Stress Physiology & Coping Flashcards

Which brain structure is primarily responsible for detecting threats and triggering the fear response?

Answer: Amygdala

The amygdala acts as the brain's alarm system, rapidly detecting threats and initiating the stress response before conscious awareness occurs.

When a client reports feeling 'emotionally numb' after a prolonged stressful period, this is most likely a sign of:

Answer: Allostatic overload

Allostatic overload occurs when cumulative stress exceeds the body's capacity to adapt, often presenting as emotional numbing, exhaustion, or burnout.

The term 'allostasis' refers to:

Answer: The body's ability to achieve stability through change

Allostasis describes the body's dynamic process of maintaining stability by actively changing physiological parameters in response to demands.

During the resistance stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), the body:

Answer: Maintains heightened physiological arousal to cope with ongoing stress

In the resistance stage, the body sustains elevated physiological efforts to cope with a persistent stressor, consuming significant energy reserves.

Which neurotransmitter is most associated with the 'tend-and-befriend' stress response pattern?

Answer: Oxytocin

Oxytocin promotes social bonding and affiliative behaviors and is central to the tend-and-befriend response, an alternative to fight-or-flight especially observed in females.

A holistic coach notices a client consistently uses humor to deflect from discussing a painful topic. In coping theory, this is best classified as:

Answer: Avoidant coping

Using humor or distraction to avoid engaging with a stressor or its emotional impact is categorized as avoidant (or escape-avoidance) coping.

Elevated chronic cortisol is most directly linked to which physical health consequence?

Answer: Impaired immune function

Prolonged high cortisol suppresses immune system activity by reducing lymphocyte production and inflammatory response, increasing vulnerability to illness.