In this lecture we will discuss what is ‘stress’ and how we define it for us. Then we’ll compare our definitions to the ones given by professional organisations so that we could understand the term ‘stress’ from various viewpoints. This is an introductory but also a foundational lecture for this course which is not to be missed!

As you know from the previous lecture, ‘stress’ involves psychological and physiological responses and can affect us on many levels. Stress is what we can get used to quickly but what can be managed through many techniques and interventions. In this lecture, we will talk about the effects of short-term and long-term (‘chronic’) experiences of stress on our body and the mind. Another foundational and interesting lecture which is not to be missed! See you in our class!

In this lecture we will continue discussion about ‘stress’ and its affect on the mind and body. For example, we will look at  such topics as ‘why people can experience stress differently from one another’, what factors come to play, how ‘personality’ affects their experience of stressful events, whether it is possible to change your ‘personality traits’ thus reducing your reaction to stress, and much more. Let’s get down to our lecture now!

In this lecture we will have a look at a very interesting debate - ‘good stress’ Vs ‘bad stress’, or is there such a thing? Can it be that in some situations ‘stress’ and our response to it gives us a positive experience? Let’s have a look at the research that clearly indicate to us ‘what’ and ‘how often’ we need to experience in order to call it ‘good stress’ or ‘bad stress’. Let’s discuss it in detail in our video lecture here. 

In our previous lectures we have discussed how stress affect our physical and psychological health, and whether ‘stress’ is always a ‘bad thing’. We have also discussed why some people experience ‘stress’ and react to stressful situations in a different way than others. In this lecture we will continue talking about the affect of ‘stress’ on our health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on the topic of ‘burn out’. Here you will learn ‘what is ‘burn out’’, who is more predisposed to it, and what it is possible to do to prevent it. 

In this lecture we will look into ‘coping with stress as an individual’ Vs ‘coping with stress as a group of individuals’. What do we mean by ‘group of individuals’? This can include families, groups of friends, support groups, organisations and so on. What is the main differences between coping ‘on your own’ and coping ‘as a part of a group’? Does ‘age’ of the person matter too? This is what we will be discussing in this lecture!

In this lecture we will be discussing why some people are unable to cope with stress and which circumstances can make them do so. We also be examining various situations and health conditions that can reduce ability to cope with stress to its lowest levels. In the end of this lecture you will be left with a few questions that you need to reflect and research on, but which can provide you with even more information and knowledge that you derive from this course. 

Throughout this course we have been discussing ‘what is stress’ and why some people are able to cope with stress better than others. In this lecture we will be looking at various coping strategies that people use when they deal with stress. For some people this may involve distracting themselves with foods and drinks, whereas for others this would involve scheduling their visit to their psychologist. How do you cope with stress on daily basis? What would you advise to your friend when they have to deal with stress? Think about it whilst listening to this lecture! 

In this lecture we will touch on a very important subject of ‘addictions’ and how they related to coping and dealing with stressful situations. You might think that people who are stressed may use addictive substances in order to deal with stress, and that might be true, but consider that people who are addicted to certain substances use them as a way of dealing with pre-existing conditions such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. So what did start first - ‘addiction’ or ‘stress-related disorder’? This is what we will be discussing in this lecture. 

This lecture is one of few on ‘stress management’ that we discuss in this section. During the next few lectures you will find out about the role of ‘breathing’ in stress management, what medication can be prescribed to the individual who is struggling to cope with stress, the role of nutrition in dealing with stress, and much more. Let’s start this lecture with an understanding what ‘breathing’ is and how this knowledge can help us in dealing with daily or chronic stressors. 

In this section of the course we are looking at various techniques that can help reduce stress and anxiety to a minimum, and in come cases eliminate them entirely. As you have probably noticed by now, many of these techniques involve working with one’s ‘breath’ and that is for a reason. When we stressed, our ‘breathing’ changes, and this is why we need to get it ‘under control’ so to speak. In this lecture we’ll have a look at several techniques that are aimed at dealing with stress and stressful situations. 

At this point of your study you gathered much knowledge about ‘treatments’ for anxiety and stress-related disorders, and you know of several techniques that you can use for yourself or for recommending them to others. In this lecture we will continue with our discussion related to ‘treatments’, and we’ll particularly look at what kind of medication can be prescribed to an individual suffering from anxiety disorder or stress related condition. 

Other types of medication for anxiety can include for example Buspirone (BuSpar) and Beta Blockers. Let's continue our discussion related to medication in this lecture!

For those of you who are interested in ‘nutrition’ as something that can help us to feel ‘better’ or ‘worse’, this lesson is for you. In this lecture we’ll have a look at different foods and diets that can help the person to improve their wellbeing and make them more resilient to stress- and anxiety provoking situations. Let’s get down to this interesting lecture now!

Some people find that they are sensitive to certain foods, food ingredients or chemicals and preservatives that are added to foods. It is difficult to pinpoint which chemical affect the individual to which degree, but paying attention to how the body responds to different foods can help to control anxiety symptoms better. Let's continue our discussion related to 'nutrition' here!

