the stressor helps them
channel the energy provided by the fight-or-flight response to work toward a solution.
Distress is what many individuals known as “bad” stress. Distress often causes people to feel
overwhelmed and anxious, and many also experience physical and psychological symptoms
like headaches, tension, insomnia, inattentiveness, or irritability. Frequent, intense, or chronic
stress is toxic to the body and brain, and research has linked distress to various physical and
mental illnesses.
A person experiences distress when they assume they cannot change or fix a stressor.
Examples of distress may include feeling anxious because of a lack of resources.

Acute stress is the body’s response to a short-term demand or change. This type of stress can
last anywhere from minutes, hours, days, and even weeks. The duration depends on how long
you’re exposed to an intense situation.
Symptoms
 Physical Symptoms: Tightened muscles or muscle tension, chest pain or discomfort,
trembling and shakiness, increased heart rate (heart palpitations), sweating more than
normal, rapid breathing.
  Emotional Symptoms: Anxiousness fearfulness, feeling overwhelmed or helpless;
overwhelming feelings of panic; irritability; restlessness; and/or difficulty
concentrating.
Causes
 Physical: Being in a dangerous situation, such as being close to someone or
something that could cause you harm.
 Emotional: Getting bad news; thinking about life changes and their possible
outcomes (i.e., death of a loved one), getting into an argument with your significant
other, academic stress from school.

Episodic Acute Stress

Episodic acute stress is the body’s response to a single, isolated stressful event. These types
of events include traffic accidents and other kinds of emergencies. They may also involve
some kind of physical danger. Episodic or time-limited stress can be short or long-term. This
depends on how you deal with it emotionally.
Duration Pattern:
 Each stress episode is short-term (like acute stress).
 However, the episodes occur frequently — daily or several times a week.
 The pattern may continue for months or even years if not managed.
Symptoms
Symptoms of episodic acute stress include:
 Muscle tension in the back, shoulders, and neck
 Rapid heartbeat
 Thirst or dry mouth
Symptoms of episodic acute stress typically resolve themselves within about 30 minutes.
However, symptoms are likely to return if you do not find a way to manage your emotional
response. If symptoms remain after six months, you should see a doctor.
Causes
 Traffic accidents and other kinds of emergencies involve some kind of physical
danger.
 Trouble at home or work can cause stress. Any sudden change in your life such as a
new job, marriage, divorce, birth, or death of a loved one.
 Health-related issues such as surgery, cancer diagnosis, and treatment can also cause
stress.
Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is when your body experiences low-grade demands and threats on daily basis.
This may include things, such as traffic jams/delays, having an argument with someone close
to you. It’s often caused by the pressure you put on yourself to meet all your own
expectations.
Symptoms
Symptoms of chronic stress include:
 Muscle tension in the back, neck, and shoulders
 Rapid heartbeat
 Difficulty sleeping
Chronic stress can lead to serious health problems if left untreated including diabetes, high
blood pressure, digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, and heart disease.
Causes
 Overwhelming responsibilities at work, home, or school
 Problems with relationships such as divorce and death
 Having strong support from friends and family can also help to prevent chronic stress.
Symptoms of Stress
Stress can have an impact on various aspects of life that include behaviour, cognition,
emotions as well as physical health. Though stress will have a different effect on different
individuals and each individual will react to stress in a different way, there are certain
symptoms that can be related with stress. These are discussed as follows:
Physical symptoms: The physical symptoms of stress include low levels of energy, stomach
upset, headaches and migraines, pain and aches, chest pain, rapid heartbeats, lack of sleep,
dryness in mouth, experiencing tension in muscles, frequent infections and so on.
Emotional symptoms: The emotional symptoms include, displaying frustration, getting
irritated or agitated easily, feelings of worthlessness, feeling lonely and even depressed.
Psychological symptoms: The cognitive symptoms related to stress include worrying
constantly, experiencing racing thoughts, lack of organisation in thinking, forgetting, not able
to focus, lack of judgement or poor judgement and pessimism.
Behavioural symptoms: The behavioural symptoms of stress include deterioration in
performance effectiveness, indulgence in substance use, prone to accidents, poor time
management, displaying checking rituals, changes in appetite, procrastination, eating faster,
even talking or walking faster, impaired speech and so on.