Category: Stress

Introduction

Anxiety is a condition caused by a feeling of fear and tension, and it may be accompanied by headaches, chest pains, shaking among others. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the disorders that are accompanied by anxiety. In this disorder, anxiety is normally high and frequent, with stress accumulating from work and home cores as a result of minor issues. Symptoms of GAD include restlessness, irritability, tiresomeness, insomnia (which entails difficulty in sleeping), and poor concentration. The main causes of GAD may vary from a stressful experience in life such as a family crisis, traumas from childhood experiences such as a parent’s death, and in some cases, it is hereditary (Bourne, 2005, pp 31).

Phobia is also an anxiety disorder that is hereditary in most cases; in such cases, parents tend to be overly concerned and tend to caution their children on almost everything. For instance, they may insist that the child should not play in the rain since he will catch a cold, he should not watch television too much to avoid ruining his eyes, and they are always repeating the don’ts. As a result, the child views the world as a very dangerous place, hence developing a phobia. Nevertheless, this disorder is treatable through benzodiazepine tranquilizers among other prescribed medication, as well as therapy (Bourne, 2005, pp 42). Other types of anxiety disorder include panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Brief description of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (earlier referred to as combat fatigue) can be caused by a terrifying experience in which harm was either caused or threatened to the patient. PTSD was diagnosed by soldiers who suffered from traumas after wars. Such experiences may be natural disasters like the tsunami and accidents. Patients with PTSD normally have memories of these events, which disturb them emotionally and mentally. They also experience problems in sleeping and often want to be alone.

According to Edwards (2011), PTSD appears in 7-8% of people especially in rape victims and in teenagers who have experienced their parents being killed or community violence. The article further adds that those people who are addicted to smoking marijuana and taking alcohol normally develop PTSD. The main symptoms of this disorder are reoccurring traumas like flashbacks and nightmares and memories. The patient normally develops a phobia of some places and avoid them especially if they are a constant reminder of the trauma. Constant anger and blackouts are common, and in severe cases, a person may attempt suicide.

Used therapy approaches and their effectiveness

Recommended medication

According to Bourne (2005, pp 42), Benzodiazepine tranquilizers, which include Ativan and Klonopin are proven to be effective in treating anxiety disorders, as proof shows that there is a system of the brain that is sensitive to this medication. Hence, when gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is induced to the patients, their anxiety decreases. Prazosin used in PTSD cases has also been proven effective.

Therapies used and their effectiveness

In the case of treating posttraumatic stress, the psychotherapy technique is used, which involves educating the patients on the disorder, and what they should expect in the treatment process. This technique is designed to minimize myths about the disorder and the shame associated with it in patients, hence assisting them in coping with the disorder and managing their anger and anxiety. Another therapy involves the eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), whereby, the patients speak of his ordeal while looking at the professional’s finger which moves rapidly. This method has been proven effective as it reduces.

According to Walser (2007, pp 18), the use of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is effective in treating a case of post-traumatic stress disorder, which entails the patients to experience positive and negative events without treating them as reality. The patient learns to view traumas differently and that they are no longer a danger to them; he can distinguish between reality, allusions, and reactions. The virtual reality exposure therapy for treating anxiety disorders has proven to be effective.

It involves exposing patients to those traumas that they are afraid of, in an imaginative way, or agoraphobia. This therapy tends to justify that when a person has been exposed to his fears long enough, the patient will have nothing to fear in the end. After the process of been exposed, the patient then undergoes habituation, which finally subsidizes the anxiety. It entails the patients’ capability of facing their fears other than escaping them (Brahnam, 2011, pp 47).

Measurement devices used for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder

According to Bertram and Dartt (2008 pp 297), posttraumatic stress in solders resulted from traumas in the war zones. However, today, such stressors are evident in youths as they struggle to live in poor conditions, threats of being attacked, lack of food, lack of privacy and violence, in their communities. This is in comparison to the veterans in Iraq who experience PTSD, due to the effect of the war such as witnessing their fellow soldiers being murdered and their capabilities of killing the enemy. The same case goes for the youth who witness a lot of violence in their communities.

The PTSD is evident in the condition of the soldiers such as loss of limbs and eyesight, and disfigurement, which remain permanent, hence a constant reminder of the traumatic events. According to the author in 2002, 3,365 death of youths were reported and 16,000 with minor injuries. The same case applies to the United States military in Iraq who in five years, 4,115 were reported dead and 30,000 wounded. Bremner et al, (1993, pp 1016) illustrates a case of a patient group of 26 veterans who suffered from PTSD. This research was conducted at the National Center for PTSD, whereby, a consensus diagnosis was carried out by three researchers.

First, check on their background information, neither of the soldiers had a history of brain injury or alcohol abuse. Also, the 26 patients had no history of loss of consciousness; however, this was evident at the time of admission. The other group of 15 being used as a comparison to the veterans included healthy workers especially from the construction sites who had never been involved in wars or combat exposure. These groups compromised of men only and they were matched to the patients with PSTD in terms of age, health, and fitness. The two groups were tested on memory, alcohol intake, and reminding tests and differences in scores were evaluated.

However, the results showed that the PTSD soldiers had the same level of intelligence in terms of memory and scored 36% poorly compared to the comparison group. In conclusion, this research conveyed that the PTSD patients scored poorly in all the areas of tests, 44% lower in memory, and 55% lower in recalling. This finding used the neuropsychological testing and through intelligence tests, comparing the two groups diagnosed how severe PTSD in the soldiers was.

Research article summary

According to McLay, Wood, Webb-Murphy, Spira, Wiederhold, Pyne, and Wiederhold (2011, pp 224), the article states that PTSD has been a problem associated with the soldiers who come back from Iraq, with the increase of the number of troops being sent to Iraq. The government has introduced a randomized trial on PTSD on troops based in Iraq and Afghanistan; these trials have proved to be effective in the exposure therapy for PTSD. These exposure therapies are designed to confront the fears rather than avoiding them, mainly through talking about the traumatic events, thus confronting the anxiety within.

Virtual reality-graded exposure therapy (VR-GET) is the latest therapy that does not focus on prolonged exposure. This therapy combines physiologic monitoring and skills training, designed for an individual to be able to confront his fears and memories. This therapy is advantageous in that, the affected patient can learn skills that he can apply in anxiety situations. According to McLay et al (2011, p. 224), “patients are trained to recognize and control excessive autonomic arousal and cognitive reactivity, thus allowing them to confront difficult memories, intrusive thoughts, and feelings throughout the therapy.”

