Appendix D
Psychological and Psychophysiological Stress Disorders
Respond to the following:
1. Stress can be the root cause of psychological disorders. Name four symptoms shared by acute and posttraumatic stress disorders.
1) Re-experiencing the traumatic event – flashbacks, reliving the trauma, bad dreams/nightmares, and frightening thoughts
2) Avoidance – staying away from things that remind you of the experience, feeling emotionally numb, feeling guilt, depression, or worry, and having trouble remembering the experience
3) Reduced responsiveness – reduction in awareness to one’s surrounding, feeling dazed, emotional detachment, and dissociative amnesia
4) Increased arousal, anxiety, and/or guilt – being startled easily, feeling tense, having difficulties sleeping, and having angry outbursts
2. What life events are most likely to trigger a stress disorder?
Witnessing or experiencing a terrifying event can trigger a stress disorder. Common events that trigger stress disorders are victimization, combat, disasters, death, and abuse.
3. Traumatic events do not always result in a diagnosable psychological disorder. What factors determine how a person may be affected by one such event?
The severity of the traumatic event (as perceived by the person), biological factors, genetic factors, childhood experiences, cultural factors, and the level of social support can determine the extent a person is affected.
4. What is the link between personality styles and heart disease?
There is a link between people who are consistently angry, cynical, driven, impatient, competitive, and ambitious (Type A