Mental vs Physical stress

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Pithikos, Jan 28, 2015.

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What would you say mental stress is?

  1. The same as physical stress

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. The stress of the mind (whatever that means)

    3 vote(s)
    75.0%
  3. It doesn't exist

    1 vote(s)
    25.0%
  4. I don't know

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  1. Pithikos Registered Member

    Messages:
    74
    Anyone knows the difference?

    To me physical stress is the normal stress that we feel when we get symptoms like high pulse and sweating. Mental stress to me is a vague term that doesn't really have a definition. However recently I was talking with a psychologist and she was talking about mental stress and mentioned stressors. Those however are part of physical stress from what I know.

    So anyone knows the full story? What is the difference between physical and mental stress? I googled around but there doesn't seem to be some trustful resource with clear definitions about these two.
     
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  3. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    Is this a joke? Physical stress is what happens to your arm when you lift something heavy. Mental stress is in your mind, like if you lose your job, or have lots of pressure to do something mental, like final exams.
     
    davewhite04 likes this.
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  5. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    The poll is ridiculous so I didn't respond there. I'm sure everyone realizes what physical stress is.

    I'm sure they understand metal stress as well. I'd say that kind of stress is generally from thinking about something that you currently have no control over. At least that's the unhealthy kind of mental stress.

    If it's something that you can currently do something about then by all means you should be thinking about it and acting on it.
     
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  7. davewhite04 Valued Senior Member

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    Physical stress is straight forward, you lift a box up break your back and end up in a wheel chair the rest of your life. Mental stress is all in the head(obviously, just checking though) , stress in a relationship, shes working 10hrs a day, he cannot get out of bed until 2pm because there isn't anything worth getting up for... she hates him he loves her, then paints a masterpiece.
     
  8. theorist-constant12345 Banned Banned

    Messages:
    2,660
    stress
    strɛs/
    noun
    1. 1.
      pressure or tension exerted on a material object.
      "the distribution of stress is uniform across the bar"
      synonyms:pressure, tension, strain, tightness, tautness;
      raretensity
      "the distribution of stress is uniform across the bar"
    2. 2.
      a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
      "he's obviously under a lot of stress"
      synonyms:strain, pressure, tension, nervous tension, worry, anxiety,nervousness; More
     
  9. theorist-constant12345 Banned Banned

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  10. Pithikos Registered Member

    Messages:
    74
    Unfortunately this is not a joke. I hear what you say. BUT.. physical stress is what you say plus the stress that you feel when your heartbeat raises. Both are physical stresses since they relate directly to physical things.

    Mental stress however sounds like something that doesn't exist.. If you have mental stress for example, you won't start sweating and raising heartbeats. So I am trying to understand if people here refer to physical stress when they say "mental stress". Since mental means "something relating to the mind" and mind is not something physical. Notice that brain is the physical part.
     
  11. Pithikos Registered Member

    Messages:
    74
    Yes, but in this case physical stress is implied. When you feel tension etc. hormones are released in your body which are physical things. So what the hell is mental stress in that case?
     
  12. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    So you are referencing the mind/ body dualism problem? I think mental stress does make you start sweating and makes your heart rate rise. Think of a performing artist with stage fright. Unfortunately most people can't just ignore the mind.
     
  13. Pithikos Registered Member

    Messages:
    74
    Well I see the human from a materialist perspective. For me mind is only the thoughts. I don't even like using the term mind since it is so abstract and noone knows what it is. But to me mind is the thoughts someone have.

    Analyzing your example with the artist for me it goes something like this:
    1. The artist thinks about something that will occur in the near future
    2. This creates fear (all this happens inside the brain)
    3. The brain signals the body to release all sort of hormones
    4. The hormones result in high blood pressure and sweating
    5. The stress being perceived by the artist is simply the incoming signals of the nerves throughout the body after all this process

    So I don't see how there is stress inside the mind.. The stress is a highly physical thing happening throughout the body (notice not even inside the brain). The perception of all this happens to be the brain in the end. Still there is no stress happening inside the brain. So people here maybe think the process is different from this? Maybe I am mistaken. I am not a biology student after all.
     
  14. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

    Messages:
    54,036
    I think you are mostly correct, however the brain could experience a degree of physical stress, since strong emotions like fear can cause it to work harder, and along with that comes increased blood flow, even heart attack or stroke. I agree that most mental stress can be safely ignored, which is an aspect of Zen Buddhist teaching. We suffer due to self-identification with our thoughts, which means much of our suffering is self-generated.
     
  15. Rav Valued Senior Member

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  16. Bells Staff Member

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    24,270
    Tell that to someone who suffers from PTSD. For some people, "mental stress" is so debilitating that they are unable to move or get out of bed, which then becomes physical stress.

    The stresses in the brain, or which originate in the brain often have physical repercussions on the body (physical stress).

    The example of the artist is a prime example. The physical stress would not happen if the mind was not stressed.

    You also need to understand the role the mind, or the brain, plays in the physical - in how your body responds, feels, performs, etc. If the body is stressed, the mind will also be stressed. So if you break your leg, the pain will affect your mind - your mind will respond to the pain and that is why you feel and recognise the pain.
     

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