To prove how VR-GET is effective, a study was conducted for the trial of this therapy. This study was experimental and involved treatment versus a control condition, in which the participants would continue receiving treatment for the disorder. The success of this treatment would be gauged on its capability to reduce 30% of the PTSD symptoms in 10 weeks. The location was the naval medical center in San Diego, while the participant comprised of active duty members who had been diagnosed with PTSD, as a result of their mission in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ten participants were selected on each team, one on the TAU and the other on VR-GET treatment. The VR participants met the therapist twice a week for 10 weeks. The first section included detail of the participants on trauma history. They were then educated on control and attention and then issued with a relaxing CD. During the first two sections, they were required to share their stories and symptoms. The participants in the 3^rd session were exposed to a similar situation as those in Iraq, through 3D visual scenarios, mimicking the sounds of war.

This was done to ensure that they gained full control of their fears by facing them and at the same time practicing attention and control. The participants on TAU received “group therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitizations, and reprocessing, and psychodrama” (McLay et al, 2011). The results were based on VR-GET vs. TAU treatments, from which the treatment would attain a 30% reduction in PTSD.

All participants had fully participated in the study; however, TAU patients attended 14 visits in 10 weeks. While VR-GET patients attended 11 health visits and 8 of which were for VR-GET treatment. Results showed that up to 70% of the participants who received VR-GET indicated a 30% progress in the PTSD symptoms after the required 10 weeks. As compared to TAU, patients showed 12.5% progress in their treatment; VR-GET proved to be effective as it challenged its patients to confront their fear others that shun away.

In conclusion, it is evident that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan would benefit more from the VR-GET and their situations would improve than in the use of TAU. Nevertheless, this was just an experimental study and it proved the effective treatment for the PTSD. This article provides a relief to PTSD conditions, as researchers continue the research to find an even more effective treatment.

References

Bertram, R. and Dartt, J. (2008). Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Diagnosis for Youth from Violent, Impoverished Communities. Journal of Child & Family Studies, Vol. 18 Issue 3, p294. Springer science publishers. Web.

Bourne, E. (2005). The anxiety & phobia workbook. Edition 4. CA: New harbinger publications.

Brahnam, S. (2011). Advanced Computational Intelligence Paradigms in Healthcare 6: Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy, Rehabilitation, and Assessment. Berlin: Springer Publishers.

Bremner, J. et al. (1993). Deficits in short-term memory in post-traumatic stress disorder. Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 150, Pp. 1015-1019. Web.

Edwards, R. (2011). Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). National Institute of Mental Health. Web.

McLay, R. N., Wood, D. P., Webb-Murphy, J. A., Spira, J. L., Wiederhold, M. D., Pyne, J. M., and Wiederhold, B. K. (2011). A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Virtual Reality-Graded Exposure Therapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Active Duty Service Members with Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Cyberpsychology Behavior Social Network, Vol. 14, No. 4, Pp. 223-229. Web.

Walser, R. and Westrup, D. (2007). Commitment Therapy for the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder & Trauma-Related Problems: A Practitioner’s Guide to Using Mindfulness & Acceptance Strategies. CA: New Harbinger Publications.

The functional medicine lifestyle change I adopted was meditation, which is a form of mindfulness intervention. Meditation is an activity performed to increase one’s sense of awareness. It entails focusing the mind for a specific period of time to have greater control over mental processes. My goal in this exercise was to use meditation to manage anxiety and stress and improve my general mental well-being. I am not accustomed to meditation and had to turn to YouTube for guidance. On the first day, I tried meditating using a video I found online. Once I had a better understanding of how to meditate, I realized that I preferred to do it outdoors rather than in front of the television. After two weeks, I experienced lower anxiety levels and generally found it easier to control my thoughts. I experienced more calmness and was able to focus my mind easily to avoid wandering.

Some studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of mediation on mental well-being. In particular, Crowley et al. (2022) studied how meditation impacts happiness, mindfulness, and anxiety. The researchers found that meditation increases mindfulness and subjective happiness. This means that meditating is likely to improve a person’s ability to relax and pay attention to a specific thing without engaging in other preoccupations. Additionally, Crowley et al. (2022) concluded that meditation leads to decreased anxiety levels as measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Students may experience stress due to academic, personal, or social issues, and meditation could help alleviate stress. When I conducted my two-week functional lifestyle change, I noticed an improvement in my psychosocial well-being. Thus, people who experience anxiety and stress should try to incorporate meditation into their daily routines.

Reference

Crowley, C., Kapitula, L. R., & Munk, D. (2022). Mindfulness, happiness, and anxiety in a sample of college students before and after taking a meditation course.Journal of American College Health, 70(2), 493-500. Web.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder, which develops after a person is exposed to a traumatic event (like a violent assault, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat) in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened (NIMH, 2008.)

The signs and symptoms of a person with PTSD include: losing interest in things, which were enjoyable earlier, getting startled easily, becoming emotionally numb, inability to feel affectionate, irritability, aggression, etc. A person with PTSD tries to avoid situations that remind them of the original incident. During the daytime, they tend to relive the trauma in their thoughts, and during sleep, they have nightmares; these are called flashbacks, which consist of sounds, images, smells, or feelings. The flashback may be triggered by ordinary events (NIMH, 2008).

While the symptoms of PTSD usually begin within 3 months of the incident, they might even occur a year later (NIMH, 2008). According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV), six criteria must be fulfilled before the diagnosis of PTSD can be made (Kinchin, 2004). These include:

1. Trauma- the person must have been exposed to a traumatic event or events that involve actual or threatened death or serious injury, or threat to the physical integrity of self or others.
2. Intrusive-the event must have been persistently relieved by the person.
3. Avoidant-the person must have persistently avoided stimuli associated with the trauma.
4. Physical-the person must have experienced persistent symptoms of increased arousal or ‘over-awareness.’
5. Social-the disturbance must have caused considerable distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.
6. Time symptoms linked to point 2,3,4 must have lasted for at least a month.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of counseling, which includes cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a similar kind of therapy for PTSD (National Center for PTSD, 2007.)

In cognitive therapy, the therapist helps the patient to understand and change the thinking process about the trauma. The goal of cognitive therapy is to make the patient understand how certain thoughts about the trauma can cause stress and aggravate their symptoms (National Center for PTSD, 2007). The patient learns to replace these thoughts with more accurate and less distressing thoughts, as well as learn to cope with feelings like anger, guilt, and fear (National Center for PTSD, 2007)

The goal of exposure therapy is to have less fear about traumatic memories. (National Center for PTSD, 2007). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is a new kind of therapy for PTSD.

It is similar to other types of counseling, wherein a person learns to change the reaction to traumatic memories. As the patient talks about his or her memories, the therapist asks them to focus on distractions like eye movements, hand taps, and sounds (National Center for PTSD, 2007). Another type of therapies for PTSD includes: individual psychotherapy, family therapy, or group therapy (Helpguide.org, 2008.)

Medications, which are useful in PTSD, include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These are antidepressants that raise the level of serotonin in the brain. They include: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), citalopram, and paroxetine, (National Center for PTSD, 2007.)

