Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook, 6th Ed.

Stress levels are on the rise in our increasingly busy world. In a 2015 national survey, 24 percent of U.S. adults reported extreme stress, an increase from 18 percent just one year earlier. About one-third reported their stress had increased over the past year; fewer than half as many said it had decreased. Prolonged stress adversely affects immune system function, worsening conditions such as chronic pain disorders, diabetes, and heart problems. Mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder, are also linked to serious problems coping with stress. Mental illnesses are common in the United States. Nearly one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (51.5 million in 2019). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Additionally, based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), an estimated 3.6 percent of U.S. adults had posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the past year. As stress levels in adults rise, so do those in children and adolescents who struggle to cope with worries about family and school.

Stress-Related Disorders Sourcebook, Sixth 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 book also discusses how stress contributes to mental-health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, 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, and occupational stress. Tips on helping children and teens cope with stress are also offered, along with a glossary of related terms and a directory of resources.