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Definition & Classification of

Stress and Stressors

Presented by: Sabina

Roll no: 18167026
Submitted to: Dr. Shahab uddin
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Contents:
• Definition of Stress & Stressors
• Classification of Stress and Stressors
• Responses to Stress
• Health problems due to stress
• How to overcome stress
• References
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Definition:

Stress:
• Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that
requires an adjustment or response.
• Stress is the reaction people have towards
excessive pressures or the other types of demand
placed upon them. It rises when they worry that
they can’t cope.
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Stressors:

• A stressor is a chemical or biological agent,

environmental condition, external stimulus or an
event seen as causing stress to an organism.
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• Depending on the stressor, stress can b either

positive or negative.
Negative Stress(Distress): is usually severe
and is beyond one’s control. It is characterized by
physical and mental signs and symptoms.
 Positive Stress (Eustress): is always mild or
moderate. It results in to positive effects including
improved creativity, learning, efficiency at work
and higher level of self-esteem.
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Types of Stress:
1. Acute stress:
• It’s our body’s immediate reaction to a new challenge,
event, or demand, and it triggers your fight or flight
responses.
Example: pressures of a near-miss automobile accident
or arguments with family.
2. Episodic acute stress:
• When acute stress happens frequently, it’s called
episodic acute stress.
3. Chronic stress:
• If acute stress isn’t resolved and begins to increase or
lasts for longer periods of time, it becomes chronic
stress. This stress is constant and does not go away.
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Types of Stressors:
Internal Stressors: (Emotional Stressors):
• Internal stressors include anxiety, fear and
personality fears.
For example: too much worrying about the
outcome of job interview leads to excessive
perspiration, difficulty in sleeping, nail biting etc.
External Stressors:
• It includes, family stressors, work stressors,
change stressors, chemical stressors,
Environmental stressors, etc.
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Family stressors: include family role

expectations, parent-child relationships, sibling
relationships, financial struggles and ill family
members.
Social stressors: include problems and
challenges faced at work, school or other places.
Chemical stressors: include alcohol, nicotine,
caffeine or tranquilizers.
Disease stressors: include bed ridden or
following a strict diet.
Environmental stressors: include pollution,
noise, heat, congestion etc.
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Responses to Stress:
Physiological response to stress:
• Immediate responses to stress
• Stimulation of Sympathetic adrenomedullary system.
• General adaptation syndrome.
 Psychological response to stress:
• Direct Action: deal with actual problem
• Freezing (anticipation of threat)
• Aggression (Fight)
• Escape (Flight)
• Learned helplessness
• Hopelessness
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Health problems due to stress:

• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Eating disorders
• Stroke
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Hypertension
• Memory loss
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How to overcome stress:

• Exercise
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Laugh
• Relax
• Eat something you like
• Listen music, movies
• Write it down
• Spend time family and friends
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References:
• Behavioral sciences in clinical medicine
• https://www.slideshare.net/pnmcologist/stress-
52752502