Acute stress disorder (ASD) is a condition, which develops “after a person experiences or sees an event involving a threat or actual death, serious injury, or physical violation to the individual or others, and responded to this event with strong feelings of fear, helplessness or horror” (Psychology Today, 2007). In order to diagnose the condition as an acute stress disorder, the symptoms must persist for a minimum of two days to up to four weeks within a month of the trauma, and if other mental disorders or medical conditions cannot explain the symptoms (Psychology Today, 2007). If the symptoms persist for more than a month, then it is diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder (Psychology Today, 2007.)

The symptoms include: lack of emotional responsiveness, detachment, a reduced sense of surroundings, depersonalization, an inability to remember parts of the trauma, “dissociative amnesia,” increased state of anxiety and arousal, inability to experience pleasure, repeatedly re-experiencing the event by images and/or thoughts, dreams, illusions, flashbacks, avoidance of exposure to thoughts, emotions, conversations, places or people that remind them of the trauma, feelings of stress interfering with functioning and impairment of social and occupational skills (Psychology Today, 2007.)

Treatment for ASD includes cognitive-behavioral, psychological debriefing, and anxiety management groups. Psychological debriefing is done immediately after the trauma, wherein the affected individuals talk out openly about the trauma. An anxiety management group involves people with ASD who share coping strategies and learn to tackle stress (Psychology Today, 2007.)

For my loved one, I would choose cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) because it is known to be the most effective type of counseling for both PTSD as well as ASD.

Reference

Helpguide.org. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.” 2008. Web.

Kinchin, D. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Invisible Injury. Success Unlimited, 2004.

NIMH. “Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.” 2008. Web.

National Center for PTSD. “Treatment of PTSD.” 2007. Web.

Psychology Today. “Acute stress disorder.” 2007. Web.

Abstract

This analytical essay presents a critical analysis of the article “Stress: How It Affects Us”, which was written by Joel Nathan in the year 2008. The Works Cited page appends one source in MLA format.

Introduction

The article that has been taken under consideration goes by the name of “Stress: How It Affects Us” and has been written by the very well-known Joel Nathan. As the name suggests, the article is related to stress and how it affects our day-to-day workings as well as our health in general. The article tells us how stress can weaken our immune system, thereby causing more and more health-related troubles on daily basis.

The author suggests that “anything that inhibits the continued release of CRH lowers our immune defenses, and increases our susceptibility to diseases, inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and behavioral syndromes such as depression, anxiety and anger”. This statement marks out the fact that CRH which is released during stress can deter our health in ways that are least desirable to us, at times even ending up in cases of heart diseases and cancer.

Analysis

Someway or the other, whatever is going on in our mind has a direct effect on our health by raising or dropping our hormones and levels of immunity. Whatever goes on in our heads seeps into our body somehow, for example, the author tells us about depression. When we are sad, our shoulders droop; we get headaches and at times even have trouble sleeping. On the other hand, when we get angry our “face goes red, you start to shake, your heart and breathing rates go up” (Nathan, p.1). With years passing by, the effects of all such things that eat you on the inside add up, which leads to our diseases being known as our qualms, enmities, misunderstandings, etc.

The basic argument here is that we should not let stress affect us to the point that we fall sick because of it, leading to dangerous cases such as cancer, arthritis, etc. The author makes it clear that the term “immune” is Greek for memory, the basic feature that is shared between our immune system shares and our central nervous system. Good memory is extremely important for the smooth working of our immune system. This means that one should have the capability to remember previous bad experiences along with how he/she reacted to them. This helps us figure out our illness as a message to move on and figure out what we need to change in our lives to make it even better.

Numerous people who have life-threatening diseases spend half of their lives wishing they were dead, or they could not stand it anymore eventually figure out that deep-down inside they have all the strength that it takes to overcome their fears, their resentments along with their wishes to die. Such people fight back and survive far longer than those who lose hope.

Personal Opinion

My personal opinion lies completely in tangent with what has been said in the article. Stress has such negative impacts on our health that it can deteriorate completely. Stress is one factor that affects our complete lifestyle and ruins it on daily basis. When we are stressed out, we do not feel up to anything good, we feel lousy and usually, thoughts like “I wish I were dead, I cant do this” etc seep into our mind, which further deteriorates our health. I agree with all that the author has written as stress tends to ruin one’s life completely, but those who have the will to fight on and live a merry life.

Conclusion

In the light of the above discussion, we can hereby culminate that the article, “Stress: How It Affects Us” which is written by Joel Nathan proves that stress has negative effects on our mind and body, and if left ignored it can cause serious health problems to us.

Works Cited

Nathan, Joel. Stress: How it Affects us. HealthNews. 2008. Pp.1.

Introduction

APA’s ethics code applies to psychological research involving human subjects. It guards against unethical conduct or actions that may portend harm to human participants. Specifically, the eighth standard deals with the ethical principles guiding research and publication. This paper reviews and discusses the importance of three sub-standards of the eighth standard and describes how they apply in a research process involving human participants.

Informed Consent to Research

A primary ethical high ideal for obtaining informed consent entails a prior disclosure of the study’s purpose and design to the participants. It also requires the researcher to divulge comprehensive information pertinent to the research, including the timelines, procedures, incentives offered, right to withdraw from the study, anticipated participation risks, confidentiality levels, and study benefits. Informed consent essentially enhances the participants’ understanding of the subject and willingness to participate. It is important for various ethical reasons. First, it helps meet the principles of beneficence and fairness entitled to human subjects. Second, communicating pertinent information related to the research helps minimize potential harm to the participants. From a procedural standpoint, informed consent is also a key requirement of the Institutional Review Board guidelines.

Offering Inducements for Research Participation

According to this sub-standard, the incentives given for participation must be appropriate and reasonable. Providing excessive incentives could be perceived as undue participant coercion. Another way to look at this sub-standard is related to the provision of professional services to clients. In this case, the researcher should elucidate the type of services, potential effects, and the expected roles of the participants in the research. Fair cash payments are important in encouraging participation. However, offering disproportionate incentives amounts to undue inducement that has a likelihood of ‘blinding’ the subjects to overlook the risks inherent in the study or individual values/interests. Therefore, the incentives should be fair to encourage participation without subjugating the rights of the participants.

Sharing Research Data for Verification

Peer analysis of work or data can help validate a study’s findings. This sub-standard requires psychologists to share data related to a published study to allow other experts to verify or validate the claims. However, this does not affect measures to protect the confidentiality of the subjects. The professionals who require the data to validate the findings must utilize them exclusively for the purpose communicated. The significance of this sub-standard relates to experimental reproducibility. Research validity is grounded in the reproducibility of the findings or claims. Therefore, data sharing minimizes selection bias and enhances the likelihood of detecting and correcting mistakes in study design or interpretation.

A Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Study

MBSR involves mindfulness practices and training aimed at enabling clients to cope with stress (van den Hurk, Schellekens, Molema, Speckens, & van der Drift, 2015). Usually, participants go through a psycho-education program in which they are taught mindfulness to improve how they cope with depressive symptoms. MBSR interventions help patients focus on his/her breath/respiration to gain insights into how the mind works and develop calm and focus (Hjeltnes, Binder, Moltu, & Dundas, 2015). An MBSR study often involves pre- and post-treatment surveys to determine the efficacy of the intervention. It entails comparisons of survey data obtained after mindfulness training with baseline data and control groups.

The standards discussed will be applicable to an MBSR study involving student participants with stress-related disorders. After IRB approval, informed consent will be obtained from the participants. According to Hjeltnes et al. (2015), in practice, informed consent is sought when participants turn up to enroll in the experimentation following ads on the campus notice board The ads will indicate that only students diagnosed with stress-related disorders will participate. In obtaining consent, students will receive comprehensive information on the MBSR intervention, study purpose, and expected outcomes/benefits to decide if they would want to sign up for the study.

The provision of inducements is another component of the eighth standard that applies to this research. Cash incentives will be avoided because of the coercive power associated with monetary rewards. Instead, small college credit will be offered for participating in a 2-month MBSR course. The approach will also help establish good graces between the researcher and participants and increase their morale.

Data sharing is also applicable to this research. The hypothesis of the proposed study is that MBSR treatment is an effective intervention for relieving stress and other mental disorders. Evidently, the knowledge and experience of the researcher may lead to affirmative bias. Therefore, data sharing will allow verification of the evidence or claims presented in the study by peers. It will also allow experts to reproduce the findings using a different set of subjects.

Protection of Human Subjects

In this study, the participants will include students with stress-related or mental illnesses. The subjects will be treated with respect to guaranteeing autonomy. Additional protection will be given to those with minimal autonomy due to their conditions. Harm to the participants will be reduced by focusing on the beneficence principle – improved coping abilities. Their identities will remain anonymous and the confidentiality of the survey data or responses will be guaranteed. In conclusion, the three sub-standards not only help in the protection of human participants, but they also enhance the validity of the evidence on MSBR through peer review.

References

Hjeltnes, A., Binder, P., Moltu, C., & Dundas, I. (2015). Facing the fear of failure: An explorative qualitative study of client experiences in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program for university students with academic evaluation anxiety. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 10(27990), 1-15. Web.

Van den Hurk, G. M., Schellekens, P. J., Molema, J., Speckens, E. M., & van der Drift, M. A. (2015). Mindfulness-based stress reduction for lung cancer patients and their partners: Results of a mixed methods pilot study. Palliative Medicine, 29(7), 652-660. Web.

Introduction

A sensation of mental strain is what we refer to as stress. It might be anything, an experience, or thought that provokes a person’s feelings of agitation, anger, or nervousness. However, stress may be beneficial in short bursts, such as when it alerts one to potential danger or motivates one to complete an essential task in time. Conversely, if the stress continues for an extended period, it may be detrimental to one’s health. For example, varying circumstances can trigger stress in a person, specifically, parental pressure. The latter can induce stressful conditions where a parent pressures their children to perform. Hence, if there is more than one upcoming test, several students panic about obtaining excellent marks in a bid to make their parents proud.

Academic stress is the sense of anxiety and concern that arises from test-taking scenarios. It is natural to experience tension about future tests, examinations, papers, or presentations. Indeed, a fair bit of stress may push one and drive them to work more. Nevertheless, exam stress becomes troublesome when it compromises one’s capacity to execute and attain academic and learning objectives (Shukla et al., 2021). Exam stress indicators include rapid pulse, a headache, profuse perspiration, racing thoughts, blanking out, anxiety, and uncontrollable sensations of fear.

However, some aspects of the condition, such as profuse breathing, can be manageable. For instance, inhaling profoundly through the belly might aid in managing shortness of breath during stress. To practice deep breathing at home, individuals can: Place their hands on the abdomen while lying. Inhale deeply via the nose, allowing the belly to stretch and the lungs to fill with air. Hold one’s breath for many seconds and gently exhale via the mouth to evacuate the lungs, hence easing the body of stress. If feasible, these exercises should be practiced under a qualified medical practitioner’s supervision to minimize dangers.

At the same time, aspects such as blanking out due to fear of letting parents down have proved challenging to manage. The situation can be attributed to stress over tests, which impairs the individual’s memory and performance. The more one is stressed, the more difficult and nervous it is to recall, and the procedure is circular (Pascoe et al., 2020). After experiencing exam anxiety, the brain is on high alert. Thence, it is accompanied by worry, exacerbating the bodily manifestations of tension and hence blanking out.

Nonetheless, coping with stress may be challenging, particularly during test season. Therefore, there are recommendations to assist one through the hectic test time.

Breathing: Scheduling aside a few minutes each day to perform meditation methods, such as breathing exercises, allows one to quiet their body’s stress reaction and return their focus to the present.

Eating, Resting and Exercising properly: Stress levels may be exacerbated by pulling all-nighters, consuming a bad diet, and engaging in limited physical activity daily; hence improving on each can elevate stress.

Moreover, stress management strategies can be vital in reducing stress, to be precise.

Harness one’s Emotions: Stress is influenced by a person’s emotions, and those who do not recognize their temperaments cannot inspire the most satisfactory performance in tests. When working under frightening or self-absorbed conditions, individuals become cautious and unwilling to contribute information or fresh ideas. Thus it is crucial to leverage emotions which will equate to stress elevation.

Self-Assessment Exercise: Self-evaluation is a component of self-regulated learning and self-regulated behavior. It is a critical component of academic self-awareness and self-improvement, which help ease stress by knowing and managing their stress levels.

Conclusion

Overall, stress can be induced in various ways; for instance, learners undertaking studies are pressured to perform by their parents. In this way, it triggers their panic; hence they develop anxiety. Therefore, it is necessary to manage the stressful situation; breathing and relaxing will bolster the body to release hormones needed for stress reduction. Stress is a condition that should be avoided in other cases; it leads to blanking out; thus, setting realistic objectives and harnessing emotions should be employed to manage stress.

References

Pascoe, M. C., Hetrick, S. E., & Parker, A. G. (2020). The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education.International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 104-112. Web.

Shukla, P., Gajpal, K. N., Jha, M., & Mitra, M. (2020). Study of academic achievement in relation to study habit, test anxiety in adolescents.Journal of Ravishankar University, 26(1), 63-76. Web.

Introduction

The given study is performed in the realm of the impacts that COVID-19 has on people’s mental health. The professional experience of caretakers during the pandemic was examined by Whitt-Woosley et. al., through the lens of stress factors that lead to secondary traumatic stress (STS) and burnout (BO). The findings of the study allow for identifying and helping those at risk of such conditions as STS and BO in times of crisis.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis for this study has two distinct aspects to it. First, the stress factors related to COVID results have a more considerable impact on those caregivers who have suffered from trauma before. The COVID stressors in this specific case include worries about family conditions, violence, changes in routine, and insecurities about employment and food supply. The second part of the hypothesis states that the levels of STS and BO among caretakers during the pandemic will be higher than before it.

