WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is a response to an inappropriate level of pressure.

Stress may encounter from a number of sources including: Personal Stress: which may be caused by the nature of your work, changes in your life or personal problems. Next, stress in family or friends: which in turn may affect you. Then, stress in your colleagues: which also may affect you.

Stress can be described as the distress that is caused as a result of demands placed on physical or mental energy.

WHAT IS MENTAL ILLNESS?

A mental illness is a health problem that significantly affects how a person thinks, behaves and interacts with other people. It is diagnosed according to standardized criteria.

One in 5 Australians will suffer from a mental illness in any given year.

Mental illnesses are of different types and degrees of severity. Some of the major types are:

anxiety

schizophrenia

bipolar mood disorder

personality disorders

eating disorders

depression

These illnesses may also be referred to as a mental disorder, mental impairment or psychiatric disability

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

The following table lists some of the common warning signs and symptoms of stress. The more signs and symptoms you notice in yourself, the closer you may be to stress overload.

Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms

Cognitive Symptoms

Emotional Symptoms

Memory problems

Inability to concentrate

Poor judgment

Seeing only the negative

Anxious or racing thoughts

Constant worrying

Moodiness

Irritability or short temper

Agitation, inability to relax

Feeling overwhelmed

Sense of loneliness and isolation

Depression or general unhappiness

Physical Symptoms

Behavioral Symptoms

Aches and pains

Diarrhea or constipation

Nausea, dizziness

Chest pain, rapid heartbeat

Loss of sex drive

Frequent colds

Eating more or less

Sleeping too much or too little

Isolating yourself from others

Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities

Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax

Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)

Keep in mind that the signs and symptoms of stress can also be caused by other psychological or medical problems. If youre experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, its important to see a doctor for a full evaluation. Your doctor can help you determine whether or not your symptoms are stress-related.

WHAT ARE CAUSES OF STRESS?

The situations and pressures that cause stress are known as stressors. We usually think of stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a rocky relationship. However, anything that puts high demands on you or forces you to adjust can be stressful. This includes positive events such as getting married, buying a house, going to college, or receiving a promotion.

Of course, not all stress is caused by external factors. Stress can also be self-generated, for example, when you worry excessively about something that may or may not happen, or have irrational, pessimistic thoughts about life.

What causes stress depends, at least in part, on your perception of it. Something that's stressful to you may not faze someone else; they may even enjoy it. For example, your morning commute may make you anxious and tense because you worry that traffic will make you late. Others, however, may find the trip relaxing because they allow more than enough time and enjoy listening to music while they drive.

Common external causes of stress

Major life changes

Work or school

Relationship difficulties

Financial problems

Being too busy

Children and family

Common internal causes of stress

Chronic worry

Pessimism

Negative self-talk

Unrealistic expectations/Perfectionism

Rigid thinking, lack of flexibility

All-or-nothing attitude

EFFECT OF CHRONIC STRESS

The body doesnt distinguish between physical and psychological threats. When youre stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with a friend, a traffic jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of responsibilities and worries, your emergency stress response may be on most of the time. The more your bodys stress system is activated, the harder it is to shut off.

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Many health problems are caused or exacerbated by stress, including:

Pain of any kind

Heart disease

Digestive problems

Sleep problems

Depression

Weight problems

Autoimmune diseases

Skin conditions, such as eczema

DEALING WITH STRESS

While unchecked stress is undeniably damaging, you have more control over your stress levels than you might think. Unfortunately, many people cope with stress in ways that only compound the problem. You might drink too much to unwind at the end of a stressful day, fill up on comfort food, zone out in front of the TV or computer for hours, use pills to relax, or relieve stress by lashing out at other people. However, there are many healthier ways to cope with stress and its symptoms.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no one size fits all solution to dealing with it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

LEARN HOW TO MANAGE STRESS

You may feel like the stress in your life is out of your control, but you can always control the way you respond. Managing stress is all about taking charge: taking charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment, and the way you deal with problems.Stress management involves changing the stressful situation when you can, changing your reaction when you cant, taking care of yourself, and making time for rest and relaxation.

Remember the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Avoidunnecessary stress. Not all stress can be avoided, but by learning how to say no, distinguishing between should and musts on your to-do list, and steering clear of people or situations that stress you out, you can eliminate many daily stressors.

Alterthe situation. If you cant avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it.Be more assertive and deal with problems head on. Instead of bottling up your feelings and increasing your stress, respectfully let others know about your concerns. Or be more willing to compromise and try meeting others halfway on an issue.

Adaptto the stressor. When you cant change the stressor, try changing yourself. Reframe problems or focus on the positive things in your life. If a task at work has you stressed, focus on the aspects of your job you do enjoy. And always look at the big picture: is this really something worth getting upset about?

