Terry feels out of control, reacts to stressful situations with anger and frustration, becomes silent when he is stressed, and refused to talk about what is bothering him. What does it sound like Terry lacks? What are repercussions of this? Is it possible for Terry to learn another way of being? If so, how?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Terry lacks hardiness. Health is influenced not just by behavioral choices, such as coping effectively with stress and maintaining an exercise program, but also by attitudes and personality style. Anger is physiologically arousing, stress hormones course through the body, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Frequently angry displays and ruminating about events that invoke anger and other negative emotions can lead to high blood pressure that persists and, ultimately, heart disease.
People who score low in hardiness tend to feel less control; experience more negative reactions to stressful situations; and are more likely to use an emotion-focused style of coping, such as avoidance or denial, which is maladaptive to health and functioning and is associated with higher stress in response to stimuli.
Hardiness can be learned. Training in hardy skills and attitudes, such as coping, social support, relaxation and stress reduction, nutrition, and physical activity, can increase feelings of control, challenge, and commitment that are central to hardiness. There is some evidence that hardy leaders can indeed increase hardy cognitions and behaviors in groups, influencing the meaning-making process so that situations are interpreted as interesting, challenging opportunities to grow and controllable.