Methods

The sample for the study was gathered through an electronic survey of 550 self-selected caretakers from across the US. The research included identifying pre-established levels of STS and BO through a pre-pandemic survey and comparing them to the new survey results. The recognition process for STS and BO in the participants was based on subscales devised from manuals on the identification and classification of mental disorders.

Findings

The findings show that such stressors as worrying about the pandemic, violence or conflict in the family, and food access problems had a significant impact on STS levels. For BO, important stress factors were violence or conflict in the family and worrying about the pandemic. In addition, it has been shown that the COVID-19 pandemic had a larger influence on upscaling of STS levels rather than BO levels.

Importance of the Study

This study points out and uses statistical evidence to prove that STS has a tendency to progress over time, especially during difficult times. The article develops further on previous findings regarding the profound effects of indirect trauma and STS on caretaking. It is essential to analyze the factors and mechanisms of caretakers’ mental health to prevent adverse outcomes for them and those under their care.

Limitations

The limitations of this study lie in the low level of COVD diagnosis reports across the sample. Given this fact, the results of the analysis are not as generalized as they could be. The sample itself lacked diversity, with 84% females and 73% foster parents. In addition, it is crucial to consider that the conclusions were drawn upon newly established measures of self-reporting, which could limit the participants’ inputs.

Future Research

Future research would benefit highly from a selected sample that would ensure a broader range of diversity within it. This approach would allow to identification of groups of higher risk and give caretakers an opportunity to focus on preventive measures. In addition to this, it would be highly valuable to independently examine how being diagnosed with COVID-19 impacts displays of secondary traumatic stress and burnout.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the given study showcases the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary traumatic stress and burnout. Despite having certain limitations, the article succeeds in proving data on which COVID-related factors can significantly impact caretakers’ mental health. It supports previous researchers’ claims that the effects of STS are intensifying in severe circumstances. Lastly, it shows the aspects that helping professionals should pay attention to when administrating prevention and intervention measures.

Reference

Whitt-Woosley, A., Sprang, G., & Eslinger, J. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 and experiences of secondary traumatic stress and burnout. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 14(3), 507–515. Web.

In life, one is automatically expected to encounter situations that will inadvertently from time to time lead them to encounter stress (Spielberger, 1981). Be it in our own personal lives, career or academics incidents always seem to arise that make our minds just want to shut down and – for lack of a better word – take a breather. Many a time, our careers are the biggest contributor towards this phenomenon – deadline expectations, targets to be achieved, constrained relationship with both management and fellow staff – all seem to weigh down on us and cripple our capacity to think (Braswel & Miller, 1993).

Of the many careers one can imagine that of law enforcement is without a doubt highly ranked when it comes to work related stress. The job of a police officer demands control, and a lot of self control for that matter (Clark, 2001). Picture a world where police officers go around carelessly shooting people for no good reason, arresting innocent by-standers and raiding premises without warrant to do so (Spielberger, 1981). Civil rights groups would have a field-day if such an event were to occur. This just goes to show the level of calm and maturity that officers need to portray and retain every time they report for duty.

Yet, the fact still remains that even policemen and police women are humans. And like any other being on this earth, they will have to in one way or another relieve their stress (Clark, 2001). We have seen how much restraint it calls for when an officer is in the line of duty. Therefore the involuntary question arises how do these men and women exhibit stress, whom does it affect and how or what are the measures put in place to handle when an officer feels frustrated (Gershon, 1999).

There are the obvious signs of stress in any person – strained relations with family and colleagues, reactions seem uncalled for over what might be considered petty issues, decline in one’s productivity levels at work and a number of other signs and symptoms (Ibid, 1999). These are very well generalized ways of identifying a stressed personality, however, when it comes to analyzing stress in the police force the following areas seem to be a recurring point in case studies.

Firstly, life is a very sacred gift and taking of another human’s life is an awfully traumatic and complex idea to fathom. In the instance when an officer is confronted with a life and death scenario, the options being to either kill or be killed, such an officer faces an overwhelming decision to make (Clark, 2001). The trauma that is associated with killing someone may haunt him or her (that is the officer) for many years to come or even for life if not provided with the necessary help to instigate closure, especially if engaged in the line of fire where both parties are shooting at each other with even more lives at stake (Braswel & Miller, 1993).

Secondly, in circumstances similarly linked to this would be the police’s partner murdered in the line of duty, as they would put it. This is a person with whom the affected officer has closely bonded with moreso, if the two had been paired up for a lengthy period of time (Spielberger, 1981). One would feel as though they have lost a right-hand man with whom many experiences be they good or bad have been observed.

More still, it brings the reality home that the one left behind could be the next victim. And because one may spend a lot more time with their partner than even their families, the reality is more vicious (Ibid, 1981). The Central Florida Police Stress Unit, Inc. official website, www.policestress.org reports that on the ordinary a police officer is murdered every 54 hours anywhere within the borders of America while in the line of carrying out their duties (Gershon, 1999).

It is important to note that this type of trauma is not only limited to what has been mentioned above. The stress also extends to instances where a cop has to lose their one or more of their limbs because of work related accidents or injury (Clark, 2001). Altogether, one may find themselves completely unable to carry out their duties depending on the extent of injury and find themselves having to retire involuntarily as a direct result of this (Spielberger, 1981). Even just thinking of the risk involved every time they adorn their uniform and badge is sure enough to elicit the onset of stress.

Law enforcement entailing to work for the people, costs a high price to pay when it comes to spending time with family and friends (Braswel & Miller, 1993). Cops who are parents in particular, find it extremely difficult juggling between work and family. As the job demands odd hours and at times extended periods away from home, a police officer with children will not be a consistent figure in the upbringing of the little one (Ibid, 1993).

It will be a common occurrence to miss a daughter’s dance recital or a son’s soccer practice as a result of being on duty. Moreover, their spouses will also harbor feelings of being left out this encouraged by lack of quality time to spend together as one may return home tired and stressed from the day’s activities (Gershon, 1999). Studies show that with a divorce rate of close to 50% in America, law enforcement officers are plagued with a higher divorce rate of upto 75% on the higher side (Ibid, 1999).

Another issue brought to attention that induces stress in police officers concerns issues to deal with finances and management of debt (Braswel & Miller, 1993). Mention the word salaries and a host of all types of opinions are raised. If one is to glance at a police officer’s W-2 Form from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) one would most likely get the impression that they earn a good salary (Spielberger, 1981).

