Question

Short essay on stress management for mature students

Answer 1

Stress is a complex phenomenon and the term was first used by medical researcher Selye (1984) to describe body’s biological response mechanisms.

Selye defined stress as the non-specific response of the; body to any demand
Stress is a person’s adaptive response to a stimulus that places excessive psychological demands on that person.

All responses require utilization of energy. Any demand made on the body for a natural, expected and routine activity does not create stress usually. Stress also does not necessarily occur due to undesirable occurrences.

However, if a situation requires adaptation to new circumstances thereby producing an increased demand on a vital activity, it may generate stress in the form of a stereotyped pattern of bio-chemical, functional and structural changes in the human organism.

These situations could be fear, pain, anger, fatigue, emotional arousal humiliation, frustration, loss of concentration, non-occurrence of an expected event, occurrence of an unexpected event, death/separation of a loved one and unexpected success which require a change in the operational style.