What is Stress
Stress is a physical and psychological response to a perceived threat, challenge, or change.
Acute Stress
An acute stress response usually occurs immediately but can occur up to t24 hrs after an incident. This is the bodies "flight or flight" response and is a direct result of the sudden release of large amounts of adrenaline, glucose and cortisol into the bloodstream.
Delayed Stress
Occurs 48rs or more after an incident. Symptoms are similar to that of an acute stress response and can be misleading due to the delayed onset.
Cumulative Stress
Often referred to as "Burnout", cumulative stress occurs over time. It is often the result of a lack of work/life balance.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is the result of exposure to a trauma that is so extreme, that it is beyond an individual's coping capacity. This results in repeated activation of the "fight or flight" mechanism.
Effects of Stress
Physiological:
- Fatigue
- Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Tremors/chills
- Lack of coordination
- Profuse Sweating
- Dizziness
- Tachypnea
- Tachycardia
- Hypertension
- Headache/Body aches
- Sleep distrubances
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Physiological & Behavioral:
- Anxiety/Depression
- Fear/Guilt/glucose
- Isolation/Anger/Irritability
- Loss of interest in job, family, or hobbies
- Changes in eating habits
- Nightmares
- Replaying incident over and over
- Increased alcohol, nicotine, or drug intake
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Cognitive:
- Slower thought processes
- Difficulty making decisions
- Confusion or disorientation (especially to time and place)
- Decreased problem solving ability
- Memory Loss
- Short attention span
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