Acceptthe things you cant change. There will always be stressors in life that you cant do anything about. Learn to accept the inevitable rather than rail against a situation and making it even more stressful. Look for the upside in a situationeven the most stressful circumstances can be an opportunity for learning or personal growth. Learn to accept that no one, including you, is ever perfect.

You can also better cope with the symptoms of stress by strengthening your physical health.

Set aside relaxation time.Relaxation techniquessuch as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing activate the bodys relaxation response, a state of restfulness that is the opposite of the stress response.

Exercise regularly.Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing pent-up stress and tension.

Eat a healthy diet.Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress. Start your day with a healthy breakfast, reduce your caffeine and sugar intake, and cut back on alcohol and nicotine.

Get plenty of sleep.Feeling tired can increase stress by causing you to think irrationally. Keep your cool by getting a good nights sleep.

THINGS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR STRESS TOLERANCE LEVEL

Your support network A strong network of supportive friends and family members can be an enormous buffer against lifes stressors. On the flip side, the more lonely and isolated you are, the greater your vulnerability to stress.

Your sense of control It may be easier to take stress in your stride if you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events and persevere through challenges. If you feel like things are out of your control, youre likely to have less tolerance for stress.

Your attitude and outlook Optimistic people are often more stress-hardy. They tend to embrace challenges, have a strong sense of humor, and accept that change is a part of life.

Your ability to deal with your emotions Youre extremely vulnerable to stress if you dont know how to calm and soothe yourself when youre feeling sad, angry, or overwhelmed by a situation. The ability to bring your emotions into balance helps you bounce back from adversity and is a skill that can be learned at any age.

Your knowledge and preparation The more you know about a stressful situation, including how long it will last and what to expect, the easier it is to cope. For example, if you go into surgery with a realistic picture of what to expect post-op, a painful recovery will be less traumatic than if you were expecting to bounce back immediately.

STRESS FACTS

STRESS RELATED FACTS AND STATISTICS

The Stress in America survey results show that adults continue to report high levels of stress and many report that their stress has increased over the past year American Psychological Association.

75% of adults reported experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month and nearly half reported that their stress has increased in the past year American Psychological Association.

Approximately 1 out of 75 people may experience panic disorder National Institutes of Mental Health.

Stress is a top health concern for U.S. teens between 9th and 12th grade, psychologists say that if they dont learn healthy ways to manage that stress now, it could have serious long-term health implications American Psychological Association.

80% of workers feel stress on the job and nearly half say they need help in learning how to manage stress. And 42% say their co-workers need such help American Institute of Stress.

Stress levels in the workplace are rising with 6 in 10 workersin major global economies experiencing increased workplace stress. With China (86%) having the highest rise in workplace stress The Regus Group

Alarmingly 91% of adult Australians feel stress in at least one important area of their lives. Almost 50% feel very stressed about one part of their life Lifeline Australia.

Australian employees are absent for an average of 3.2 working days each year through stress. This workplace stress costs the Australian economy approximately $14.2 billion Medibank

An estimated 442,000 individuals in Britain, who worked in 2007/08 believed that they were experiencing work-related stress at a level that was making them ill Labour Force Survey.

Approximately 13.7 million working days are lost each year in the UK as a result of work-related illness at a cost of 28.3 billion per year National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide World Health Organization

Fewer than 25% of those with depression world-wide have access to effective treatments World Health Organization.

ARTICLE

What is stress?

Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some In emergency situations, stress can save your lifegiving you extra strength to defend yourself, for example, or spurring you to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident.

The stress response also helps you rise to meet challenges. Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when youre attempting the game-winning free throw, or drives you to study for an exam when you'd rather be watching TV.

But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

When you sense dangerwhether its real or imaginedthe body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the fight-or-flight-or-freeze reaction, or thestress response.

The stress response is the bodys way of protecting you. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert.

The Bodys Stress Response

When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action.

Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focuspreparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand.

-http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm

ENGLISH 2123

QUESTION B

STRESS LEVEL AND MENTAL PROBLEM ARE INCREASING AMONG MALAYSIANS. ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS 8 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM STRESS. WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF THIS, WHAT EFFECTS COULD THIS HAVE ON THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILY MEMBERS?

Prepared by:

1. Nur Farhana Dayana Binti Razali (6031141001)

2. Rashidatul Asmin Binti Rosli (6031141006)

3. Aisyah Binti Mohd Hambali (6031141014)

4. Nur Aishah Binti Jusnaidi (6031141012)

Prepared for:

Mrs. Nuratiqah Binti Ahmad Zaki

Submission date:

5th May 2015

CURRENT ISSUES

A) Stress among teachers

Growing stress is the leading reason for teachers taking time off work or leaving the profession entirely, new data has revealed.

