Stress Management for Educators

Assigned Reading II (20%)
1. (20%)
Briefly explain the following concepts with an example each:
i. Fight-or-flight response
Fight-or-flight response refers to the dynamics that encompass the physiological arousal of the body to survive a threat. In preparation for a threat, there are two immediate actions that one can take: either attack or fight for defense from the threat or opt to run and flee away from the threat. For example, when a person encounters a barking dog while running, the fight-or-flight response runs away or faces the dog (Seaward, 2015).
ii. Holistic medicine
Holistic medicine alludes to an approach of healing that honors the assimilation, counterbalance, and synchronization of mind, body, spirit, and emotions for encouraging internal peace. It is an attitudinal method to healthcare instead of a certain set of techniques (Gordon, 1982). Examples of holistic medicine comprise homeopathy, acupuncture, and also massage therapy.
iii. Stress reaction
The stress reaction is the initial reaction that the body has when it perceives a threat (Seaward, 2015).
iv. Freeze response
When human beings are faced with a traumatic threat or danger, if it is not possible to fight or escape, the human bodies opt for a third alternative, which is to freeze. Usually, in this particular state, the victim that is facing trauma gets into a different reality. For the most part, time slows down, and there is no experience of fear or pain. Imperatively, if the victim experiences any harm or even death, they do not feel intense pain. Moreover, freeze response heightens the probability of surviving if the attacker has the perception that the victim is dead (Seaward, 2015).
v. Homeostasis
Homeostasis alludes to the physiological state of total calmness or rest. Some of the features of homeostasis comprise resting heartbeat rate, blood pressure level, and ventilation. A fitting example of homeostasis is the internal body temperature of human beings. For example, when a person begins to shiver because of cold weather or temperature or sweating during extremely sunny times, it is the human body attempting to maintain homeostasis (Seaward, 2015).
vi. Co-rumination
Co-rumination alludes to lengthily deliberating and reexamining problems, wondering about issues, and concentrating on undesirable feelings with peers. Even though it is comparable to self-disclosure in that it encompasses divulging and debating a problem, it is more fixated on the problems themselves and, as a consequence, can be maladaptive (Folkman, 2010).
vii. Technostress
According to Seaward (2015), technostress refers to coping or failure to cope with technology's fast-paced aspect. The massive advancement in the telecommunications industry, giving forth to the information age, has resulted in an immediate change in lifestyle in society. Technostress is linked to this and is associated with the feeling of being overwhelmed and lacking the capacity with the rapid technology.
viii. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is categorized as a mental health disorder caused by witnessing a terrifying event, resulting in physical and emotional responses such as hallucinations, flashbacks, and serious anxiety. For example, a person can experience PTSD after going through a traumatic instance such as sexual assault or an instance of warfare such as shooting (Yehuda, 2002).
ix. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
The seasonal affective disorder is a mixture of biological and mood instabilities and conflict with a seasonal pattern, characteristically taking place during the winter and autumn with a reduction during the summer or spring seasons (Kurlansik and Ibay, 2012). For example, persons with seasonal affective disorder experience depression just about every day during the winter and decline during the sunny day, such as summer and spring (Seaward, 2015).
x. Ecotherapy
Ecotherapy refers to an approach that depends on the notion that persons have a profound connection and association to their environment and the earth. In this point of view, failure to cultivate this connection can hurt an individual's wellbeing, particularly mental wellbeing (Jordan and Hinds, 2016).
2. (10%)
(a). Distinguish between stress and stressors
Stress is defined as the human body's reaction to a traumatic event or emotional and physical tension. It is the body's response to a specific demanding or challenging situation. On the other hand, stressors are defined as circumstances or events within a person's surroundings that may instigate stress. In other words, stressors are a random and irrepressible set of circumstances that can change our response to day to day events (Seaward, 2015).
