DEFINITIONS STRESS 1 Stressor Any physical or psychological event or condition that produces physical or emotional reactions 2 Stress Response The physical and emotional reaction to a stressor 3 Stress The general physical and emotional state that accompanies the stress response 4 Nervous system The brain spinal cord and nerves 5 Autonomic Nervous System The branch of the nervous system that controls the basic body processes It is divided into the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Systems 6 Parasympathetic Nervous System A division of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for restoring the body back to its normal homeostatic state It moderates the excitatory effect of the sympathetic division slowing metabolism and restoring energy supplies 7 Sympathetic Nervous System A division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body to react to danger or any challenge posed by a stressor It accelerates the body processes 8 Endocrine System The system of glands tissues and cells that secrete hormones into the blood stream to influence metabolism and other body processes 9 Hormone A chemical messenger produced in the body and transported into the bloodstream to target cells or organs for specific regulation of their activities 10 Norepinephrine A neurotransmitter released by the sympathetic nervous system into specific tissues to increase their function in the face of increased activity When released by the brain it causes arousal increased attention awareness and alertness It is also called Noradrenaline 11 Epinephrine A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla inner core that affects functioning of organs involved in responding to the stressor It is also called adrenaline 12 Cortisol A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex outer core It is the stress hormone It is also called hydrocortisone 13 Endorphins Brain secretions that have pain inhibiting effects 14 Fight or Flight Reaction A defense reaction that prepares a person for conflict or escape by triggering hormonal cardiovascular respiratory neuromuscular and metabolic changes 15 Homeostasis A constantly changing within narrow limits state of stability and consistency in an individual s physiological functioning 16 Somatic Nervous System Branch of the peripheral nervous system that governs motor functions and sensory information largely under conscious control 17 Personality The sum of behavioral cognitive and emotional tendencies 18 Gender Role A culturally expected pattern of behavior and attitudes determined by a person s sex 19 General Adaptation Syndrome GAS A pattern of stress responses consisting of three stages alarm resistance and exhaustion 20 Eustress Good Stress resulting from a positive pleasant stressor 21 Distress Bad stress resulting from a negative unpleasant stressor 22 Allostatic Load The long term negative impact of the stress response on the body 23 Psychoneuroimmunology PNI The study of interactions among the nervous endocrine and immune systems 24 Acute Stress Stress immediately following a stressor May last for a couple of minutes If persistent it turns into chronic stress 25 Chronic Stress It is stress that continues for days weeks or longer 26 Burnout A state of physical mental and emotional exhaustion