stress management. general awareness understanding stress effective management of stress symptoms of...
TRANSCRIPT
STRESS MANAGEMENT
General Awareness
• Understanding Stress• Effective management of Stress• Symptoms of Stress• Sources of Stress• Effects of Stress• Handling Stress• Minimize burn-out• Distress to De-stress• Coping with increased Stress levels
Understanding Stress
• To understand stress, we need to look at the events that occur, our thoughts about them, and the way we respond
• Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize
Major approaches to manage Stress
• Action-oriented: In which we seek to confront the problem causing the stress, changing the environment or the situation
• Emotionally-oriented: In which we do not have the power to change the situation, but we can manage stress by changing our interpretation of the situation and the way we feel about it
• Acceptance-oriented: Where something has happened over which we have no power and no emotional control, and where our focus is on surviving the stress
Symptoms of Stress
• Emotional Disturbance• Disruption of Thought
Processes• Physical Discomfort• Behavioural Changes
Emotional Disturbance
• Bouts of depression• Impatience• Fits of rage• Tearfulness• Deterioration of personal hygiene and
appearance
Disruption of Thought Processes
• Lack of concentration• Memory lapses• Difficulty in making decisions• Confusion• Disorientation• Panic attacks
Physical Discomfort
• Sleep pattern changes
• Fatigue• Digestion changes• Loss of sexual drive• Headaches• Aches and pains• Infections• Indigestion
• Dizziness• Fainting• Sweating &
trembling• Tingling hands & feet• Breathlessness• Palpitation• Missed heartbeats
Behavioural Change
• Appetite changes - too much or too little• Eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia• Increased intake of alcohol & other drugs• Increased smoking• Restlessness• Fidgeting• Nail biting• Hypochondria
Sources of Stress
External
• Major life changes• Work • Relationship
difficulties• Financial problems• Being too busy• Children and family
Internal
• Inability to accept uncertainty
• Pessimism • Negative self-talk• Unrealistic
expectations• Perfectionism• Lack of Assertiveness
Effects of Stress
Positive
• Stress can also have a positive effect, spurring motivation and awareness, providing the stimulation to cope with challenging situations
• Stress also provides the sense of urgency and alertness needed for survival when confronting threatening situations
Negative
• It is a contributory factor in minor conditions, such as headaches, digestive problems, skin complaints, insomnia and ulcers
• Excessive, prolonged and unrelieved stress can have a harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health
Handling Stress
How to minimize burn-out
• Understanding where pressure comes from
• Too much to do, too little time…• Distancing from the people• Avoiding Exhaustion• Protecting the meaning of the work
Distress to De-stress
• Physical Exercises• Healthy eating and drinking• Relaxation techniques• Diversions
Coping with increased Stress levels
• Physical• Psychological
Thank you