(b). Describe three main types of stress and two kinds of distress
There are three main types of stress:
1. Acute stress
Acute stress is also referred to as the fight or flight reaction. It is the human body's instantaneous response to a certain threat, tension, or scary situation. The reaction to acute stress is intense and instantaneous, and in particular situations, it can be thrilling to an individual. Some of the fitting examples of acute stress comprise getting into a job interview. It is imperative to note that one episode of acute stress does not usually result in healthy individuals' problems. Nonetheless, severe acute stress can be a determining factor in mental health illnesses, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Hiriyappa, 2013).
2. Episodic acute stress
Persons who regularly face acute stress or those with lives that present with regular triggers of stress or considered to have episodic acute stress. Imperatively, the persons who incessantly suffer from acute stress usually have lives filled with emergency and disorder. They consistently feel as though they are being pressured or being rushed. These individuals take on numerous responsibilities, and for the most part, are not able to remain organized due to time constraints. It is important to note that persons that present Type A personality or The Worrier are the ones that regularly face episodic acute stress.
The general signs of episodic acute stress are akin to those of acute stress. However, owing to the protracted exceeding arousal or protracted hyperarousal, there is bound to be suffering and detriment. These symptoms include emotional, cognitive, and physical distress and deterioration of interpersonal associations. Significantly, episodic acute stress results in more distinct and noticeable health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease (Hiriyappa, 2013).
3. Chronic stress
Chronic stress is considered to be the most detrimental kind of stress. When an individual suffers from chronic stress for a long period devoid of obtaining treatment, it can considerably and usually irrevocably damage a person's physical health and lead to deteriorated mental health. Some of the determining factors that can cause chronic stress include longstanding poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, and abusive family or home setting. Notably, chronic stress can also kick in when a person has a sense of hopelessness and cannot perceive any way of escaping the cause of stress and, as a result, gives up on trying to find solutions. This sort of stress can also be a result of harsh experiences during childhood and traumatic experiences in life (Hiriyappa, 2013).
There are different kinds of distress. Distress is also referred to as negative stress. It is the unfavorable construal of an event, whether real or imagined, to be threatening that brings about constant feelings of being fearful or angry. The two types of distress are acute stress and chronic stress (Seaward, 2015).
3. (10%)
(a). What do you understand by the term "Personality Type?"
Personality type alludes to the psychological categorization of various kinds of persons (Seaward, 2015).
(b). Describe four personality types (i.e., Types A, B, C, D) with an example of each.
1. Type A personality
Type A persons are deemed to be high achievers. They are motivated, competitive, and systematized. They have proper time awareness and are efficient in how they use time.
Persons showing Type A personality are usually highly anxious and stressed. Persons with this personality are preemptive and enjoy setting goals and observations. They enjoy pushing the boundaries and go beyond their comfort zone. Nonetheless, several negative individualities are linked to Type A personality (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003).
People with Type A personalities are usually anxious and are frequently stressed. They are hardly satisfied with their jobs and may opt to alter their jobs in the belief that there are greener pastures elsewhere. They are also less satisfied with other life aspects such as relationships. They can also be impatient owing to how much they value time. An additional individuality is an aggression. Persons with Type A personalities may act proactively and aggressively to accomplish tasks. These persons can also be rushed, impetuous, and high on alert and can become easily frustrated and angry (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003).
2. Type B personality
Type B personality is just about the total contrast of Type A. These persons are usually more tranquil, dependable, and balanced. These persons have satisfaction in the work necessitated to accomplish things and have a reassuring and comforting impact on other persons (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003). Due to their balanced and peaceful nature, it can be significantly challenging to frustrate and anger persons with this personality. They are usually less competitive and do not fight to win but rather fundamentally obtain satisfaction from experience (Carducci, 2009). The people with Type B personalities can tolerate others and usually have a great social life in terms of friends and interrelating with others. These persons are also more sensitive and discerning other persons' feelings (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003).
