Mental Health - Physiological and Psychological Responses to Stress

-Increase in muscular tension, blood pressure, and triglycerides
-Increase in heart rate and respiratory rate
-Corticosteroid release increases stamina and impedes digestion
-Cortisol release increases glucogenesis and reduces fluid loss

A person uses reason or logic to avoid or explain the stressor and avoid their emotions

A person redirects unacceptable feelings or thoughts about a stressor to a safer target

A defense mechanism where an individual assumes the characteristics of another individual such as a role model or their caregivers

A defense mechanism where an individual transforms feelings and emotions by helping someone who is experiencing something similar

-Diabetes
-Cardiovascular disease
-Obesity
-Anxiety
-Insomnia

Hypervigilance and restlessness

Increased vital signs and a diminished level of concentration

Somatic symptoms and unwilling to problem solve

May be unaware of their surroundings or display fight, flight, faint, freeze, or fawn behaviors

-Sudden bursts of energy
-Daily overeating
-Heart palpitations
**caused by increased sympathetic nervous system activity

A relaxation method that teaches the client physical and mental exercises to help control their specific automatic physical body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature

Increased:
-Blood pressure
-Heart rate
-Respiratory rate
-Pupillary response

An adaptive defense mechanism where the client intentionally puts their thoughts or feelings about a stressor into a creative outlet

A positive self-perception about one’s abilities, skills, and capacity to manage stress along with an attitude of hopefulness

A maladaptive defense mechanism where an individual redirects their stress to someone they feel safe with instead of directing it toward the cause of the stressor

Hypothalamus