However, it is important to consider the time and excruciating effort that law enforcement officers put into their careers. As earlier analyzed family time sacrificed, vacations and luxury of home-cooked meals every evening is a lot to give up. A police officer’s job can equally be compared to having two full time jobs (Clark, 2001). Moreover, the demands and risks involved seem too much for the amount written on the check. Opinions on the matter are varying, but more and more officers feel left out and cheated concerning their salaries (Ibid, 2001).

In March, 2003, the US Department of Labor made known the suggested changes to be made to the Fair Labor Standards Act which would affect close to 8 million employees who would be subjected to sporadic work schedules and decreased remuneration because of required addition in extra working hours for which employers would not be needed to compensate workers (Spielberger, 1981). The proposal was to affect professionals including police officers.

Another major cause of stress for police officers is retirement from the force (Clark, 2001). When a police officer retires from the force they feel vulnerable as ordinary civilians after having been in a position of enforcing law and order and ensuring protection (Gershon, 1999). It is easy to understand the feeling of depravity and inferiority after having possessed influence.

We cannot also forget the sheer amount of patience and the everyday pressures of dealing with the public. Having to sort out people’s issues on a daily basis is not an easy fit to achieve (Braswel & Miller, 1993). Answering to emergency calls taking appropriate time to listen and tend to the needs of civilians are just a few instances of what law enforcement officers have to grapple with. Some people are rude to them, others over-emotional, some scared, hurt, traumatized and all these emotions constantly bombarding a person can surely get your mind mixed up and even develop psychological problems (Gershon, 1999).

Again, there is the constant watchful eye of the media, civil rights activist, politicians and the public who all seem to collude towards disrobing the police force to expose every nitty gritty of what they might perceive to be failure on the part of the officers (Spielberger, 1981). New laws are ever being introduced to the public by legislators to further tie down the police, frustrating their ability to sufficiently carry out the duties allocated to them by these very same individuals (Ibid, 1981).

Something else worth noting when it comes to factors considered as causing stress to police officers is the lack of sustenance by the department and arduous relationship with management and colleagues (Braswel & Miller, 1993). One can only be left to imagine what a difficult task it would mean to investigate fellow officers in the department owing to purported acts of criminal engagement, being viewed as a whistle-blower and a ‘snitch’ by fellow co-workers and any investigations in the department being frustrated by top level management (Spielberger, 1981). Another problem is that they may fear to tell their problems to those in upper command levels in apprehension that they might lose their jobs (Ibid, 1981).

Therefore, considering all these forms of stress causing factors, the question begs how is it then that this stress is exhibited? Drug and substance abuse among police officers is not at all a new concept, mainly because of their easily available access to it (Gershon, 1999). Narcotics officers are largely connected to this external form of corruption. However, abuse of alcohol is a major response to work-related stress in the police force, not necessarily alcoholism, but the taking of alcohol inorder to block out and temporarily escape mental torture that is experienced on a daily basis (Ibid, 1999).

Spousal abuse and high rate of divorce among the police force department can similarly be attributed to stress encountered while at work (Clark, 2001). Deterioration in relationships will abound because the spouse as earlier explained would regard and feel themselves to be left out of their partner’s life by not being able to understand the other person’s feelings (Gershon, 1999). In the case of abuse, the wrong method of releasing stress would be to return home and physically assault, mentally or psychologically batter one’s spouse or even all of them at the same time (Spielberger, 1981). This coupled with a drinking habit is ultimately unbearable and one or both parties will eventually concede to opt out.

The high rate of suicide among officers is another end result of this phenomenon. Statistics show that the profile of an officer likely to commit suicide would ideally be aged thirty five years for a white male recently divorced or in a strained relationship that is fast deteriorating (Gershon, 1999). He would also most likely be a patrol officer (Spielberger, 1981). Suicide among police officers has been described as an epidemic.

It is not widely realized by the public the extent to which the problem has risen. Tears of a cop, www.tearsofacop.com revealed that a current survey showed the city of New York police take their own lives at an alarming estimate rate of 29 out of 100,000 annually (Braswel & Miller, 1993). This is in comparison to 12 people out of a possible 100,000 taking their own lives among civilian population in America (Ibid, 1993). The biggest problem is that these police officers never seek help because of feelings of embarrassment. Therefore, they suffer in silence and eventually resolve to commit suicide (Gershon, 1999).

Some signs of stress may include black outs, rapid heart beat, decrial, severe panic, anger and withdrawal; these being just some of the bodily, behavioral and sentimental symptoms witnessed (Spielberger, 1981).

To cope with stress law enforcement officers are encouraged to open up more and talk to friends, colleagues and family inorder to get the help they need (Braswel & Miller, 1993). There have been set up various associations, organizations and also individuals who can assist in the management of stress. For example, the Law Enforcement Wellness Association, Inc., the Central Florida Police Stress Unit amongst other psychologists and stress management practitioners who have dedicated themselves and their life work to help out officers (Ibid, 1993). Moreover, peer networks where officers can meet other officers suffering from stress and similar problems as they might be undergoing are available (Clark, 2001).

Resource centres have been established and the internet can provide various excellent options for one who may not know from whence to begin (Ibid, 2001). Moreover, there are numerous books that have been recommended as excellent reads for those officers who might be experiencing stress above normal such as Force Under Pressure: How Cops Live and Why they Die by author Lawrence, L. (Braswel & Miller, 1993).

However, it is important to remember that it all begins and ends with the individual. Simple steps can be taken to restore back the lost order in one’s life. For instance, one can take time to indulge occasionally in activities of amusement (Clark, 2001). They say that laughter is the best medicine and spending quality time with one’s family is a sure way of discovering and inspiring new ways of having fun. It is vital to take pleasure in your life and extend a helping hand unto others, much in the same way as one would wish to be received by others (Ibid, 2001).

Maintenance of a healthy diet is paramount to stress management techniques (Spielberger, 1981). As much as possible, one should try and avoid consumption of stimulants which only heighten the level of stress by increasing blood pressure. Instead, drinking water is a good way of restoring lost water to the body; it is cooling and refreshing (Braswel & Miller, 1993)

Furthermore, learn to dictate instances and situations that prompt the intensity of one’s stress levels (Spielberger, 1981). Then as much as is humanely possible, try and avoid such areas. It is also wise to have a sort of ‘time-out’ period, where one can silently walk away from what seems to be a stressful event, compose their thoughts and thereafter return to complete the task in new light (Clark, 2001). Schedule time where one can sit down and share their worries and concerns with preferably, a professional especially in the case of a victim of recurring stress (Ibid, 2001).

Relationships, as seen earlier, constitute a fundamental part in the recovery of stress management among police officers (Gershon, 1999). One is encouraged to surround themselves with encouraging and meaningful relationships that amongst many other things add value to the concerned individuals. Be careful of the company that one keeps around them, as they will do either of these two things; make you or break you (Clark, 2001). Invest in friends and even family – avoid nagging relatives – that will make one as an individual to flourish (Gershon, 1999).