However, one of the shortcomings of this personality type is that it can result in people failing to accomplish their full potential due to their lack of ambition, competition, and laid-back nature (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003). They can easily delay and defer tasks until the last minute. They usually necessitate the pressure and demands of a short deadline to push them into undertaking activities. Lack of proper time awareness can result in being late for engagements and being indecisive courses of action (Carducci, 2009).
3. Type C personality
Type C personality is akin to and resembles Type A personality, however with some perceptible dissimilarities. One of the fundamental differences is perfectionism. It is imperative to point out that persons with Type C personalities spend plenty of time ascertaining the task's details and constantly go over it for purposes of precision (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003). Different from persons with Type A personality, the persons with Type C personality also lack time awareness.
As a result, their endeavor to achieve perfection implies that one task can take exceedingly plenty of time than it warrants (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003). Secondly, a Type C personality also encompasses consistency and reliability. Persons with this personality are unwilling to break the rules and are content with adhering to them and following all procedures. Also, they focus on gaining insight into one task and prefer having expertise in specific aspects rather than knowing a lot (Carducci, 2009). Due to such focus and a need for stability, Type C people experience stress when they are incessantly disrupted. The major shortcoming is that due to the need for perfection, Type C people can miss a deadline or take plenty of time doing one task (Riso and Hudson, 1996).
4. Type D personality
People with Type D personalities are inclined towards negativity or pessimism. These are usually distressed persons. For the most part, they experience feelings of isolation, loneliness, and negativity. They usually experience more negative feelings than other personalities; however, they will not share such feelings due to the fear of being rejected (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003).
As a result, they opt for suppressing the feelings and bottling them up. Also, persons with this personality are usually worried and pessimistic regarding everyday life activities. Nonetheless, persons with this personality are very nonviolent and discernible to other people's feelings. They are also realistic on life perspectives and enjoy rendering advice (Matthews, Deary, and Whiteman, 2003).
4. (10%)
How would you describe the relationship between stress and Type 2 Diabetes? Discuss two coping strategies you would recommend.
Stress alludes to the response of the body and mind to new or challenging circumstances. Stress can impact an individual in a physical, emotional, and mental manner. Research shows that there might be a correlation amid the stress and Type 2 diabetes. When an individual is experiencing stress, the body releases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.
This is intended to provide the individual with an increase in energy levels to facilitate a fight or flight reaction. However, these stress hormones that are released make it challenging for insulin to function properly (Aswathi, 2018). Considering that this deprives cells of getting energy, then there is an increase in blood sugar levels. Imperatively, the high-stress hormones' levels might impede the cells within the pancreas that are responsible for producing insulin from functioning adequately and thereby cause a reduction in the amount of insulin created. As a result, this can contribute to a person developing Type 2 diabetes (Harris et al., 2017).
Furthermore, emotional issues linked to chronic stress act as a disruption and interference to self-care mannerisms such as failure to properly monitor sugar levels, failure to carry out exercise and training, poor eating habits, heightened alcohol consumption, and others. For this reason, blood sugar levels continue to be high, giving rise to severe health problems (Seaward, 2015).
Several coping strategies can be recommended to deal with this problem. One of the coping strategies is calming coping strategies. When the stress response is instigated, one processes information differently and feels both emotionally and physically toiled. A beneficial approach is for the person to move to a quiet place and take very deep and long breaths. After that, repeatedly breathe in and out.
This enables the person to calm nerves and reduce the heart rate. Meditation is an additional strategy for coping (Scott, 2020). Secondly, there are emotion-oriented coping strategies. By sustaining a sense of humor and nurturing a sense of optimism, it does not imply that the set of circumstances change, but the individual's perception changes. Notably, these approaches are ideal to employ in stressful circumstances where the individual has the minimal capability to control what takes place. Other approaches that can be employed in this regard include using a journal to write down emotions and capitalizing on visualization to heighten positivity (Scott, 2020).
5. (10%)
Describe the five distinct stages in the Behavior Modification Model identified by Seaward (2015). Discuss their implications for self (i.e., one per stage).
