Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook, 5th Ed.

Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook, Fifth Edition provides updated information about the origins and types of stress and describes physical and mental health disorders that may develop during and after stressful situations. Readers will learn about how stress worsens asthma, digestive disorders, infertility, and chronic pain. The Sourcebook also discusses how stress contributes to mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and addiction to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs.  Information about trauma, loss, and grief is presented, along with suggestions for managing stressful situations, such as aggressive driving, caregiver stress, economic hardship, return from active military duty, and occupational stress. Tips on helping children and teens cope with stress are also offered, along with a glossary of related terms, a directory of resources and online access.

This book is divided into parts and chapters. Parts focus on broad areas of interest. Chapters are devoted to single topics within a part.

Part I: Introduction to Stress and Stress-Related Disorders defines and characterizes what stress is. It also gives a brief insight into the common signs and symptoms of stress, and the various factors that influence stress. Individual chapters also deal with how personality, fatigue, loneliness, childhood, and aging are associated with stress.

Part II: How Stress Affects the Body offers facts about how stress is associated with Alzheimer disease, asthma, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, gastrointestinal problems, headache, and cardiovascular problems. It also includes chapters on how stress is related to infertility, multiple sclerosis, obesity, pain, pregnancy, skin problems, sleep disorders, teeth grinding, and repetitive stress injuries.

Part III: How Stress Affects Mental Health discusses depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, substance abuse, addiction, and other stress-related disorders that develop after trauma. Chapters include information about relationships and traumatic stress, and traumatic stress in children and teens. An individual chapter deals exclusively with posttraumatic stress disorder in military personnel returning from the war zone.

Part IV: Treating Stress-Related Disorders includes chapters that deal with helping a family member handle stress, finding a therapist, and coping with traumatic stress reactions. It provides detailed information on the various treatment procedures such as psychotherapy, medications, complementary and alternative medicine, counseling, and neurolinguistic programming.

Part V: Stress Management covers the basics of preventing and managing stress, developing resilience, stress reduction techniques, healthy habits to combat stress, and handling stressful situations. It also discusses tips for coping with stress, stress management for children, teens, and families, and other stress management strategies.

Part VI: Additional Help and Information includes a glossary of stress-related terms, a directory of National organizations that provide information about specific stress-related disorders and how to find a support group to cope with stress.