There are many different types of stress and various impacts that stressful situations can have on all areas of our health. Review these possible stress-provoking situations.
Nancy is ready to leave the house for work and spills coffee on her clean work clothes. Then, she finds that her car will not start. When she tries to call for help, she realizes her cell phone is disconnected because she did not pay the bill. She starts to cry.
Choose one situation to evaluate and answer the following questions:
- Does this represent chronic or acute stress?
- What type of response might the body and brain be experiencing to manage the stressor?
- What would be the goal for coping with this stress? (eliminate, reduce, tolerate)
- What type of coping strategy should be implemented—emotion-focused coping or problem-directed coping? How would the individual employ this approach? In other words, using this type of coping strategy, what could he or she do to cope with the stressor? Give 2 examples.
- Write 2 “coping self-statements” the individual might make in response to this stressor. You will find some examples of coping self-statements in your textbook.
- What are some of the potential long-term impacts on this individual’s health if he or she does not find a way to cope with this stressor?
Please be sure you address each question, using terms and concepts from your text. A good initial discussion response should be at least 150–250 words in length.