Stress in the 21st Century Essay Example

as a threat (primary appraisal) and their assessment of their ability to handle the expected stress (secondary appraisal).

It can be stated that stress is subjective. Dr Suzanne Kobasa also agreed that certain individuals have a higher resistance to stress. These individuals, known as "stress-hardy" people, tend to possess a sense of control over their lives, a strong commitment to external factors, and the ability to perceive stress and change as opportunities rather than threats. In her book Positive Illusions, Shelley Taylor examines the evidence and concludes that it is the perception of control, rather than the actual level of control, that provides comfort and protects against stress. It is crucial to grasp that stress is only harmful when excessive, acute, or chronic. A significant portion of the stress we experience can be beneficial as it stimulates, challenges, and motivates us. Completely avoiding stress is practically impossible and would result in a monotonous existence.

Humans need a certain level of enjoyable and invigorating stress, known as eustress, to sustain energy. However, excessive stress can cause issues. Acute stress is the body's immediate reaction to a perceived danger, whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological. On the other hand, chronic stress is an ongoing state of heightened physiological arousal that occurs when the body is continuously exposed to stressors with limited chances for relaxation by the nervous system.

Human beings are more capable of dealing with short-term stress rather than long-term stress. The idea of the "fight or flight response", first introduced by Walter Cannon, was meant to help us handle a few life-threatening situations that happen occasionally over an extended period. However, if experienced continuously, it can drain our

physical and mental resources and lead to various health problems. Chronic stress is becoming increasingly common in our modern way of life due to factors like demanding jobs, social isolation, and congested traffic that consistently put our bodies in a state of perceived or actual danger. This phenomenon is now recognized as a widespread issue because stress and its associated illnesses significantly contribute to global disability rates.

The Global Burden of Disease Survey by the World Health Organization forecasts that mental illness, which encompasses stress-related disorders, will rank as the second most significant contributor to disabilities by 2020. The four key types of stress commonly highlighted are frustration, conflict, change, and pressure. Frustration refers to encountering hindrances or barriers that impede progress or the attainment of goals.

There are two reasons why a goal may be obstructed: an obstacle is intentionally placed to impede access or one lacks the necessary resources to achieve it. This hindrance can heighten a person's inclination to act aggressively. This concept is called the frustration-aggression principle. Frustration can lead to anger, which may provoke aggression in certain individuals. Consequently, frustrations are considered as occurrences that hinder progress.

The experience of not having a comfortable immediate environment, including peacefulness, agreeable temperature, clean air, and sufficient privacy, can be considered a source of frustration and stress. Conflict, both internal and external, is also a common stressor. Internal conflict may involve feeling guilty or blaming oneself for not meeting certain standards. External conflict refers to experiencing conflicting goals or demands.

Two people are in conflict when they seek the same limited resource: if one acquires it, the other will not. Gestalt psychologist Kurt Lewin described conflict as

involving two kinds of forces between persons and goals: approach and avoidance. Approach is the attraction toward a desired goal, while avoidance is the aversion felt toward an undesirable state or event. Given that conflict involves two or more incompatible goals, approach and avoidance combine to form various forms of conflict.

Approach

Approach Conflict In approach-approach conflict, one must choose between two mutually exclusive attractive goals, for example deciding between having two types of meals that are favourites: Indian or Thai cuisine.This is the least stressful of conflicts.

Avoidance

Avoidance Conflict refers to an unpleasant experience, specifically the avoidance-avoidance conflict. This conflict arises when an individual must choose between two threatening or unpleasant possibilities, with the option to escape from only one. Coping with this type of conflict typically involves selecting the lesser of two evils. For example, a person may have to decide between going to the dentist or enduring the discomfort of a toothache.

Avoidance Conflict

Another challenging type of conflict is the approach-avoidance conflict. In this case, an individual is simultaneously attracted to and repelled by the same goal. Resolving approach-avoidance conflicts can be complex and difficult because both the attraction and repulsion create tension, especially as the deadline for decision-making approaches. For instance, a person may have been offered their dream job but it requires moving to a city their partner does not want to relocate to.

