Adaptation theory according to Dr. Hans Selye. – Behavioral sciences explore the cognitive processes within organisms and the behavioral interactions between organisms in the natural world. It involves the systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through the study of the past, controlled and naturalistic observation of the present and disciplined scientific experimentation and modeling.
It attempts to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation. Generally, behavior science deals primarily with human action and often seeks to generalize about human behavior as it relates to society.
Adaptation theory according to Dr. Hans Selye.
Ways to Cope with the Stress:
Adaptation to stress is called coping. Whatever its source, stress calls for adjustment either-by direct coping or by defensive coping.
A. Direct Coping
a) Confrontation: Confrontation means facing the problem forthrightly acknowledging to oneself that there is a problem for which a solution must be found; attacking the problem head on.
b) Compromise: We often realize that we cannot have everything we want and that we cannot expect others to act as per our wishes. In such cases, we may decide to settle for less than we originally wanted. If we cannot get what we like, we must like what we get.
c) Withdrawal: When we realize that our adversary is more powerful than we are or that there is no way we can change ourselves, alter the situation or reach a compromise. The most effective way of coping with stress is to withdraw from the situation.
B. Defensive Coping: Defense Mechanisms
a) In all the above cases, we were dealing with stress from a recognizable source. In other pool cases, when we cannot identify the source of stress, we make use of defense
mechanisms like
- Denial,
- Repression,
- projection,
- Identification,
- Reaction formation,
- Displacement and Sublimation.
Altering Bodily Reactions during Stress/Reducing Stress Reaction (Yoga or Meditation):
The relaxation response is a condition in which muscle tension, cortical activity, heart rate and blood pressure, all decrease and breathing; slows. There is reduced electrical activity in the brain and the input to the central nervous system from the outside environment is lowered. Four conditions needed to produce relaxation response are:
- 1. Quiet environment
- 2. A comfortable position
- 3. Closed eyes
- 4. A repetitive device (manthra)
The first three lower input to the nervous system while the fourth lowers its internal stimulation. Yoga, is a way of life, a philosophy, which aims at attaining a higher state of conscience known as “samadhi”, which is a stage of inner tranquility. Yogis have performed remarkable feats: reduction of heart rate, oxygen consumption, blood pressure, body temperature and many other responses under the control of the autonomic nervous system, and hence beyond any voluntary control.
Ways to Cope with Stress by the Nurse:
Nursing is one of the four most stressful professions the others being medicine, army and police. Stress is a part of everyday life and cannot be eliminated altogether. The following steps will help you to cope with stress in life:
1. Balance your life activities with work and play, family and friends and time for yourself.
2. Exercise your body every day or at least four times a week. Sports, yoga, dancing or walking will relieve the body from physical tensions.
3. Meditate to promote relaxation.
4. Relax your body regularly through a systematic method of tensing and relaxing all your muscles.
5. Slow down your pace of life.
6. Make your goals realistic. Understand and accept what you can and what you cannot do or be.’
7. Organize your life with priorities, so that you will always accomplish what must be done at the right time.
8. Develop healthy social relationships. People will support and help you in stressful situations.
9. Practice coping statements. These are statements you say to yourself in stressful situations. When going for an examination, your thoughts may be, “I am stressed”,”! do not remember the right things”. These are negative thoughts and should be replaced by coping statements like “I will do my best”, “if I forget something, I will just wait for a moment”, “we can, if we think, we can.”
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