Introduction
Modern research and psychological practice show that stress significantly impacts various aspects of a person’s physical and mental health. In recent decades, stress researchers have begun to focus on the problem of everyday stressors. It was found to have greater exposure to accumulated everyday stress than significant life stressful events (De Calheiros Velozo et al., 2023). The author emphasizes that stress arises every time as a result of a physical and psychological reaction when one feels that the ability to respond to a threat is not under control (Emotions, 2015). In their work, the author argues that different social situations can have negative consequences for a person’s emotional state, which ultimately leads to many negative consequences for human health and happiness.
Stress, Health, and Happiness
The emotional sphere of a person is a particular class of mental processes and states that reflect the direct experiences of the individual and affect their behavior and activities. A unique role here is given to emotional states characterized by high emotional stress, which includes the state of stress. The problem of stress today, when the rhythm of life is becoming more intense, everyone has to adapt to the conditions of existence with its inhabitants’ diverse hopes, expectations, and demands, is more relevant than ever (Emotions, 2015). Undoubtedly, people have always experienced stress, and it cannot be said that this ability of the body has appeared recently, but the relevance of this problem today is undeniable.
Stress affects the work of all body systems, and because of this, the work of various body systems is disrupted. It leads to a deterioration in well-being, sleep problems, malfunctions in the digestive tract and circulatory system, and more. Scientists have proven that the body of people constantly exposed to stress appear more than 50% faster than those who live in peace (Dhabhar, 2018). Chronic stress stimulates the development of inflammatory mediators of a particular disease, which ultimately increases the risk of illness, philological or psychological.
Significant for modern society is the growth of everyday stress, not associated with a severely traumatic experience, as the author also says. Constant stress leads to a weakened immune system, which is the HPA response (Emotions, 2015). The author refers to frequent negative interactions with the environment as “daily troubles” that worsen health due to stress (Emotions, 2015). Even seemingly insignificant events, like a quarrel with a loved one, can trigger stress.
The author also considers it essential to note that women, in terms of maintaining somatic health, are more resistant to various types of stress compared to members of the opposite sex, which is manifested, among other things, in a longer life expectancy for women. This fact is noted in various ethnic and cultural groups, and obviously, it cannot be reduced solely to gender factors of greater intensity of life in males (RincĂłn-CortĂ©s et al., 2019). Some authors believe that the contribution of the biological factor to the long life span of women can be explained by approximately 2 additional years of women’s lives, and the observed average difference (up to 10-14 years) should be attributed to the additional influence of sociocultural circumstances (RincĂłn-CortĂ©s et al., 2019). Higher stress resistance and adaptive capabilities of the female body are especially noticeable under increased pressure from unfavorable physical and psychological factors.
According to the author’s explanation, men are more likely to have a fight-or-flight response to stress, leading to an increased readiness to act due to emotional and behavioral reactions (Emotions, 2015). Furthermore important is the social factor, which the author mentions, but not in the context of the gender response to stress. Of note, women have been found to have generally higher levels of day-to-day stress and external day-to-day stress driven by age and marital status (RincĂłn-CortĂ©s et al., 2019). However, the author emphasizes that inadequate social interactions, the inability to meet one’s own or others’ standards, and much more cause the development of anxiety and even depression (Emotions, 2015). Like many others, these disorders manifest stress, which can affect a person in different ways.
Managing Stress and Negative Emotions
Negative emotions are a normal part of the mental life of any person, which they try to remove as quickly as possible. Still, the important thing is not suppression and control but their correct expression. According to the author, ignoring and managing emotions are associated with difficulties (How to feel better, 2015). First of all, it should be remembered that ignoring problems or stressors will not lead to their release. Suppression of emotions can work positively, but for a short time, because when a person runs out of energy, negative thoughts and emotions can not only return but also aggravate the person’s condition (How to feel better, 2015). However, it is good to express all positive and negative emotions and learn self-regulation and develop positive thinking.