When avoidance surpasses approach, individuals often experience panic, withdrawal, renewed attraction, and continue to fluctuate until matters are resolved.

Change

Change is a significant stressor that forces us to release the past, particularly the familiar and comfortable ways of doing things,

and embrace new challenges and opportunities for personal development. This disruption to our daily routines can cause stress, even when the changes are positive and acceptable. This includes typical life milestones such as the birth of a baby, a child starting school, or retirement. Pressure encompasses two different types.

The text explores two types of pressure that individuals may experience: the pressure to perform and the pressure to conform. The pressure to perform encompasses responsibilities like meeting deadlines, obtaining good grades, or accomplishing specific tasks. Conversely, the pressure to conform entails fulfilling others' expectations regarding speech, appearance, and behavior. It is commonly believed that these pressures stem from external influences; however, research has shown that they can also be self-imposed. This self-imposed pressure may arise from setting unrealistic expectations or striving for acceptance within a certain group or social standing.

The body's response to stress, also referred to as the "flight-or-fight response," is activated when danger is perceived. This response involves the release of hormones like adrenalin and cortisol, which increase heart rate, slow digestion, redirect blood flow to major muscle groups, and affect other autonomic nervous functions. Initially developed for physical fight or flight situations, it provides an energy boost and enhanced strength. However, in today's world, this response can be triggered in inappropriate circumstances such as traffic jams or stressful workdays.

The relaxation response aims to restore the body to its normal state after the perceived threat has passed. Nevertheless, constant exposure to stress triggers often prevents these systems from returning to their regular state in the 21st century. Consequently, chronic stress occurs with detrimental effects on both the body and brain. Chronic stress leads to

burn-out characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and low self-worth. Furthermore, excessive activation of the autonomic nervous system can manifest as physical symptoms such as chronic headaches and increased susceptibility to colds.

Long-term exposure to stress can result in the development of more severe health issues. Research suggests that stress can be a contributing factor, either partially or fully, to various psychological and psychosomatic conditions including depression, diabetes, hair loss, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, obesity, obsessive-compulsive disorders, sexual dysfunction, tooth and gum diseases, ulcers,
chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, anorexia nervosa,
tuberculosis,
asthma,
arthritis
and even cancer. These conditions are primarily attributed to the negative impact chronic stress has on the immune system.

To summarize, stress can be classified into four main sources: our thoughts and mindset influence how we react to stressful situations. Aspects such as negative self-talk, perfectionism, catastrophizing, all-or-nothing thinking, living by rigid rules and expectations, and over-generalizing significantly contribute to higher levels of stress.

Stress can be caused by our surroundings, whether it's at work, home, or during leisure activities. This includes dealing with crowds, noise, traffic, and sharing space with others. Moreover, stress can also arise from physiological factors such as illnesses, injuries, hormonal fluctuations, and insufficient sleep or nutrition. Any stressful situation leads to physical changes that are part of the stress syndrome.

As previously mentioned, the body undergoes several physical changes. These include an increase in heart rate, elevated blood pressure, heightened alertness, improved memory, and a decrease in pain tolerance. Additionally, sugar is released to enhance muscle strength and induce muscle stiffness. Acid production in the digestive system also increases as part of this natural physical process to accumulate and release energy.

However, many individuals in the 21st century fail to reach the release

phase of this process. As a result, they remain in a constant state of being "hyped up." This perpetual state leads to stress reactions within our bodies that manifest as physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, backaches, ulcers, and insomnia. Emotionally, it can also cause irritability, depression anger anxiety,and mood swings.

Stress can lead to various cognitive symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and intrusive or repetitive thoughts. Recognizable signs of high stress levels include cynicism, hypersensitivity, uncontrolled anger or tears, and increased substance abuse. It is important to be mindful of the potential impact of stress on both our physical and mental well-being. If our own efforts to reduce stress prove ineffective, it is vital to seek professional help before long-term damage occurs. Along with addressing the sources of stress, we must also adjust our reactions to it.

List of References.

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