What is Stress ? Stress - General concept describing a ‘load’ on the system Stressor - A specific problem, issue, challenge, personal conflict (External.

What is Stress ?

•Stress - General concept describing a ‘load’ on the

system

•Stressor - A specific problem, issue, challenge,

personal conflict (External / Internal)•Strain - The prolonged impact of a stressor

on the system (overload), fatigue, precursor to

illness.

• Stress Reaction - An individual response to a given

stressor (physiological, behavioural, emotional,

cognitive, signs and symptoms)

A Conceptual Understanding

When you leave office today.

Study this small story, Hope that makes a BIG

change in YOU

Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some

water in it.

He held it up for all to see & asked the students……

“How much do you think this glass weighs?”

..the students answered

'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms'

“I really don't know unless I weigh it,” said the professor, “but, my question is:

What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?”

'Nothing' …..the students said.

'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.

'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student

“You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?”

“Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!”

….. ventured another student & all the students laughed

“Very good.

But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?”

asked the professor.

'No‘…. Was the answer.

“Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?”

The students were puzzled.

“What should I do now to come out of pain?” asked professor again.

“Put the glass down!” said one of the students

“Exactly!” said the professor.

Life's problems are something like this.

Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.

Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.

Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.

It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,

but EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to ‘PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep.

That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!

'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '

So, When you leave office today,

Remember friend to

STRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY BAD AND AS STRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY BAD AND AS SUCH!SUCH!

• IT ALSO HAS A POSITIVE VALUE EXAMPLES:• PERFORMANCE IN SPORTS• PERFORMANCE IN ACTING

STRESS IS WHEN YOU STRESS IS WHEN YOU CONFRONTCONFRONT

• OPPORTUNITIES

• CONSTRIANTS

• DEMANDS

ARE YOUARE YOU

A Zero Stress A Zero Stress Individual?Individual?

Can You Fight With Can You Fight With

Darkness?Darkness?Darkness Is Only Darkness Is Only

Absence of Absence of LightLight

Bring Light In Bring Light In And Darkness And Darkness

DisappearsDisappears

Can You Can You Fight With Fight With Hunger?Hunger?

Hunger Is Only Hunger Is Only

Absence of FoodAbsence of Food Take Food And Hunger Take Food And Hunger

DisappearsDisappears

Can You Fight With Can You Fight With Confusion?Confusion?

Confusion Is Only Absence of ClarityConfusion Is Only Absence of Clarity

Get Get ClarityClarity And Confusion And Confusion DisappearsDisappears

Can You Fight With Can You Fight With Poverty?Poverty?

Poverty Is Only Poverty Is Only Absence of Absence of

RichesRiches Earn Money And Earn Money And

PovertyPoverty

DisappearsDisappears

Can You Fight With Can You Fight With Stress?Stress?

STRESSSTRESS is only Absence of is only Absence of

A Winning A Winning StrategyStrategy

LIFE IS FULL OF Situations & LIFE IS FULL OF Situations & SituationsSituations

UNMANAGEABLE SITUATIONUNMANAGEABLE SITUATION

PROBLEMPROBLEM

FEARFEAR

WORRYWORRY

(MIND)(MIND) (BODY) (BODY)

STRESSSTRESS

TENSION TENSION STRAIN STRAIN

Symptoms of StressSymptoms of Stress

• Fatigue

• Headaches

• Insomnia

• Heart palpitations

• Decrease in concentration/memory

• Loss of sense of humor

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Anger

• Irritability

• Increased/decreased eating

• Crying

• Yelling

Harmful Effects of StressHarmful Effects of Stress

When stress becomes excessive it can be very damaging. It can harm:

• Health • Happiness • Work performance • Team spirit and co-operation • Relationships • Personal development

EFFECT OF STRESSEFFECT OF STRESS

Stress can manifest in many ways, but the four most common are:-

Physical: Sometimes stress can contribute to conditions like headaches, high blood pressure, chest pains and

stomach aches.Emotional: Stress can contribute to anger,

sadness and anxiety. Behavioral: Sometimes people react to

stress by crying, drinking excessively, or nervous habits like nail biting.

Cognitive: Stress can impact cognitive functions like concentration and memory.

Reasons for Stress In Teams

Organizational: • Overwork • Feeling of being undervalued • Poor communications • Job ambiguity • Conflict with colleagues

Environmental: • Poor physical working conditions or job design • Heat • Noise

Personal: • Ill health • Relationship problems • Financial difficulties • Family worries • Addictions

Harmful Effects Of Stress In a Harmful Effects Of Stress In a TeamTeam

The impact of excessive stress on teamwork is also harmful, and it can damage:

• Individual work performance • Team performance • Working relationships • Cooperation between team members • Team spirit

STAGES OF STRESS

ALARM STAGEALARM STAGE As you begin to experience a stressful

event or perceive something to be stressful psychological changes occur in your body. This experience or perception disrupts your body’s normal balance and immediately your body begins to respond to the stressor(s) as effectively as possible.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

Cardiac - increased heart rateRespiratory - increased respirationSkin - decreased temperatureHormonal - increased stimulation of

adrenal genes which produce an adrenal rush.

