How Trauma and and Chronic Stress Alter Brain Function

1. and Chronic Stress Alter Brain Function
Course # 830
Contact Hours: 5 Hours
Authors: Meredith Patterson, RN, BSN, CRRN
Shelda L. Hudson, RN, BSN, PHN
Course Material valid through 05/2016
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The Brain on Stress
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2. Table of Contents
About The Author ........................................3
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Introduction ..................................................3
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E
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Page 2
The Brain on Stress

3. About the Author
Stress
Meredith Patterson, RN, BSN, CRRN
Concepts
Introduction
Purpose and Goals
the care of the patient
Instructional
alarm reaction
The Brain on Stress
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4. In the resistance stage
World
exhaustive stage
and tear.
Historical Stress
Acute stress
Episodic acute stress
(See Figure 1)
Page 4
The Brain on Stress

5. Holmes-Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
9.
10.
11.
12.
14.
15.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Life Event
Life Event
Mean Value
Mean Value
Death of spouse......................................... 100
Divorce ........................................................ 73
Marital separation from mate ................... 65
Detention in jail or other institution ......... 63
Death of a close family member................. 63
Major personal injury or illness................. 53
Marriage ..................................................... 50
..................................... 47
Marital reconciliation with mate ............... 45
Retirement from work ................................ 45
Major change in health or behavior
of a family member ...................................... 44
Pregnancy ................................................... 40
....................................... 39
Gaining a new family member through
birth, adoption, older child moving in ....... 39
Major business readjustment (merger,
bankruptcy)................................................. 39
................ 38
Death of a close friend ................................ 37
Changing to a different line of work.......... 36
Major change in the number of arguments
with spouse (regarding child-rearing,
personal habits) .......................................... 35
Taking out a mortgage or loan for a major
purchase (e.g., home, business, etc.) ......... 31
Foreclosure on a mortgage or a loan ......... 30
Major change in responsibilities at work
(promotion, demotion, lateral transfer)..... 29
Son or daughter leaving home
(marriage, college) ...................................... 29
around the corner and tend to predict
24. Trouble with in-laws .................................. 29
25. Outstanding personal achievement........... 28
26. Spouse beginning or ceasing work outside
the home...................................................... 26
27. Beginning or ceasing formal schooling ...... 26
28. Major change in living conditions ............. 25
29. Revision of personal habits
(dress, manners) ......................................... 24
30. Trouble with the boss ................................. 23
31. Major change in working hours
or conditions................................................ 20
32. Change in residence ................................... 20
33. Changing to a new school........................... 20
34. Major change in type and/or amount
of recreation ................................................ 19
35. Major change in church activities ............ 19
36. Major change in social activities
(dancing, movies) ....................................... 18
37. Taking out a mortgage or loan for a lesser
purchase (car, TV, freezer) ......................... 17
38. Major change in sleeping habits ................ 16
39. Major change in number of family get
togethers .................................................... 15
40. Major change in eating habits .................. 15
41. Vacation ...................................................... 13
42. Christmas ................................................... 12
disturbing the peace) .................................. 11
TOTALS ......................................................... 1466
Adapted From: Holmes, T. H., and Rahe, R. H. (1967). The Social
Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research,
11, 213-218.
Figure 1
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Chronic stress
The Brain on Stress
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6. Decision-Making
Stress Triggers: A
Work Stressors
Other Stress Factors
Awfulizing
The Feedback Loop
How the Brain and the
Some ways to avoid “Awfulizing”
Social Stressors
Disease Stressors
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The Brain on Stress

7. Blood pressure
Respiration--
Slowing of digestion
Increased Release of Red Blood Cells
The conversion of glycogen to glucose
The brain releases endogenous
opiates--
The Brain on Stress
Stress and Disease
The Brain on Stress
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8. Learning
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The Brain on Stress

9. The Emotional Life of Your Brain
a Relaxation Response
Exercise and Stress
Can Meditation Help?
The Brain on Stress
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10. with Sleep
Get Your ZZZZ’s
Spark: The Revolutionary
New Science of Exercise and the Brain,
Page 10
The Brain on Stress

11. Stage 1
Stage 2
L-Theanine
regular. Stages 3 and 4
5-HTP
ing, caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. Caf
Nutrition and the
Brain
The Brain on Stress
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12. Ashwagandha
Out Thinking the Stress
blood urea nitrogen and lactic acid in
Melatonin
Exercise
Venting to Others
Incognito,
Page 12
The Brain on Stress

13. Nurses
in life
Helping the Stressed
Patient
Start with a Thorough
or pain
Skin
General
Diarrhea
The Brain on Stress
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14. Exploring Stress
Issues and Dispelling
Stress is the same for everyone: Stress
is different for everyone
Benson, H. 1976. Steps to Elicit
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The Brain on Stress

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