Unit 10 stress

Section 1. Warming-up

1.1. Surely stress is a very frequently used word in our busy, fast moving contemporary life. But do you know what exactly it is? Try to formulate its definition and make up a list of signs of stress.

1.2. Now read the poem written by an American psychiatrist William Goldsmith and answer the questions:

1. What examples of stressful situations are described in it?

2. What happens to body organs and functions when a person experiences stress? Is stress a normal reaction of an organism?

3. Does stress always do harm to us?

4. Is the mood of the poem pessimistic or optimistic? Why do you think so?

Stress

A definition, friends, of stress: Your own reaction to a mess Stresses may be large or small Sometimes they're not perceived at all Examples: Say a lack of cash; A just-avoided freeway crash; An allergen that's in the air; The barber says you're losing hair; Fifty on a spavined horse; Attorney's letter re divorce; Wetness, dryness, heat or cold; Callow youth or getting old. Stress from pains to pleasures range The common element is change. Adapt or die, and that's a fact And so our bodies must react: The heart speeds up, the gut slows down;

Facial muscles snarl or frown; Bronchial tubes expand and then The blood absorbs more oxygen. Widened pupils search the void; Adrenal glands secrete steroid; Serum glucose starts to climb; More insulin works overtime. Stressed physically or mentally Muscles tense to fight or flee. The midbrain boils with rage and fear While cortex plans to save your rear. The point is, stress is not unique; It doesn't mean you're dumb or weak A part of mankind's constitution Bequeathed to us by evolution Common both to man and beast It proves you're still alive, at least.

Section 2. Reading

2.1. Read the first text given below and find sentences in it which support the following statements.

1. Only high level of stress is harmful to us.

2. Stressors may help people to be more active.

3. There exist some universal symptoms of stress.

4. It’s better to prevent stress than to get out of it.

Stress in our Life

Everyone is familiar with stress. We experience it in various forms and degrees every day. In small doses, stress can actually be beneficial to us. It is only when the stress becomes too great, affecting our physical or mental functioning, that it becomes a problem.

In small doses, stressors can help give us increased energy and alertness, even helping to keep us focused on the problem at hand. This type of stress is good. People may refer to the experience of this type of stress as feeling "pumped" or "wired."

As the level of pressure gets too great, stress eventually surpasses our ability to cope with it in a positive way. Often, people describe themselves as being stressed out, burned out, or at wits end. At this point, it is important to find positive and productive ways to deal with the stress and, more importantly, to address the person or situation that is causing the stress.

Everyone reacts to stress differently. But common signs of stress include poor judgment, a general negative outlook, excessive worrying, moodiness, irritability, agitation, inability to relax, feeling lonely, isolated or depressed, aches and pains, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, eating too much or not enough, sleeping too much or not enough, social withdrawal, neglect of responsibilities, increased alcohol, nicotine or drug consumption, and nervous habits such as pacing about, nail-biting and neck pains.

Each of us has a different level of pressure and anxiety that we can handle without a bad outcome. Only you can assess your level of tolerance to stressful situations. The best treatment for stress is to prevent getting into situations that are likely to overwhelm your ability to cope. This is not always possible because the stressors may often come from outside sources that are beyond your control.

2.2. To fight stress effectively one has to know pretty much about it. Do you think that your knowledge of stress is enough? Mark the five statements as true or false. Then read the text, check your ideas and correct the wrong ones. Use the statements you’ve got as headings for the passages below.

1. Emotions have a will of their own and cannot be controlled.

2. Stress is something that affects only those who have high-pressure lives.

3. The only way to lower stress is to change your surroundings or to take medication.

4. Stress is caused by events that happen to us.

5. We always know when we are under stress.