Types of stress in psychology - their characteristics and solutions

Every day a person faces many stressful situations. There is no escape from this, so psychology offers people ways to avoid or deal with stress.

What stressors surround a person and how a person reacts to them determines the overall picture of his psychophysical and emotional state.

Types of stress - good and bad

The principle of action of stressors on the body

Stress is the body's reaction to stimuli, called stressors. In psychology, there are such concepts as beneficial and harmful stress. They are distinguished by their effects on the human body and by the consequences that arise after some time.

Distress has a destructive effect on the nervous system and internal organs of a person. It is this that causes depression, chronic diseases and mental disorders. In addition to it, there is also eustress - a positive form of stress. It does not have a destructive effect and is often associated with joyful moments in a person’s life.

Stressors can be any factors that surround a person in everyday life.

Some have a short-term and minor effect on the subject, while others act for a long time, which leads to chronic manifestations of stress.

One way or another, it is impossible to completely get rid of them. In order to reduce the impact of stressors on the body, psychologists have developed special techniques and training to increase the stress resistance of individuals.

Stages of stress development

What do we know about stress?

Stress has long been an integral part of the life of, perhaps, every person. Psychologists by this word mean a special condition, physical and neuropsychic stress. In modern conditions it is almost impossible to avoid. Moreover, different people have different reactions to the same loads. So, for example, one group reacts actively, that is, their work productivity continues to increase to the maximum possible limit (psychologists call this type “lion stress”). Another group of people exhibits a passive reaction, i.e. their work productivity immediately drops (this is “rabbit stress”).

In addition, stress can be acute. That is, it happens once and is characterized by severe physical and mental shock. An example of this form would be accidents. A person once finds himself in extreme conditions, then rehabilitation begins. However, there is a long-term form when stress gradually accumulates, suppressing a person. This could be long-term conflicts in the family or a typical workload.

Stress and health are interconnected components. To find the key to recovery from illness, you need to understand the reasons that cause stress.

Classification of stressors according to L. V. Levi

According to the works of L.V. Levi, a person is constantly in a state of stress. This is due to any external influence or processes within the body. Levy divides stressors into two types: short-term and long-term.

Short-term stressors

They may occur suddenly or recur over a period of time. They have a minor effect on the nervous system and cannot become chronic. These include:

1. Failures, mistakes, mistakes. Signals can also come when reminded of a stressor. If a person independently remembers a past bad experience or someone reminds him of it, then the intensity of stress can be as strong as at the time of the event. In general, the severity of the reaction to memories decreases over time.
2. Noise, bright light, unpleasant swings, temperature changes. The impact of external stimuli on an individual while he is performing any work leads to a decrease in concentration.
3. Fear, fright. Expectation and fear of physical pain, fear of hurting others, criticism or ridicule of oneself lead a person to a state of stress. If a person experiences these feelings over a long period of time, they become long-term stressors.
4. Discomfort. The influence of external factors on the human body, such as heat, cold, dampness, etc., causes a reaction of the defense system, which is completely normal.
5. Speed, haste, high tempo. When a subject is rushed, forced to do something faster than he is accustomed to, he is exposed to a stressor.

Long-term stressors

Their long-term exposure not only makes adjustments to a calm and measured life, but can also significantly affect the subject’s health.

Stressor - military service

Long-term ones include:

1. Complete restriction or isolation. For example, imprisonment, total parental control, serving military service or a regular diet. Any infringement of the body in its usual needs affects the nervous system.
2. Dangerous work or extreme lifestyle. People who carry out their duties at risk with their lives are exposed to long-term stressors. Love of extreme sports or adrenaline addiction contribute to the manifestation of stressors.
3. Background exposure. With the constant need to resist in any area of ​​life, a person suffers in his psychophysical state. The reason for this may be enmity with some entity or military action.
4. Overwork, prolonged performance of the same type of work. Actions that lead to mental or physical fatigue can significantly affect the functioning of organs and systems.

In order to reduce the influence of surrounding stimuli, you need to avoid collisions with them or change your attitude towards them.

Impact of different types of stressors

Three stages of stress

G. Selye, a Canadian researcher and doctor, found that every body has the same reaction to stress, based on this pattern, he divided the whole process into 3 phases:

1. Anxiety reaction , in which all the protective functions of the body are mobilized. The body adapts to new conditions of existence. Thanks to the functional integration of organs and vital systems, senses such as memory, attention, touch, and perception are enhanced. The mobilization stage is characterized by the fact that during stress, the degree of thinking increases, options for solving the problem are found, and the person copes with the resulting load. Anxiety stage.
2. Resistance to imbalance , when the body adapts to changes, and all parameters that were out of control at stage 1 are normalized. The individual gets used to the new atmosphere, but if it is difficult for the body to quickly adapt, and the resistance continues for a significantly long time, the last phase of stress begins. Resistance stage.
3. Exhaustion occurs after unsuccessful attempts at adaptation, when physical strength is lost and the mental state begins to malfunction. This phase is divided into 2 stages.

