An engaging exploration of the scientific theories and medical conditions relating to stress and an examination of case studies that suggest ways to manage, reduce, and prevent stress in everyday life. Tension and anxiety are normal aspects of modern life, but ineffective stress management can lead to stress disorders, psychological distress, and physical ailments. An ideal resource for students researching the impact of stress on both physical and psychological health, this comprehensive two-volume set addresses scientific theories about stress, describes common symptoms and effects, identifies various sources of stress, explains how to identify and assess stress levels, and shares effective coping skills as well as strategies for preventing, managing, and reducing stress. More than two dozen contributors share their combined expertise, covering topics such as cognitive and behavioral theories and explanations of stress, the physical symptoms and effects of being subjected to stress, factors involving lifestyle and parenting styles, effective and ineffective coping methods, and finding support in mitigating stress. The set also supplies 20 personal accounts of stress, offers sidebars throughout its pages that present additional information about interesting related topics, and presents primary sources and statistics to encourage students to use their research and critical thinking skills.

Table of Contents:
Preface Stress: An Overview Part I: Theories of Stress Introduction to Part I, Theories of Stress 1. Cognitive Behavioral Theories and Explanations of Stress Samantha Reif 2. How Stress Affects Human Development Joseph Day 3. Ecological Theories of Stress Tara C. Samples 4. Diathesis-Stress Models for Understanding Physiological and Psychological Effects of Stress Ingrid M. Tiegel 5. Theories of Spiritual Stress Meetu Khosla 6. The Neuroscience of Stress Cynthia Schroeder 7. Holism and Stress: Brain, Mind, and Society Julia Yang 8. Misconceptions about Stress Serena Wadhwa 9. Stress Hormones Ioulia Maimari 10. Cognitive Symptoms and Effects of Stress Gage Stermensky II and Robert R. Moss 11. The Mind-Body Connection and Stress Ioulia Maimari and Serena Wadhwa 12. Factors in Assessing and Measuring Stress Serena Wadhwa Part II: Sources of Stress Introduction to Part II, Sources of Stress 13. Financial Sources of Stress Serena Wadhwa 14. Socioeconomic Status and the Stress Process Lydia Falconnier, Judy Berglund, and Quenette L. Walton 15. The Impact of Social Relationships on Stress Raven Lynn Badger 16. Generational and Life Span Stresses Serena Wadhwa 17. Families and Stress Janis Clark Johnston 18. Understanding Work Stress Julia Yang 19. Technology and Stress Serena Wadhwa 20. Environmental Stress Serena Wadhwa 21. Academic Stress in High School and College Students in the United States Yoo Jung Kim 22. Caregiver Stress Rachel Dubrow 23. Sexuality and Stress Raven Lynn Badger Part III: Responses to Stress Introduction to Part III, Responses to Stress 24. Nutrition and Stress Heather Shannon, with Jonathan Fenton 25. Physical Activity and Stress Serena Wadhwa 26. Sleep and Stress Kirsten Levin Belzer 27. Relaxation and Stress Serena Wadhwa 28. Mindfulness and Meditation for Reducing Stress Rae Louise Mazzei 29. Creativity and Stress Management Erin Conway 30. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Managing Stress Cheryl L. Mejta 31. Optimism and Stress Thomas C. Anderson 32. Music and Art: Their Relationship to Stress Serena Wadhwa 33. Medications for Stress Management Doug Smith 34. Writing as a Means of Stress Management Raven Lynn Badger 35. Humor and Stress Jimia Stokes 36. Cognitive Restructuring to Manage Stress Kimberly S. Kut 37. Language and Stress Rae Noble 38. Substance Misuse and Stress Jimia Stokes 39. Eating Disorders: A Maladaptive Coping Mechanism Joann V. Hendelman 40. Self-Injury to Cope with Stress Wendy E. Goetz, Laura Foster, and Sarah Sanders 41. Suicide Serena Wadhwa 42. Stress and Violence Kira Weidner 43. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Amber N. Douglas 44. Burnout Serena Wadhwa 45. Psychological Stress Disorders Serena Wadhwa 46. The Prevention, Management, and Reduction of Stress Michele Ferraro 47. Trends and Future Directions in Stress Research Serena Wadhwa Part IV: Personal Accounts Reaching Goals While Reducing Stress Perfectionism and Stress Optimal Balance with Pain Managing Stress: My Holistic Journey What the Stress! Clearing Unconscious Stress Relying on God in the Stressful Times Mystery Afflictions: Can It Be Stress? Let the Music Play and Read for the Knowledge Mind, Body, Spirit: What Are They Really? Stressful Situations Overcoming Me I Am So Not "Zen" Stress Is from Within It's The Most Wonderful Stressful Time of the Year Coping in the Midst of Cancer My Tornado of Stress My Trials and Triumphs of Graduate School The Intuitive Side of My Stress Overcommitted to Stress: My Way Out Recommended Resources About the Editor and Contributors Index