The first step in improving one’s emotional state is becoming aware of own emotions. Although the author does not talk about this, it also means paying attention to the physical sensations and thoughts accompanying various emotional states. For example, when experiencing anxiety, one may notice that their heart is racing, their palms are sweating, and negative thoughts are spreading in their head. However, the paper emphasizes that the main problem in the fight against negative emotions is that people do not always know what makes them happier (How to feel better, 2015). Recognition allows one to identify and understand the essence of the problem, which will help choose the appropriate way out of the situation and improve the general condition.
Several strategies can be used to manage emotional states. One such strategy is mindfulness, which involves paying attention to thoughts and feelings without judgment. It can help people become more aware of their emotions and the triggers that can activate them, which can be dealt with through effective coping mechanisms (How to feel better, 2015). In addition, cognitive restructuring is also distinguished, which includes identifying and overcoming negative thought patterns that contribute to the emergence of negative emotional states (Lopez-Gomez et al., 2019). It allows one to rethink the situation and develop a more positive and productive way of thinking that has many positive effects on human health.
Physical activity is also an effective strategy for managing emotional states. Exercise releases endorphins, which naturally boost mood and help people feel more energized and focused (How to feel better, 2015). In addition, physical activity can provide a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety. Social support is another important aspect of emotional state management (How to feel better, 2015). Having a support network of friends and family can give people a sense of belonging and help mitigate stress and anxiety’s negative effects.
Paper Feature
A distinctive feature of the text is the author’s decision to use different fonts to highlight important information. For example, the author uses bold type to introduce a new term, and its definition is presented in italics. That allows the reader to highlight the main points of the sections the author will focus on next. The use of tables and figures also becomes a plus, especially when the author explains the nervous system process under the influence of stress. It should be noted that the text is well-researched and has a large amount of used literature and arguments with examples supporting the highlighted ideas.
Although there are sections in the text that help navigate the text and make it easier to assimilate information, unfortunately, these are the only markers of transitions between subtopics. The second does not lead to appropriate conclusions to sections and often begins the next one without introductory sentences. Often it ends or begins with a quote, which can lead to a feeling of incomplete information, which makes it feel like the author missed something. However, in general, the paper focuses only on those points that the author described in the introduction of the chapters, and the information is focused, understandable, persuasive, clear, and informative.
Conclusion
In their work, the author raises the impact of stress on the human body and its physical and psychological changes. Today, indeed, the dependence of human health on their mental state is becoming increasingly obvious. Stress has a strong negative impact on a person and his health, which can have a variety of manifestations and consequences. For example, even a small daily stressful situation can cause many diseases that can manifest themselves both in the short and long term and can be both physical and mental. According to the author, effective emotional state management will help maintain a positive emotional state and deal with negative emotions in a healthy way.
References
De Calheiros Velozo, J., Lafit, G., Viechtbauer, W., van Amelsvoort, T., Schruers, K., Marcelis, M., Goossens, L., Simons, C. J. P., Delespaul, P., Claes, S., Myin-Germeys, I., & Vaessen, T. (2023). Delayed affective recovery to daily-life stressors signals a risk for depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 320, 499–506. Web.
Dhabhar, F. S. (2018). The short-term stress response – mother nature’s mechanism for enhancing protection and performance under conditions of threat, challenge, and opportunity. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 49, 175–192. Web.
Emotions, stress, and well-being. (2015). In Principles of social psychology. Open Textbook Library. Chapter.
How to feel better: Coping with negative emotions. (2015). In Principles of social psychology. Open Textbook Library. Chapter.
Lopez-Gomez, I., Lorenzo-Luaces, L., Chaves, C., Hervas, G., DeRubeis, R. J., & Vazquez, C. (2019). Predicting optimal interventions for clinical depression: Moderators of outcomes in a positive psychological intervention vs. cognitive-behavioral therapy. General Hospital Psychiatry, 61, 104–110. Web.
Rincón-Cortés, M., Herman, J. P., Lupien, S., Maguire, J., & Shansky, R. M. (2019). Stress: Influence of sex, reproductive status and gender. Neurobiology of Stress, 10, 100155. Web.