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Discussion Assignment - Docx 5

The document discusses stress, problem-focused coping strategies, and avoidance coping strategies. It provides an example of when the author had to use problem-focused coping when their medical exam results indicated a potential kidney issue. Problem-focused coping involved educating themselves and changing their diet, while avoidance coping tries to prevent thinking about stressful events and can worsen health conditions.

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Steafan Taylor
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26 views2 pages

Discussion Assignment - Docx 5

The document discusses stress, problem-focused coping strategies, and avoidance coping strategies. It provides an example of when the author had to use problem-focused coping when their medical exam results indicated a potential kidney issue. Problem-focused coping involved educating themselves and changing their diet, while avoidance coping tries to prevent thinking about stressful events and can worsen health conditions.

Uploaded by

Steafan Taylor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Discussion Assignment – Unit 5

Stress is defined as the body’s response to something that necessitates an action or awareness and
produces physical, psychological, or emotional tension (Scott, 2020). Stress can be categorized as both
positive and negative. Positive stress is referred to as eustress while negative stress is termed as
distress. Problem-focused coping refers to any conscious measures to control stressors and change a
difficult individual interaction to manipulate or remove the causes of stress through human conduct
(Schoenmakers et al., 2015).

A time that I can recall being stressed and having to use a problem focused coping strategy is when I had
received alarming news about my medical exam result. I worked on a cruise ship and is required do a
medical every 2 years. In 2020 upon doing my medical exam I was told that my creatinine levels where
elevated and that it is usually an indication that something could be wrong with my kidneys. The
thought of this was very terrifying and burdensome. My work contract was shortened, and I was now
scheduled to see a specialist in the Caribbean that would determine if I was fit for duty. With my health
and job on the line there were night when I found it difficult to sleep. The problem focused strategy that
I used was to educate myself about the condition and plan meals and eliminate high protein diets to
avoid worsening my condition. This coping strategy affect my health in a positive way as I was now
health conscious about the foods I put in my body. I also started to exercise and had a healthier lifestyle.

Avoidance coping is a dysfunctional style of coping whereby an individual alters their behavior to


prevent thinking or feeling unpleasant about a stressful event. This coping strategy entail evading the
stressor rather than solving or treating the problem (Unique Mindcare, 2019). Whilst approach coping is
referring to any approach for dealing with a difficult incident or scenario in which the individual actively
concentrates on the troubling incident. In relation to stress related illness the approach coping can be
beneficial as it helps the individual to positively deal with their illness on the other hand avoidance can
be detrimental as this behavior can cause a person to have an unconcerned attitude towards their
health condition which can worsen the illness. One idea for improving copying skills or resilience in
those experiencing illness is to incorporate relaxation techniques such as yoga and mediation in their
daily activities.

Reference

Schoenmakers, E. C., van Tilburg, T. G., & Fokkema, T. (2015, February 11). Problem-focused
and emotion-focused coping options and loneliness: How are they related? European
journal of ageing. Retrieved March 2, 2022, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5549139

Scott, E. (2020, August 3). How is stress affecting my health? Verywell Mind. Retrieved March
1, 2022, from https://www.verywellmind.com/stress-and-health-3145086
Unique Mindcare. (2019, March 18). Why avoidance coping creates additional stress. Unique
Mindcare. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://uniquemindcare.com/why-avoidance-
coping-creates-additional-stress/

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