In conclusion, life is not a bed of roses; thorns and thistles exist that will tear and wear an individual out. One cannot be expected to sail through life smoothly all the way. Storms are bound to toss you around. The trick is to take responsibility. No one else is responsible of another man’s life. Instead of complicating issues, keep things clear and straight forward. Especially in such a career as law enforcement, worrying about tomorrow will exaggerate your life’s fears. Live for today. If one feels they cannot cope, make it known precisely that the task is not within one’s ability to carry out.

References

Spielberger, Charles D. (1981). Police Stress Survey: Sources of Stress in Law Enforcement. University of South Florida, Tampa FL. Pp 40.

Braswell, Michael C., and Miller, L. (1993). Human Relations and Police Work. Waveland, Prospect Heights, ILL. Pp. 228.

Clark, P.C. (2001). Careers and Occupations: Stress in the Workplace. Bulletin of Psychological Type, 24 (4). Pp. 26-28.

Gershon, Robyn. (1999). Police Stress and Domestic Violence in Police Families in Baltimore, Maryland. Johns Hopkins University.

“Stress is internal body process that results from body demands that exceed body’s ability to effectively deal with it and the failure to respond has undesirable effects” (Holmes & Rahe, 1967, p. 213 ). An emotion is a mental or physiological state associated with thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The feeling is experiences of bodily changes. Due to stress, people may change their behavior and their emotional feeling towards themselves and others.

The reasons why people behave in a certain way can be explained by their emotional state such as crying or fighting. If emotions do not lead to the occurrence of certain behavior, then we can say that the behavior is not essential to that certain emotion. We can only say that emotion results in certain behavior which changes body feelings. The functions of the mind, nervous system and immune system relate to each other and stress can affect their function.

Stress can be applied in studying human perception and responses in trying to adapt to the challenges of life. When a body is put under unpleasant conditions, it undergoes a series of reactions with certain stages. Upon realization of the threat, the body produces adrenaline which provides the fight response. The body attempts to find some means of coping with stress as the stressor persists. The body may try to adapt to the condition of the new environment, even though for a short period. It reaches a point where the body can no longer maintain normal function when stressed. If this continues for a while, the immune system gets exhausted and long-term damages may be done to the body. The result can be illnesses such as Ulcers, depression, and mental illness. If stress enhances physical, mental functions of the body are considered eustress, whiles that which is not solved through coping or adaptation is known as distress.

In our lives, we engage in relationships expected to be lifetime with one, two, or more people. In this world we live one can not live alone, we need the help of others for our survival and wellbeing. At every point of our lives, we mingle with every kind of people with whom we relate in one way or the other. As a result of desires to be part of society, to form families, and to avoid loneliness we find ourselves in relationships. These interrelationships take place in some contexts such as friends, families, marriages, clubs, churches, and neighbors. Relationships are not made to be static but, dynamic processes intended to last forever. These relationships are bound together by certain emotions such as “love, liking and other forms of social commitments” (Holmes & Rahe, 1967, p. 216). Interrelationships are the basic unit information of social groups which form the entire society. Psychologists believe that there are factors that drive people into forming and maintaining caring relationships. People in relationships expect their relationship to be stable and satisfying the needs of entering into the relationship. If any relationship is deficient in either of the two aspects then people in the relationship will feel lonely, depressed, and unhappy and might break the closeness.

Social exchange theory suggests that people in a relationship value their relation basing on benefits accruing from that relationship. This theory has been criticized by the theory of equity which advocates for equal and fair treatment of parties in a relationship. We in much a time involve ourselves in very close interpersonal relationships. An intimate relationship is a kind of relationship whereby the parties are so close, trust each other much, and is characterized by both “physical and emotional intimacy”. People in intimate relationships are commonly referred to as couples especially if they have been in that relationship for a long. Not all relationships are beneficial and therefore before entering into any relationship we should be prepared for the consequences brought about by our relationship. Love is usually the main factor that holds together intimate relationships. When we are in relationships we can choose the degree of closeness and love. So it is necessary to understand ourselves and our inner self before engaging in any relationships. Understanding ourselves helps us to avoid being absorbed in the relationship hence standing by our side.

Intimate relationships are based on true love and the parties into the relationships share resources freely. In true love relationships, there is; “continuous desire to know one another more and more, respect, acceptance, and sacrifice. At this level of relationship, love drives people crazy; one is controlled by his heart rather than mind when loving fellow partner” (Blau, 1964). When people are in this form of relationship they are happy, feel part of society, and caring. People uphold human dignity; that is, lovers try as much as possible to maintain their identity when in love. There is no manipulation on either party; the relationship is purely bond by respect and understanding. People in these relationships treat each other with consideration and tenderness. They try to uplift each other, comfort and please each other.

Stress affects us and our relationships. We usually find ourselves stressed and this stress may affect our relationship without our knowledge. Stress is one of the leading causes of separation in relationships according to studies. Stressed people make mistakes and the consequences of such mistakes may be felt by other people. You will no wish to travel in a vehicle whose driver is stressed or you may not wish to be treated by a doctor who is under stress and so on. Likewise, if partners are stressed their relationship may be in danger of dying. It is advisable to try and manage the stress in our relationship at its initial stages. Stress makes us feel unjustified in our relations and may lead us into quarrels with our partners for no genuine reasons. Our frustrations are sometimes a result of being stressed though we may not realize it. If we do not accept this, it would be easy to end our frustration with our partners by being short-tempered and even hurting them. Stress affects our thinking ability and the way we think about things. We find ourselves bothering our partners for things that are not very important in the real sense but, because we are under stress they now seem crucial than they might be. Stress leads people to think outside the context of the relationship. We may accuse our partner of no reason when stressed.

Stress in an intimate relationship may be a result of many things and affects either of the partners. Take an example where a couple has lost one of their children due to illness or accident. The stress of losing the child may bring bitterness that may separate the two. Men and women do not deal with the loss of a child the same way. Women are said to seek supportive programs to help them go through while men tend to be contented with the impact and do not show their emotional feelings. Therefore they must understand each other mode of coping with such kind of loss to allow for a successful recovery from grief. Women may expect men to express their feeling the same way as them although some men don’t like expressing their feeling in public. This situation may cause a temporary separation as one partner asks for time to be alone and the other call for unity. Their difference in overcoming grief may interfere with getting their needs met, hence the couples must communicate their needs and solve them openly.

Some people think that drinking and drug use will relieve them from stress. Drug abuse increases stress and may be harmful to any relationship. Abuse of drugs cannot solve marital relationships it only drives happiness away from any relationships. Drug abuse proves worse in the relationship especially if one of the parties in relation does not drink or smoke. Increased drug abuse creates an emotional gap between partners that may not be overcome in the future. As result, these couples fight and argue much which sometimes maybe violet.

