Selyes Model Of Stress

Stress is known to have an effect on the psychological factors of the body which alerts the homeostatic state by controlling the functions of the nervous and endocrine systems. Stress activates a development in the cardiovascular system such as acute myocardial infarction (rosengren et.al 2004). Each individual responds differently to stress as it depends on the psychological factors. Selyes model of stress is psychological factor which is an individual reaction to stress. The general adoption syndrome response to stress a method of homeostasis to maintain the balance of the body involving a three stage process. This theory was introduced for the body to react when a stressor is developed. Each time a stressor attacks the body will send out
a psychological pattern on reaction. The alarm stage is when adrenaline is released to provide energy for the fight or flight response by the activation of the sympathetic nervous and endocrine system. The initial response of the alarm stage is a stressor alert which can cause a negative effect.
The alarm stage leads to an enlargement of the adrenal cortex and increased levels of hormones from the endocrine system. Stage of resistance occurs if the body doesn’t respond effectively to the functions of the alarm stage. Stage of resistance takes place by adapting to the stressor which hasn’t been done in the previous stage. The resistance state is controlled by the HPA axis. If stress is prolonged the response may be ineffective and cause damage to the body resulting in increased risks to illness. Stage three is the final stage which occurs if the stressor wasn’t effective. If the adapting resistance stage lasts longer than expected exhaustion will occur. This stage results in withdrawal of body resources and energy and can lead to long term illnesses. Psychological stress activates the HPA axis resulting in the process of corticotrophin releasing hormones from the hypothalamus (Pruessner: 2006) Eustress is known as good stress which can be seen as a positive if an individual applies the correct coping methods to take an effective action.(O’Donovan:2013) Distress is tense and repeated resulting in an individual not being able to cope. Psychological factors of distress can lead to mental health illnesses like anxiety, depression, and lack of
sleep. . Stress can effect an individual’s behaviour as they try to reduce their stress in their own way. An individual may choses a coping straqgies as a method to reduce stress but certain stragies may be successful in but may result in creating health risks to the individuals. An individual may choose smoking as a staregies to to oversome their stressful situations but it will have a negative effect on their health as increased risks in developing life-long health problems. (Upton:2010). Stress management is a method apply in psychology to reduce the impact of stress. Stress management include four models which are included in the interactional model to control stress. The first step of stress management is to be aware of why an individual is stressing out and try to remove or reduce the stressor if appropriate. If the first stage isn’t effective then in the second stage involves attempting to look at the stressor in a positive way which may be a method to overcome the stressor. The third stage includes cognitive behavioural a psychological approach to managing stress which is continuously developed through the stress inoculation training method. SIT is a method applied when teaching individual to cope with stress and developing them to control themselves in stressful situations.