The behavior modification model can be classified as one that demonstrates the steps undertaken to alter a negative behavior into one that is positive. There are five distinct stages in the behavior modification model:
1. Awareness
In this phase, one realizes that one thinks or behaves in a particular manner that is unhealthy or less than appropriate. Notably, these behaviors are habits that bring about stress. Becoming aware can emanate from becoming educated in which the consciousness of an individual is increased regarding a particular behavior. Also, awareness can emanate when an individual acknowledges that their prevailing behaviors are not appropriate anymore. The implication of this stage for the self is that becoming aware of the inappropriate behavior implies that change can start (Seaward, 2015).
2. Desire to change
Numerous people acknowledge they undertake negative behavior. However, they are not motivated to alter it. Devoid of the yearning to change behavior, even when it becomes apparent how detrimental it might be, no change will occur. The implication for self is that this change determines whether a change will take place or not. For example, several people are aware that the consumption of high cholesterol foods is correlated with heart disease and that smoking cigarettes is correlated with cancer. However, such behaviors continue to prevail because the desire to change is less than the immediate yearning to continue practicing the behavior (Seaward, 2015).
3. Cognitive restructuring
In this phase of the model, one gets himself or herself while acting inappropriate behavior and contemplates a new and appropriate alternative. This is self-dialogue acknowledging both prevailing and imminent behavior, in addition to the option to change it in a favorable manner (Seaward, 2015).
4. Behavioral substitution
Within this phase of the model, there is a conscious replacement of unwanted and inappropriate behavior with appropriate behavior and reduces stress. More often than not, this substituting behavior process is contemplated upon or planned out through mental images before actions are undertaken. It is worth noting that not all of the changes undertaken are substitutions. Some of the changes can be additions to the range of the behaviors. One of the implications to the self is that when a new behavior is espoused, owing to the limitations in time, another thing within an individual's everyday schedule is affected and pushed away (Seaward, 2015).
5. Evaluation
After making a substitution, in the course of an evaluation, it is essential to metaphorically take a step back to examine and ascertain whether the new behavior functioned, why or why not, and make a decision on what can be undertaken to modify the process when the situation comes back up again. The self implies that it becomes possible to fine-tune a process to become better in future processes (Seaward, 2015).
References
Awasthi, P. (2018). Stressful Experiences, Workplace Stress, and Type 2 Diabetes: Management of Diabetes. PURUSHARTHA-A journal of Management, Ethics, and Spirituality, 10(2), 82-89.
Carducci, B. J. (2009). The psychology of personality: Viewpoints, research, and applications. John Wiley & Sons.
Folkman, S. (2010). 22 Stress, Health, and Coping: Synthesis, Commentary, and Future Directions. The Oxford handbook of stress, health, and coping 453.
Gordon, J. S. (1982). Holistic medicine: advances and shortcomings. Western Journal of Medicine, 136(6), 546.
Harris, M. L., Oldmeadow, C., Hure, A., Luu, J., Loxton, D., & Attia, J. (2017). Stress increases the risk of type 2 diabetes onset in women: A 12-year longitudinal study using causal modeling. PloS one, 12(2), e0172126.
Hiriyappa, B. (2013). Stress Management: Leading To Success. Booktango.
Jordan, M., & Hinds, J. (2016). Ecotherapy: Theory, research, and practice. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Kurlansik, S. L., & Ibay, A. D. (2012). Seasonal affective disorder. American Family Physician, 86(11), 1037-1041.
Matthews, G., Deary, I. J., & Whiteman, M. C. (2003). Personality traits. Cambridge University Press.
Riso, D. R., & Hudson, R. (1996). Personality types: Using the Enneagram for self-discovery. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Scott, E. (2020). What Coping Strategies Can Help Manage Stress? Retrieved from: https://www.verywellmind.com/what-coping-strategies-are-effective-3144562
Seaward, B. L. (2017). Managing stress. New York: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Yehuda, R. (2002). Post-traumatic stress disorder. New England journal of medicine, 346(2), 108-114.