In fact, stress amounts for more than double the figures of days taken off for sickness, numbers from an insurance firm specializing in covering schools against members of staff being off work showed.

The analysis of its claims showed that 55 per cent its 1,800 schools made stress-related claims in 2015. It also revealed academies experienced the highest proportion of lost teaching days as a result of stress.

Stress in teachers is caused largely by heavy workload, a particularly pressurized environment, tight workforces and additional pressures not directly related to teaching like Ousted inspections, said the firms Harry Cramer.

According to the company's analysis of 138,500 absence days taken by 31,900 staff within the education sector, 3.5 per cent of school staff takes a stress related absence every year. The average length of a stress related absence is 26.9 working days, over twice the length of an average staff absence which is 13 working days. The analysis was commissioned by the BBC Radio 4s File on 4.

Separately, a preliminary online survey of 3,500 members of the NASUWT teachers union revealed stress and poor mental health. It found 67 per cent of teachers said their job was having an adverse effect on their mental health.

The report, which is to be published at the unions annual conference over Easter, found 76 per cent of teachers said they are seriously considering leaving their job in the last year, compared to 69 per cent in 2015. Separately, 68 per cent said they considered leaving the profession entirely.

As in Malaysia itself, teachers were stress by the rule of the system which is not consistent all the time. Which make a burdened for the teachers and students as well. In this 2015, as we can see the system of examination such as PMR is convert into PT3 system where it make a big different and difficult to teachers. As a result teachers become more stress and lead to early retirement. The statistic shows that whose SPM leaver less prefer to be in this profession.

B) Stress among students

Psychologicalstressamong college students has been getting a lot of attention recently. Student stress research seems to have really become vigorous in the 2013, however.

Think aboutwhat manycollege students go through. Leaving the familyhome, feeling intense pressure toobtain high gradesin connection withcareeraspirations, taking final exam,trying to establish a romantic/social life, dealing with(often very high)costs of college and possibly working at a job during the school year. What kind of jobs students can get after college also remains tenuous given the multi-year recession.On top of all that, student in Nepal today recently mustdeal with earthquake and subfreezing temperatures. They have to focus on how to survive their lives rather than their studies.

Question now, considering the above, how can college studentsnotare highly stressed out?

Some will argue that college students are in many ways advantaged, compared to those who don't or can'tattend a university. Point well taken, but that shouldn't diminish the stress experienced by students.

Research Institute said that based on students' reflections on their senior year of high school showing record levels of poor emotionalhealthamong incoming first-year undergraduates.

Researchers understandably want to keep their questionnaires as short as possible, to encourage participation. Because the research survey probes many different areas, the measures of stress and emotional health are limited to isolated items. On a checklist of feelings and behaviors experienced during the past year, for example, appears the item "Felt overwhelmed by all I had to do," to whichparticipants reply "frequently," "occasionally," or "not at all." Elsewhere in the survey, respondents were asked to rate themselves on a set of traits, including "Emotional health," compared to what they would see as the average person their age. Though brief measures may be necessary in some studies.

In addition to sources and experiences of stress, there is also a great deal of research on how people attemptto cope with and manage the stress they're under. Onegeneral typology divides coping into two broad categories:problem-focused(attempting to tackle a problem directly at its source, such as asking one's dormitoryResident Assistant for a room change to escape a bothersome roommate) and emotion-focused(attempting to manage one's emotions, e.g., by putting things in perspective, when one cannot or chooses not to address the underlying source of the problem).

What can be done about stress? The University of Georgia's University Health Centeroffers an online resource entitledManaging Stress: A Guide for College Students. It offers modules on several specific topics, such assleep, healthy relationships, and time-management.

With the help of family, friends, and perhaps campus stress-management resources, many students are able to keep their stress levels relativelyunder control or even thrive in the college setting. However, for some students, the challenges and frustrations of campus life appear to lead to severe emotional problems.

While in Malaysia, the students are stress dealing with high-living cost, especially after the announcement of GST early April. They already feel pressured by their studies, assignment, and examination and proposal and sum up by the GST issue. Students are most affected by the GST issue because most of them have no true income. They are mostly depends on scholarships where it only enough for the fees. Students have to buy the books which costly by using their own money. This led to many other problems such as suicide, criminal case and give up in study.

REFERENCES

a) http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/pub/worklife/selfscreeningtools/stress-test-_3_.pdf

b) http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/lifestresstest.pdf

c) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4t1xqZ78C0 Robin Williams video

d) http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm

e) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnpQrMqDoqE Brain Management video

f) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stress_%28biology%29

g) http://www.stress.org/stress-effects/

h) http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-kinds.aspx

HISTORY

The termstresswas borrowed from the field of physics by one of the fathers of stress research Hans Selye. In physics, stress describes the force that produces strain on a physical body (i.e.: bending a piece of metal until it snaps occurs because of the force, or stress, exerted on it).

