Final Major Blog Stress Academic Lecture

I’m not quite sure of what qualifies as an academic lecture for this blog because I know it cannot be a basic class lecture. I’m going to describe a lecture given by Professor Sampson that was given about stress and its effects on people. This was a lecture that was a part of my Psychology 101class but it was special meeting that occurred at Carroll Hall that did not really correspond to the class topics. Sampson began by speaking about the concept of “catastrophic thinking,” which is one thinks in a pessimistic way and over-exaggerates the severity of their problems. People too often according to Sampson create their own problems as a result of stress. Little things or things that are easy to deal with are blown way out of proportion. Therefore the questions were brought out, which were how to detect catastrophic thinking and how deal with this type of thinking.

One of the ways to deal with thinking so pessimistically is to use humor in one’s life as Sampson stated. He told the audience of a story in Chicago. Years ago in the large city there was a massive flood that wrecked the suburb area of the city. Many people acted terribly whether they cried or shut themselves off. Yet the story told of many who did the opposite. They joked about their homes being destroyed and this in effect lessened their stress and made them healthier. From the lecture I learned that joking around and laughing about terrible events in the right manner and context can help one to deal with hardship and stress.

Releasing pent of emotions was another method of dealing with stress that Sampson discussed. People too often keep their emotions inside of themselves and never let out there feelings. Keeping anger and sadness inside without oneself admitting or putting it out into the open can be detrimental to not only one’s life but one’s health. One case study took place where one group of college kids wrote about trivial matters while the others wrote about personal problems. The ones that wrote about their personal problems had better semesters in the classroom and out of it. They were happier and healthier. Therefore Sampson helped the audience to understand that feelings and emotions should be brought out more openly so that stress, anger, and depression will not arise. Keeping pent up emotions can also create elevated blood pressure and poor immune systems.

Managing hostility and learning to relax were of the last ways Sampson described how to limit stressed. People with lots of anger and hostility has increased risks of heart attacks and normally has feelings need to be expressed but is hidden underneath. People with anger feel as though they are “wronged” and build up stress. Therefore to get rid of the stress they need to forgive others. Relaxing can also limit stress. Ways we can all relax is by being in quiet area, using a song or word repetitively, having a passive attitude, and staying in a comfortable position. Exercising and staying active all help us feel good about ourselves to which can reduce stress as Sampson related. In the end, stress all comes down to thinking irrationally and not be open. When problems arise people just need to breath and deal with them rationally. By limiting stress not only will be people be more successful but also healthier.