Final Project
In Jennifer’s case there are several different factors that would be considered stressors in her life. Some of her daily hassles include her one-hour commute to and from work, housework that needs to be completed, a demanding work schedule, and her responsibilities to her employees. Her health is another daily stressor that she has to deal with since she feels as if she is sick, yet her doctor was unable to find anything wrong, and I am sure she is constantly worrying about her father and his wellbeing. This is a large amount for one person to handle even without mentioning that she is still in grieving concerning her mother and unborn child. Her husband’s parents seem like very loving individuals, but they are pressuring Jennifer into trying for another baby before she has properly grieved over her miscarriage and properly handled the situation with her father’s healthcare needs. All the major stressors aside, housework and her daily commute are just things that have to been complete.
Jennifer’s health problems are obviously manifestations of her unresolved issues and the amount of stress that she is under; this is what is known as general adaption syndrome (GAS). Her headaches, backaches, and indigestion could be signs that she is currently in the alarm stage of GAS. This is how her body is dealing with the sudden changes in her life, and if she remains in a prolonged stressful state her body will begin to shutdown. It is a good sign that she is not experiences any depression or fatigue. These symptoms would indicate that she is in the exhaustion stage of GAS, which could lead to more severe medical implications. It is hard to say whether Jennifer took a more passive or active approach to her stress. She sought the help of a medical professional about her headaches, backaches, and indigestion, but that is all we are told. It is assumed this is as