Hans Selyebegan using the term stress after completing his medical training at the University of Montreal in the 1920s. He noticed that no matter what his hospitalized patients suffered from, they all had one thing in common. They all looked sick. In his view, they all were under physical stress.

He proposed that stress was anon-specificstrain on the body caused by irregularities in normal body functions. This stress resulted in the release of stress hormones. He called this the General Adaptation Syndrom (a closer look at general adaptation syndrome, our body's short-term and long-term reactions tostress).

The Great Debate

Selye pioneered the field of stress research and provided convincing arguments that stress impacted health. But not all agreed with his physiological view of stress as a non-specific phenomenon though. What about psychological stress?(i.e.: loss of the beloved, frustration, tending to an ill child, or work problems)? Could these situations also be stressful? Many physicians, psychologists, and researchers thought so.

A physician named John Mason conducted an experiment in which two groups of monkeys were deprived of food for a short period of time.

In group 1, monkeys were alone, while in group 2, monkeys watched others receive food. Even though both groups of monkeys were under the physical stress of hunger, those that saw others eat had higher stress hormone levels. He therefore showed that psychological stress was as powerful as physical stress at inducing the bodys stress response.

Many argued that if stress was a non-specific phenomenon then everyone should react the same way to the same stressors. BUT this did not seem right. Many were also convinced that there had to be common elements that would elevate everyones stress hormone levels.

In one interesting experiment, researchers measured the stress hormone levels of experienced parachute jumpers.

Jumping out of a plane surely had to be stressful! Strangely, their stress hormone levels were normal.

Stress hormone levels were then measured in both people jumping for thefirst timeand their instructors. They found a big difference! On the day before the jump, students levels were normal while instructors levels were very high. On the jump day, students levels were very high, while instructors levels were normal.

They concluded that 24 hours before the jump, the instructorsanticipationresulted in higher stress hormone levels because they knew what to expect. The students were oblivious!

But on jump day, the novelty and unpredictability of the situation made the students stress hormone levels sky rocket!

Over the next 30 years researchers conducted experiments showing that although the type of stressors resulting in the release of stress hormones are different for everyone there arecommon elementsto situations that elevate stress hormones ineveryone.

Comedian Death

The death of actor and comedian Robin Williams has officially been ruled a suicide, the coroner in Marin County, California, said Friday.

Alcohol and illegal drugs were not involved, the statement from the coroner's office said. Prescription drugs were found in "therapeutic concentrations," the statement added.

Williams was found dead in his Tiburon, California, home August 11 from what investigators suspected was a suicide by hanging. He was 63 years old.

The death certificate, obtained by CNN on August 21, says his ashes were scattered off the coast one day later.

Investigators believe Williams used a belt to hang himself from a bedroom door, Marin County Assistant Deputy Chief Coroner Lt. Keith Boyd said at the time.

Williams was sober but struggling with depression, anxiety and the early stages of Parkinson's disease when he died, his widow, Susan Schneider, said in a statement in August.

"Robin spent so much of his life helping others," she said. Whether he was entertaining millions on stage, film or television, our troops on the front lines, or comforting a sick child -- Robin wanted us to laugh and to feel less afraid."

Williams had "a recent increase in paranoia" and was sleeping in a stepson's bedroom because of insomnia and anxiety associated with Parkinson's, according to the coroner's report.

A pathology report released Friday said Williams was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in November 2013, several years after he first noticed symptoms such as tremors in his left arm and a slowing of his left-hand movements.

Last call made to wife

The coroner's report said his body was found about 11:45 a.m. by a personal assistant, who used a paperclip to open the locked door of the bedroom where Williams had been sleeping. Williams was found in a seated position on the floor of the bedroom with a belt secured around his neck and the other end of the belt wedged between a closet door and door frame.

The actor was wearing black jeans and a black short-sleeve T-shirt, the coroner's report said.

A cellphone recovered from Williams' pants pocket was dead. After recharging the phone, the coroner searched through its texts and emails and found no messages referencing suicide, the report said. The last call on the phone was made the night before to Williams' wife, Susan, and lasted 38 seconds.

In one incident the evening before he died, Williams took several wristwatches and put them into a sock and took them to someone's house for safekeeping, an indication of his paranoia, his wife suggested. Also noteworthy, according to Williams' wife, is that he may have learned of the suicide technique from a movie role in which a character Williams portrayed died from autoerotic asphyxiation.