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Stress Definition

Decent Essays

What is stress?

My definition of stress is the unforeseen, surprising response of the brain, to pleasant and bothersome stimuli. Selye (1936) identifies stress to be recognized by all, but nobody comprehends what it is. All of us have been exposed to stress; however, each one of us interprets stress differently, and our coping strategies vary from individual to individual. As a matter of fact, some people get motivated with stress, and it enhances both mental and physical performances while others succumb to depression and serious medical predicaments.

According to Psych Central (n.d.), stress is the body's means to defends itself when faced with a threat; as a result, certain hormones are released into the blood stream to protect us from …show more content…

To point out, I thrive on a moderate amount of stress. I view it as a challenge to be motivated, to work harder, think smarter and understand things more thoroughly. Being resilient in the face of adversity is always my mantra in life. Flinchbaugh, Luth, & Li (2015, p. 325) implied that stressful episodes can generate both positive and adverse effects on life's fulfillment. By the same token, Boswell, Olson-Buchanan, & LePine (2004, p. 168) asserts that challenge stressor is described as difficult tasks that can improve a person's expertise, comprehension, and abilities.

To manage the burden of stress, I adopted a reasonable number of sound strategies that helped me, to be less reactive and more understanding of these stressful conditions. These strategies are as follows: First and the most important of all is prayer, Shapiro (2014) stated the following serenity prayer: God, grant me the serenity to endure the things I cannot correct, the strength to improve the things I can, and the understanding to know the difference. Prayer gives me a sense of tranquility and humility. I practice this strategy as a self-reflection tool to slow down my thought process and quiet my

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