Stress
Signs, Benefits, Consiquences
Types of Stressors
1. Ripple Effect Stressors: These are stressors that, like a stone thrown into the water, ripple off in response to a change or life event. One occurrence can continue to cause other daily stressors. Example: Divorce. What’s your example?
2. Chronic Stressors: These are long-term stressful situations that have no resolution in sight. Example: Constant deadlines, overcrowded working conditions. What’s your Example?
3. Acute Stressors: These are short-term stressful situations that will soon be resolved. Example: Car runs out of gas; short term illness. What’s your example?
4. Not Knowing Stressors: These stressors are due to not knowing the who, what, when, where, or how of a situation. Example: Traveling in an unfamiliar city; being new on the job or project. What’s your example?
5. Personal or Non-Personal Stressors: These stressors are caused by things that cannot be controlled. Example: Being stuck in snowstorm. What’s your example?
6. Trigger Stressors: These are reminders of past stress that produce a renewed stress response. Example: Watching workmen on a tall building reminds you of your fear of heights. What’s your Example?
7. Daily Hassles: Those minor annoyances that happen daily can add up to become a big part of your stress load. Example: Concern about health, weight, or fitness; money; wasting time; being lonely; anxiety about performance. What’s your example?
Benefits of Stress
It helps boost brainpower
It can increase immunity—in the short term
It can make you more resilient
It motivates you to succeed
It can enhance child development
Consequences of Stress
- Lower immunity to diseases
- Weight loss/weight gain
- Decreased ability to heal
- Depression
- Decreased need for new experiences
- Hair loss
- Poorer functioning of internal organs
- Living in survival mode
- Increased chance of miscarriage
- Infertility
- Inability to sleep
- Heart Problems
- Muscle Pains
- Emotional imbalances/phobias/anxieties
- Diabetes
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
- 1.Becoming easily agitated, frustrated and moody
- 2.Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing control or need to take control
- 3. Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
- 4. Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless and depressed
- 5. Avoiding others
- 6. Low energy
- 7. Headaches
- 8. Upset stomach
- 9. Aches, pains, and tense muscles
- 10. Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
- 11. Insomnia
- 12. Frequent colds and infections
- 13. Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
- 14. Nervousness and shaking,
Primary Prevention of Stress
- Clearly defining workers' roles and responsibilities
- Workload matches workers' capabilities and resources
- Job redesign
- Opportunities for workers to participate in decisions and actions affecting their jobs
- Work schedules are compatible with demands/ responsibilities outside the job
- Improving ergonomics and work/environmental design
- Improving communications between workers and managers
- Establish career ladders
- Commitment to ongoing team building and diversity initiatives
- Equitable pay structures and compensation
Secondary Prevention of Stress
- Team building
- Diversity programs
- Worker education and training
- Access to fitness facilities/walking paths
- Good nutrition
- Physical activity
- Meditation
- Social/emotional outlets
- Assertiveness training
Tertiary Prevention of Stress
- Employee Assistance Programs
- Psychological counseling/therapy
- Traumatic event debriefing
- Medical care and treatment
Defense Mechanisms
- Denial
- Regression
- Acting Out
- Dissociation
- Compartmentalization
- Projection
- Reaction Formation
Stress Management Techniques
- Meditate
- Breathe Deeply
- Be Present
- Reach Out
- Tune into Your Body
- Decompress
- Laugh out Loud
- Crank up the Tunes
- Get Moving
- Be Grateful