Financial difficulties result in stress to people more so, to married people. Everybody strives for a better future life which can only be achieved through the acquisition of wealth. In the modern world, finances are seen as the key holding element in the relationship other than love. Lack of money causes stress in relationships and may lead to separation. Again as people strive to earn wealth they tend to spend much time away from their partners increasing stress. Stress may cause people to move away from their relationship never to come back and even enter into other relationships. It’s fact that stress breaks relationships and may even cause deaths if it’s extreme. Relationships are entered by different people of varying natures. Therefore, it’s important to handle stress at its initial stages by making issues known to each party in the relationship. Honest communication and the desire to change attitudes and practices may solve stress before the worst happens.

References

1. Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. New York: Wiley.
2. Holmes, T.H. and Rahe, R.H. (1967). The social readjustments rating scales. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 11, p 213-218.

Introduction

The notion of stress is relatively new in contemporary medicine and in the common knowledge of modern life. The concept was discovered in the late 19th century by Dr. Cannon. He observed that such feelings as pain, terror, and anger that the human brain associates with near-death experiences put a stop to some bodily processes that are simply not needed in the situation (Bickerstaff 7). Instead, stress provokes a bodily response that consists of hormone outbreak and pounding energy; such a reaction was designed to protect an organism from danger. Constant stress is believed to be certain death in the long run (Krantz, Thorn, and Kiecolt-Glase par. 2, 8).

Other researchers, however, stick to the opinion that the toxicity of stress is exaggerated. They assert that it is the belief that stress is harmful that makes it really harmful (McGonigall 1-3). On the whole, practically every study ends up in overgeneralized remarks on how humanity has stepped onto the path of no return: the cities are too big, the people are too plenty, the competition is too stark, and the food is too rich in saturated fats and glucose. There certainly are some deeper reasons for people to get stressed, and the video documentary “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” and the article “A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.” by Dr. Richard A. Friedman try to define them.

Analysis

As the title implies, the video documentary “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” treats the matter very seriously. The video describes stress as a continuous process of pressure in all parts of life: stress at work, the stress in dealing with personal problems, etc. As a humble argument in favor of stress, it is said that an occasional outbreak of adrenaline does much good to the human body. To the majority of the working class, however, stress is routine. The video also features a Stanford University neurobiologist Robert Sapolski who asserts that stress is natural since, originally, it is a living organism’s way to protect itself. Professor Sapolski’s controlling groups of baboons are stressed because of themselves: they fight to dominate and get more food and mates. The researcher draws a parallel between the baboons’ behavior and ours. Thus, it becomes clear that one of the reasons for humans to get stressed is the struggle for control. Still, it is not the other humans and their mates that humans crave to control. Nowadays, one considers it more important to be able to control one’s own choices, decisions, future, and life in general (“Stress: Portrait of a Killer”).

The article “A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.” informs the reader about people for whom routine is stress. Such people find life unamusing and always seek new experiences. They suffer from a lack of concentration and patience. Their search for something new often leaves them dissatisfied, and they end up taking medications (Friedman par. 1-5). However, those who have found an occupation that interests them, tend to lose the symptoms of A.D.H.D. and have a “laser-like focus” (Friedman par. 5). To define the root reasons for such behavior, Dr. Friedman refers to the past of humanity, when people made a living by hunting and gathering. In those conditions having a short attention span was an advantage (Friedman par. 14-15).

Taken separately, the documentary and the article treat the subject of stress differently. From the documentary, the viewer sees that, for the majority of people, stress is routine, while the article asserts that, for others, the routine is stress. However, there are several very important common points. Firstly, both sources dwell upon good stress. Some researchers believe that stress boosts the activity of serotonin, the hormone of happiness (Lowry 13-14). Indeed, it seems that the joy of danger is familiar to more people than those suffering from A.D.H.D. It is mentioned in the video that, while experiencing good stress, people are happy as long as they can control the conditions of their experience. But even if it is totally safe, the feeling of danger lingers on, as on a roller-coaster ride; this is what makes the experience so special.

People with A.D.H.D. also tend to go into dangerous experiences because it gives a spice to their otherwise boring lives. What is more important, going on an adventure they are able to decide for themselves. This drives us to the second common point: both sources admit that stress (the bad one) can be eradicated when a stressed person is given the ability to control his/her decisions. Dr. Friedman states that people who are able to make their own decisions do not suffer from lack of concentration since for these people every day brings something new. Such people, he claims, can cure themselves and get rid of the stress. This idea is supported by Professor Sapolski’s research on baboons: we can see in the video that baboons tend to leave their native groups and join other groups where they learn to function in new conditions.

It shows that people are free to choose the environment that suits them best and that they are able to cure their stress this way. Consequently, there is another key idea proclaimed by both sources: self-fulfillment. One of the reasons for being stressed, as we can see from the documentary, is that a person cannot actualize his/her potential properly: this person is being either underestimated or suppressed, or the working environment is hostile and toxic. On the other hand, Dr. Friedman states, a person given a chance to unleash his/her potential is the one that flourishes. People can change their jobs and lifestyle radically, and it brings miraculous results. However, the most important point is that both sources refer to the history of humanity as far as the evolution process. Deep inside, people are instinctively ready for dangers that come in various forms, today; it is the voice of the millions of years of evolution, and it is in human blood. It shows that stress is only natural and human needs only to know how to cope with it and not be afraid of it.

Conclusion

To conclude, the subject of stress is undoubtedly important in modern life when everyone is exposed to stress. The sources under consideration will be of great interest not only to psychologists but to those who would like to know the reasons we get stressed and how to cope with it. The sources provide the audience with a full overview of the subject and conclude that stress is only natural for a human being. It is possible that the joy of pure adrenaline is the rudiment of our ancestors’ feelings when they managed to hunt down a nice fat mastodon; otherwise, there would be no such thing as “good stress”. What is more, the state, a person is mainly stressed when he/she has to follow the circumstances. Given the chance to decide for themselves and changing the environment people will find themselves healthier and happier.

Works Cited

Bickerstaff, Linda. Stress: Coping in a Changing World. New York, New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007. Print.

Friedman, Richard A. “A Natural Fix for A.D.H.D.”The New York Times, 2014. Web.

Krantz, David S., Beverly Thorn, and Janice Kiecolt-Glase. “How Stress Affects Your Health.” Psychology Help Center. American Psychological Association, n.d. Web.

Lowry, Christopher A. Re-evaluation of the Role of Serotonin in Stress – A “Systems- Level Approach.” Stress: Neural, Endocrine and Molecular Studies. Ed. Richard McCarty, Greti Aguilera, Esther L. Sabban, Richard Kvetnansky. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 2003. 13-17. Print.

McGonigal, Kelly. The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It. New York, New York: Penguin, 2015. Print.

“Stress: Portrait of a Killer.” Online video clip. YouTube, 2011. Web.