Managing Stress: Psychology Applied To Modern Life

Managing Stress In chapter three of the “Focus on Health” textbook, the topic is managing stress. According to the book, stress is described as a psychological and physiological response to a significant or unexpected change or disruption in one’s life. Hans Selye was the first to describe stress while observing several patients whom suffered from a series of different symptoms; such as, lack of sleep, changes in appetite, mood swings, problems concentrating and several others. He later named his collection of observations the general adaption syndrome. Unknown to some, stress can be either good or bad. The way the stress is handled determines the way it can affect the person. Distress is the “bad” form of stress that is caused by unknown circumstances or displeasing conditions. This varies for different people because some may not stress over the same thing that another may. Eustress is a good form of stress. The result of eustress can be compared to a student exceeding and graduating college. The work one may have to endure to get assignments done, papers completed or passing a class can be stressful but the result of completion can bring a feeling of excitement even though at the time it may have been stressful. The textbook “Psychology Applied to Modern Life” informs on the potential effects of stress. Eustress and distress can be healthy for …show more content…
Some choose to use drugs or drink alcohol to temporary block their problems by changing their state-of-mind. This negative impulse can snowball into a bigger problem. Some choose to sleep, exercise, engage in acupuncture and massage therapy to exhaust negative energy. Many people have found a less expensive way reduce stress such as coloring a coloring book, painting, listening to music, talking a walk, deep breathing and even isolating themselves to align their thoughts. For others who cannot successfully perform a task that reduces stress, medications can be