RESISTANCE STAGERESISTANCE STAGE During this stage your body tries to cope

or adapt to the stressors by beginning a process of repairing any damage the stressor has caused. Your friends, family or co-workers may notice changes in you before you do so it is important to examine their feedback to make sure you do not reach overload.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

Behavior indicators include: lack of enthusiasm for family, school, work or life in general, withdrawal, change in eating habits, insomnia, hypersomnia, anger, fatigue.

Cognitive Indicators include: poor problem solving, confusion, nightmares, hyper-vigilance.

RESISTANCE STAGE RESISTANCE STAGE MORE EXAMPLES MORE EXAMPLES

Emotional indicators include: tearfulness fear anxiety panic guilt agitation depression overwhelmed.

EXHAUSTION STAGEEXHAUSTION STAGE

During this stage the stressor is not being managed effectively and the body and mind are not able to repair the damage.

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

Digestive disorders, withdrawal, headaches, tension, insomnia, loss of temper.

The causes of stressThe causes of stress

High Stress Cause:

•Harm the Heart, promote clogged arteries.•Surge of stress harmones in the blood- stream – weakens the body’s immune defences.•Heartburn•Cold sores to asthma•Cancer

•People say they’re too busy to stop and deal with stress.

•By learning to calm down, can actually feel less busy

Categories of StressorsCategories of StressorsExraorganizational Stressors

•Social & Technological changes

•Family problems

•Relocation

•Economic & Financial conditions

•Race & Class

•Residential & Community conditions

Organizational Stressors

•High-stress jobs

•Job role

•Poor working conditions

•Organizational politics

•Poor work relationships

Group Stressors

•Absence of group cohesivenes

•Absence of support from group members

•Conflicts related to the group

Individual Stressors

•Role conflict & ambiguity

•Type A characteristics

•Locus of control

•Learned helplessness

•Self-efficacy

•Psychological hardiness

R

RESULT IN JOB STRESS IN THE INDIVIDUAL

EXTERNAL STRESSORSEXTERNAL STRESSORS

• Physical Environment: Noise, Heat

• Social: Rudeness, Aggressiveness

• Organizational: Regulations, Deadlines

• Major Life Events: Death of a Relative, New Baby

• Daily Hassles: Traffic, Vehicle Breakdown

Internal StressorsInternal Stressors

• Lifestyle choices: Not enough sleep, Overloaded schedule.

• Negative self-talk: Pessimistic thinking, Self-criticism.

• Mind traps: Unrealistic expectations, Taking things personally.

• Stressful personality types: Perfectionist, Workaholic

• Emotional disorders caused by stress

– Anxiety– Panic attack– Depression– Adjustment disorders

• Behavioural disorders caused by stress– Conduct disorders– Eating disorders– Alcoholism– Discuss the relationship between

stress and illness

Work Related StressWork Related Stress

• Decreased quality and/or quantity of work.• Loss of the sense of humor.• Working late or more obsessively than

usual.• Sudden increase in accidents.• Difficulty in communicating and getting

along with others.• Apathy• Sudden reversal of usual behavior.

LEVELS OF STRESSLEVELS OF STRESS

EUSTRESSEUSTRESS

Eustress or positive stress occurs when your level of stress is high enough to motivate you to move into action to get things accomplished.

DISTRESSDISTRESS

Distress or negative stress occurs when your level of stress is either too high or too low and your body and/or mind begin to respond negatively to the stressors.

SOURCES FOR STRESSSOURCES FOR STRESS

ENVIRONMENTAL• UNCERTAINITES IN FACORS:• SOCIAL• ECONOMICAL• POLITICAL• TECHNOLOGICAL• LEGAL

Contd… Contd…

ORGANISATIONAL:• TASK DEMANDS• INTERPERSONAL FACTORS• ROLE EFFECIVENESS DEMANDS• ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE• LEADERSHIP• AGE OF THE ORGANISATION

Contd…Contd…

INDIVIDUAL• FAMILY PROBLEMS• ECONOMIC PROBLEMS• ATTITUDINAL FACTORS• SELF IMAGE

STUDIES SHOWS:

•The most stressful situations are things we can’t control.• We can’t change the past.• We can’t predict the future.• Only thing is we can control the present.

Practice this technique – regain a senseof control – and ease stress.