Stress and Coping

This research paper explores different types of stress and how individuals cope with stress. Stress can be defined as any demand placed on the body or mind that tax one's resources (Sapolsky, 2015). Stressful situations require an individual to adapt in order to maintain homeostasis. The ability to adapt is different for everyone and depends on many factors such as age, health, support system, and previous experiences (Sapolsky, 2015).

Different types of stress include acute stress, chronic stress, and traumatic stress. Acute stress is a brief exposure to a stressful situation that does not last long and typically resolves itself quickly (Sapolsky, 2015). An example of acute stress would be being cut off in traffic or receiving a bad grade on an exam. Chronic stress is long-term exposure to a stressful situation that does not resolve itself (Sapolsky, 2015). An example of chronic stress would be living in poverty or having a chronic illness. Traumatic stress is a type of stress that is caused by a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, car accident, or military combat (Sapolsky, 2015).

Individuals cope with stress in different ways. Some common coping mechanisms include avoidance, denial, numbing, and positive reframing (Sapolsky, 2015). Avoidance coping involves avoiding the stressful situation altogether. Denial coping involves denying that the stressful situation is happening. Numbing coping involves numbing oneself emotionally to a stressful situation. Positive reframing coping involves looking at a stressful situation in a positive light.

It is important to learn how to cope with stress in a healthy way. Some unhealthy coping mechanisms include self-medicating with drugs or alcohol, overeating, and withdrawing from social activities (Sapolsky, 2015). These unhealthy coping mechanisms can lead to further problems such as addiction, obesity, and depression.

Learning how to cope with stress in a healthy way is important for maintaining good mental and physical health. There are many resources available to help individuals learn healthy coping skills.