So far, we’ve covered many topics related to ‘stress’ and a bit about ‘anxiety’, though mainly we were studying ‘stress management’. In our next section of this course we will be looking at Psychology of Anxiety: what is anxiety and what is the difference between stress and anxiety disorder, what is generalised anxiety disorder and how it can be linked to various addictions, and much more.

Now you know what is ‘anxiety’ and what the symptoms of ‘general anxiety’ are. You might be comparing it to ‘stress response’ and wonder what is the difference between the two. Or when ‘stress response’ becomes ‘anxiety’ or even ‘anxiety disorder’. Let’s discuss this in detail in our current lecture.  

Throughout this course we have been discussing the topics of ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety’ and their affect on mind and body. We’ve been also saying that experiencing ‘stress’ and ‘anxiety’ is normal for most people, whereas some people get affect by those conditions to the degree that requires professional assistance, whether it is a drug prescription or a psychological treatment. In this lecture we’ll discuss the transition from ‘normal’ or ‘typical’ anxious response to various situations to an actual ‘anxiety disorder’. 

In this section of the course we will focus our learning on ‘anxiety disorders’: what they represent, their symptomatology, and how they differ from one another. Let’s start with the discussion of ‘generalised anxiety disorder’, what symptomatology it has, and how it gets diagnosed.

As we’ve been saying throughout our previous lectures, often anxiety is a response to something non-specific, because the ‘worry’ continues long after the ‘stressor’ is gone. It may have started with something ‘specific’ but shortly after it becomes ‘non-specific’ where the person is feeling anxious but cannot give clear explanations about ‘what is causing it’. 

In this lecture we’ll look into one of the specific types of anxiety which is often referred to as ‘social phobia’. Another interesting topic not to be missed! See you in the class!

Throughout this course you have been learning a great deal about anxiety and its symptoms, which should give you a clear picture of what it is and how it can be treated. In this lecture we will be talking about another type of anxiety often known as ‘panic disorder’. 

You might have heard about it or even had an experience of ‘panic attack’ yourself, and you might have not realised that it is another type of anxiety that can be diagnosed and treated with medication and psychotherapy. So lets proceed with our lecture now!

Previously, during this course we have been talking about ‘addictions’ as a way of coping with ‘stress’, so now you have some knowledge about ‘addictions’ and their relation to ‘mental health’. In this lecture we will continue with this topic, looking at ‘addictions’ and their relation to ‘anxiety disorders’. Before we start with this lecture, I want you to think about what you know about ‘addictions’ and what would be your assumptions about this topic in relation to ‘anxiety disorders’. Do you think that people with ‘anxiety disorders’ are more likely to become ‘addicted’ to certain substances? Or perhaps there is no relation between ‘anxiety disorders’ and ‘addictions’ at all? Let’s have a look at research studies and learn more about it here!

Throughout the course you have been learning a great deal about ‘anxiety’ and ‘stress’, their symptomatology and causes. We’ve also discussed various treatments for stress- and anxiety management to some extent. In this module of the course we are continuing with this topic where we will look at several treatment options in a more detail. The first lecture in this module covers the topic of 'Psychotherapy for anxiety’ where you will find out what do we mean when we say ‘psychotherapy for anxiety’, who can benefit from it, how a psychotherapist can help the client, and how long the treatment usually goes for. 

You might be familiar with the topic of CBT already especially if you took my other courses on psychotherapy and psychology, and one particular one which called CBT for eating disorders. You can find this course at this online school but if you dont’ for some reason, then write to me directly and I’ll send you a discounted link to the course. In that standalone course on CBT you would go in a detail about the CBT treatment, how it’s originated, who benefits from it the most according to the latest research, and what you would need to know in order to become a cBT therapist. 

In recent years more and more people have become interested in ‘mindfulness’ and using it for their daily life. Busy life, career goals, juggling family and work, all of can make the person less mindful and more stressed out like never before. To find inner balance is much more achievable through the techniques of ‘mindfulness’ and ‘mindfulness based therapy’, and this is what we will be discussing at this lecture. 

In one of our previous lectures we’ve already been talking about several medical treatments that are available for individuals suffering from stress related disorders. Many of those medications would be similar to those prescribed to treat anxiety. Even if we repeat some information about certain medications in this lecture, I want you to know that we are talking about the treatments of anxiety-related disorders and not for stress-related psychological problems, even though they often cross over. In any case I hope you will find this lecture informative and interesting, as usual! ;)

During this course you have learned a great deal about stress- and anxiety management, the low ability to cope with stress in some individuals, the link between psychological disorders and addictions, the symptoms and the treatments of stress- and anxiety related disorders, the role of nutrition and lifestyle as a part of managing stress and anxiety, how psychotherapy used for the treatment of those psychological issues, and so on. In this lecture, which is the final lecture of the course, you will find out about several additional anxiety-reducing techniques that are often quick and effective for dealing with anxiety attacks.