Stress Affects Everybody Differently Essay

Coping mechanisms are used almost as a buffer to provide comfort to an otherwise uncomfortable situation. They act usually as a small dose of normal in a strange situation.

Coping strategies include the use defense mechanisms, controlling behavior, use of repetition, humor and exercise.

Another main determinant of health according to Wilkinson and Marmot (2003), is stress. It can be caused by many factors from studying, work and relationships. It is hypothesised to be a major influence in the social determinants of health. There has also been a relation between chronic stress and negative health outcomes (Marmot & Wilkinson, 2006).

The coping strategy I selected for my intervention phase was cognitive restructuring based on some research that I found. Cognitive restructuring involves targeting distortions in our automatic thoughts and changing these distortions to promote more realistic thinking. The study I used to implement in my intervention is by Ankisola, Esther F., & Nwajei, Augustina D. (2013); this study primarily focused on if techniques such as cognitive restructuring and deep breathing exercises were able to reduce test anxiety, state anxiety, and depression, as well as improve academic performance on exams. The participants used in this study consisted of 420 high school students from Nigeria and their ages were from 13-19 years old. The students were randomly

One coping mechanism that I will be using is from the chapter 9 in our book Cognitive Restructuring: Reframing. I am choosing this technique because I need to change the way perceive my stressors. I am someone who makes mountains out of molehills, and I often have anxiety attacks that affect my psychologically and physiologically well-being. I have reached a point where I can no longer continue living my life feeling physically and emotionally drained. I know something has to change. Therefore, to rid myself of the toxic thoughts that rule my life I have decided to make a change by applying the cognitive restructuring steps into my everyday life.

Coping is something that everyone has experienced in their lifetime, whether it be over something significant or insignificant we have all experienced it. In an academic journal published in 2003, authors Gerhard Anderson, and Mimmie Willebrand stated, “Coping has been defined as the process of managing demands (external or internal) that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person” (S97). There have often been thought to be two main types of coping strategies, these strategies are problem-focused and emotional-focused coping (Heyman et al. 154). These two strategies differ from each other because, “problem-focused coping is often described as managing the problem, while emotion-focused coping is directed at regulating emotional responses to the problem” (Heyman et al. 154). Anderson and Willebrand have stated that coping is to serve two distinct purposes: to do away with the problem...and to regulate emotional reactions (S97). There are many different reasons that people cope and many different ways that people do it, but if not done right can cause a person emotional turmoil and make them inherit mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. Three ingredients in the conceptualization of coping are as follows, (1) coping need not be successful, but an effort must be made; (2) this effort need not be expressed in actual behavior, but can affect cognition as well; and (3) a cognitive appraisal of the taxing situation is a prerequisite for initiating coping attempts (Anderson and

To try to understand stress better, we need to consider the psychological factors involved - emotional and cognitive (thinking) factors. Research has suggested that major stressors in our lives are life changes, for example, moving house, marriage or relationship breakdown. Work-related factors, including unemployment and boredom, are also common causes of stress. Differences in personality may also play a part.

Coping skills are the behaviors that individuals learn that successfully execute to produce a desired outcome. Coping is a way that the client is attempting to meet the demands placed on them in a way that restores balance. Lack pf adequate coping skills may result in the use of drugs or alcohol to cope when exposed to alcohol cues. Ramirez, Monti, and Colwill, (2015) wrote that practicing these coping skills in the presence of alcohol cures should increase the client’s ability to cope in a positive manner. Specific coping skills developed in relapse prevention include identifying high-risk situations in a ranked structure and promoting effective response strategies. These response strategies can include environmental supports

(Esposito, 2016).” Facing fears and problems makes a person stronger than ever, turn your fears into your strength and life will be easier to live. Believing in yourself is a crucial factor in overcoming mental depression. Being scared doesn’t help and as Linda Esposito said there are more good things happening in the world than scary things (2016). Dealing with stress may not be as easy as it sounds, but there are methods which can reduce stress. Looking at things from a different perspective helps dealing with stress. Avoid looking at tiny details and look at the bigger picture, this helps in avoiding stress and negative thoughts in mind. Linda Esposito explained this by The Helicopter View Exercise, in this exercise the person is told to imagine that they are in a helicopter and are looking down at their problems, as the helicopter flies higher a broader picture can be seen and the tiny problem is barely visible (2016). This exercise helps the person learn that

This essay discusses coping, a complex process exercised by people to suppress, change, or eliminate stress or threat. This essay also discusses copers, that is, people who exhibit certain personality characteristics, known as distress resistant personality patterns, which can significantly influence whether they stay healthy or become ill. Also covered are coping strategies, -strategies people draw upon to solve life’s stressors, some

      Stress is an ongoing dilemma that occurs in each and everyone’s life. It is a factor that is undoubtedly a part of daily living. Due to the trivial problems that occur in people’s daily lives massive amounts of stress can arise. People perceive and manage stress in many different ways. The causes and effects of stress are numerous and one’s ability to manage stress is vital in maintaining healthy living.

Coping strategies refer to the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce or minimize stressful events. There are two general coping strategies which have been distinguished. Problem-focused strategies are efforts to do something active to alleviate stressful circumstances, where as emotion-focused coping strategies involve efforts to regulate the emotional consequences of stressful or potentially stressful events. Typically, people use both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping in their stressful episodes, which suggests that both types of coping are useful for most stressful events (Folkman & Lazarus, 1980).

Psychological stress is a result of many factors and should be dealt with very carefully. Stress can be defined as “An excess of demand made upon the adaptive capabilities of the mind and body”.(Joseph 1). Another way of putting it, is that there are some things that put certain demands on us. The effects of stress should not be limited to unpleasant emotional states. Many studies have concluded that the effects on our physical health from stress can be extremely detrimental. These adverse physical effects include heart disease and formations of cancer. There are also some societal issues that psychological stress can hamper.

Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing surroundings. It has physical and emotional effects on us and can make good or bad feelings. As a good influence, stress can help motivate us to do something, or help us through the day. As a bad influence, it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression (overall, make you feel really crappy), which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upset stomachs, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes. With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion (or demotion), or a new relationship, we experience stress as we change our lives to cater to

2. Emotion focused coping: This type of strategy works best when we do not have direct control over the circumstances or we cannot change them. We can deal with the stress by either avoiding it or by ignoring it or seek help from family and friends for support.