Module On Stress, Health, And Coping

Module 12.3, “Stress, Health, and Coping” focuses on stress, the health effects of stress, and reducing stress. The module begins by explaining Selye's concept of stress and discussing the concepts limitation. For example, the concept does not take into account long-term problems that cause stress. The module provides a better definition of stress, any event that someone finds threatening. Then, the module answers many of my questions regarding stress. It explains that measuring stress is very difficult because how much stress an event causes depends on the person. Stress can cause many indirect and directs effects on my health. Stress can indirectly affect my health by changing my behaviors. Stress can potentially cause lack of sleep, overeating,
loss of appetite, and excessive drinking. When I experience an elevated amount of stress I tend to overeat. Stress can directly affect health by damaging the hippocampus, weakening the immune system, and decline performance. People cope with stress with problem-focused coping, reappraisal, and emotion-focused coping. When I experience stress, I tend to rely on emotion-focused coping by mediating. Following mediation, I use reappraisal by changing my outlook on the situation. Then, I move to problem-focused coping. I am going to start using problem-focused coping first because they handle the problem, reducing stress immediately.