Summary: Distal Contextual Stressors

Within the context of social support, there are two major factors: distal and proximal. Within the distal factors fall, distal contextual stressors, and distal personal stressors. These stressors while all different, are also linked and can effect one another. Distal stressors in general are indirect sources of stress. Distal contextual stressors are those that are environmental stressors that impact individuals on a variety of levels in the ecological system. In defining distal personal stressors, these are stressors that are more individual. Examples of this type of stressor would be genetics, past traumatic events, and personality traits. When dealing with any of these stressors, networks of social support come into play. Networks for social …show more content…
They are close in locality making it easy to access them for support when I need. All of them are also going through the same transition and are able to particularly provide esteem support due to their ability to relate. When I am expressing my feelings of stress to them they are able to understand and empathize with me. Their understanding diminishes the intensity of the stress at the time that I am experiencing. Granted I experience this stress every day, they are able to support me on the days that I am experiencing the stress more significantly. Also along the lines of life transition stress that I experience, my roommates offer both companionship and informational support. The relationship that I have with these two girls is extensive considering we have lived together for the last three years, meaning our level of comfort with each other is high. They know me well and are able to provide me with necessary companionship when I need it most. On the contrary, my parents are also a social support for me. They offer mostly material/instrumental support as well as informational support. When I am struggle to fulfill a payment or am tight on money they are there to assist me in providing material support, and when I am unsure how to pay a bill, have a question about my credit card, am potentially sick, and a multitude of other inquiries, they provide me with informational support. My …show more content…
I was sexually assaulted at the age of 17 by two acquaintances. This stressor in particular could be considered a distal personal factor, as it is a prior experience that has a continuing effect and has created vulnerability in that area of my life, but it in turn also can be classified as proximal due to the fact that it at times can be a cause of stress more directly. To further explain this, while it has been years since the assault itself it continues to be a point of stress for me in my everyday life, and has transformed normally non-triggering factors into triggers. When I am visiting my family for the holidays there are specific places that I avoid, such as the location of the assault and places where I know I run the risk of encountering my attackers. Here at school in Connecticut, I experience stress from the assault in certain situations such as consuming alcohol in a confined space where I am unfamiliar. Another impacting and lasting effect that I experience that is more direct is nightmares. I often dream that I have no control over my body, my vision is blurred and I am immediate danger. I typically wake up in a sweat with an overwhelming flow of emotion and fear. The stress that I experience due to my assault is more distal than proximal when considering that I have had over four years to learn to cope with the stress and have learned to accept my