The stages of stress according to Selye are clear.
The stage of exhaustion during stress goes through two stages:

1. At the stage of the disorder , there is a decrease in performance, the level of thinking and perception decreases, and it becomes difficult to find a way out of the current circumstances. A person cannot adequately assess the situation and make any decision. This affects the results of work; creative thinking is replaced by simple repetition of action algorithms. If this process affects the management level, then impulsive demands on employees and inappropriate aggressive attacks towards them begin. Exit routes are randomly selected from the list that arose at the first stage of stress.
2. At the destruction , all processes are inhibited. The person falls into numbness, it is difficult for him to concentrate on important things, he does not delve into the essence of the conversation, withdraws into himself and is more silent. This type of destruction is called hyperinhibition. This phenomenon can also develop in another “channel”, when a person, unable to find a place for himself, commits rash acts, his activities are disordered. He becomes withdrawn, it is difficult to shout or “reach out” to him. This type of stress is called hyperarousal.

During the exhaustion phase, various diseases appear that affect:

• gastrointestinal tract;
• cardiovascular system;
• mental condition;
• immunity;
• condition of hair, nails and skin.

Family stressors

The main environmental stressors lie not in the outside world, but in the family. The influence of stressors on a person’s psychophysical state is classified according to two parameters: a distinction is made between normative and non-normative stressors.

The first are a natural stage in the life of any individual. Like any violation of the boundaries of current reality, they cause a stressful state. Most often, eustress appears here. But distress is no less common.

Family stressors - parental quarrels

Crisis moments of a normative nature are:

• creating your own family;
• expecting the first child;
• raising a child, etc.

In addition to such stages in life, other incidents may occur that leave an imprint on all family members. It could be:

• illness or death of a loved one;
• divorce;
• division of children and property;
• treason;
• domestic violence;
• change of place of residence, etc.

Every family experiences stressful situations that can strengthen or destroy it. Regardless of the age and social status of family members, difficulties will certainly arise. The only difference is the nature of their origin and the reaction of household members to them. Poor communication between relatives only increases the impact of stressors on their lives.

Among other things, family stress is divided into horizontal and vertical stressors.

These are lines of development of stressful situations that have an impact not only on the current situation, but also on people’s future lives. This fact once again confirms that people, for the most part, repeat the lives of their parents.

What could be a stressor - list

Causes

The causes of stress are external stimuli, or stressors. These are uncomfortable situations that a person finds himself in at work, at home, at school, etc. They have a different nature, degree of impact, and consequences.

Stressors include any changes in a person’s life. But not all situations can be regarded as negative, oppressive, or constraining. The severity of stress is deeply individual. And its root lies in uncertainty and loss of control over the situation. In many ways, the impact of stressors depends on a person’s awareness of personal responsibility and personal participation in the current state of affairs.

Stressors by degree of control

Depending on the events occurring in a person’s life, his future destiny is formed. But the main thing that the body brings out of any stress is memory. The lack of stress resistance is compensated by aggressiveness and a conflictual attitude towards others. Over time, the subject becomes so accustomed to this state of affairs that he does not see other reaction options at all.

Psychologists have compiled a gradation of types of stressors: from those that can be influenced by a person to stressors that are beyond the control of the subject’s will. This helps to better understand the nature of the origin of stressors and develop principles for dealing with them.

2 types of stressors

The classification of stressors by degree of control can be considered using the following example:

• A torn button on a favorite suit - this factor can be completely corrected by the subject himself;
• Lack of money or other material assets can also be corrected. But you will have to put in more effort and spend a significant amount of time;
• Quarrels in the family - to correct the situation, the mutual desire of opponents will be required; resolving the situation on your own is very problematic;
• Illness – such a stressor cannot always be changed even with great desire and aspiration;
• Country of residence - can be corrected, but it will require a lot of effort, without a certain material base, this stressor cannot be excluded;
• Government - man alone cannot change this fact;
• The era – such a stressor cannot be changed in any way.

Illness is a serious stressor

If you look at this list, it becomes clear that the greatest discomfort is caused by those stressors that a person himself can influence. From this we can conclude that avoiding most distress is not so difficult.

Psychological

According to experts, psychological stressors are the most destructive to the human body. They are conventionally divided into informational and emotional:

• Information load (competition).
• Threat to self-esteem or immediate environment.
• The need for urgent decision making.
• Excessive responsibility for someone or something.
• Conflict situations (various motives).
• Danger signal, etc.

It is known that emotional stressors are the most profound in their impact. They form resentments and fears in a person, which over time, without an adequate assessment of the situation, like a weed, will only grow. Thus, stress and health will become a single whole, a destructive mechanism.

Occupational stressors

Labor activity is the root of most psychophysical disorders, as well as chronic neuroses in middle-aged people. Unbearable loads, as well as pressure from management, put the subject into a stressful state. A person lives this story day after day, and stress becomes chronic.

Professional stressors - types

Work stressors look like overload and underload at work:

• Excessive work activity has an extremely negative effect on the body. It leads to the depletion of a person's physical and psychological resources.
• Lack provokes problems with the perception of the usefulness of one’s “I”. Possible decreased self-esteem and irritability.

Excess and lack of work activity have almost the same effect on the body.

Job stressors manifest themselves at the moment when a person becomes incomprehensible to the requirements for him. Uncertainty causes feelings of anxiety and inadequacy.

Career stressors are nothing more than a promotion or, conversely, its lack, or dismissal. Factors such as injustice towards employees also have an impact. Personal factors indicate problems in combining work and personal life.