| The stress faced by professional workers is substantial. For many
professionals, it is intrinsic to the job itself, where competing demands and
pressures cannot be escaped. The sheer volume of work can also be overwhelming
at times, whether one is a social worker, teacher, doctor or manager. Anyone
in this kind of job knows, either from their own direct experience or from
observing colleagues, that stress can have very serious consequences. It can
develop into a living nightmare of running faster and faster to stay in the
same place, feeling undervalued, feeling unable to say 'no' to any demand but
not working productively on anything. The signs of stress can include
sleeplessness, aches and pains and sometimes physical symptoms of anxiety about
going to work. What is more, people who are chronically stressed are no fun to
work with. They may be irritable, miserable, lacking in energy and commitment,
self-absorbed. They may find it hard to concentrate on any one task and cannot
be relied on to do their share.
And yet, some people seem to have the ability to stay in control of their
workload and to handle job frustrations without becoming worn out, irritable
or depressed. These people are able to handle stress, having ways of taking
the rough with the smooth, keeping a sense of humor and renewing their energy
and resources so that working life continues to bring pleasure and reward.
Here's a little story. This story concerns a man (it could just as well be a
woman) who is chased by a tiger and falls over a cliff. To break his fall he
is lucky enough to catch hold of a small shrub growing on the cliff face, and
there he hangs, poised precariously between life and death. Above him the
tiger prowls, and looking down he sees another tiger at the bottom of the
cliff. Even were he to survive the fall, there would soon be nothing much
left to him to be found by his rescuers. As he hangs there, he sees two
small mice busily gnawing away at the stem of the shrub on which his life
depends. Simultaneously he sees some wild strawberries growing just within
reach, plucks them and pops them into his mouth and thinks to himself, 'Ah
how sweet these strawberries taste!'
It isn't easy to find a generally acceptable definition of 'stress.' Doctors,
engineers, psychologists, management consultants, linguists and lay-person
all use the work in their own distinctive ways with their own definition. A
useful definition for this handout is that stress is a demand made upon
the adaptive capacities of the mind and body. If these capacities can
handle the demand and enjoy the stimulation involved, then stress is welcome
and helpful. If they can't and find the demand debilitating, then stress is
unwelcome and unhelpful. This definition is useful in three ways; (1) stress
can be both good and bad, (2) it isn't so much events that determine whether
we're stressed or not, it is our reactions to them, and (3) the definition
tells us that stress is a demand made upon the body's capacities.
If our capacities are good enough, we respond well. If they aren't,
we give way.
- GENERAL CAUSES OF STRESS AT WORK
- organizational problems
- insufficient back-up
- long or unsociable hours
- poor status, pay and promotion prospects
- unnecessary rituals and procedures
- uncertainty and insecurity
- SPECIFIC CAUSES OF STRESS AT WORK
- unclear role specifications
- role conflict
- unrealistically high self-expectations (perfectionism)
- inability to influence decision making (powerlessness)
- frequent clashes with superiors
- isolation from colleagues' support
- lack of variety
- poor communication
- inadequate leadership
- conflicts with colleagues
- inability to finish a job
- fighting unnecessary battles
- TASK-RELATED CAUSES OF STRESS AT WORK
- difficult clients or subordinates
- insufficient training
- emotional involvement with clients or subordinates
- the responsibilities of the job
- inability to help or act effectively
STRESS AT HOME
- stress caused by a partner
- stress caused by children
- stress caused by domestic arrangements
- stress caused by environmental pressures upon the home
- EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH STRESS
- concentration and attention span decrease
- distractability increases
- short- and long-term memory deteriorate
- response speed becomes unpredictable
- error rate increases
- powers of organization and long-term planning deteriorate
- delusions and thought disorders increase
- physical and psychological tensions increase
- hypochondria increases
- changes take place in personality traits
- existing personality problems increase
- moral and emotional constraints weaken
- depression and helplessness appear
- self-esteem falls sharply
- speech problems increase
- interests and enthusiasms diminish
- absenteeism increases
- drug abuse increases
- energy levels are low
- sleep patterns are disrupted
- cynicism about clients and colleagues increases
- new information is ignored
- responsibilities are shifted onto others
- problems are 'solved' at an increasingly superficial level
- bizarre behavior patterns appear
- suicide threats may be made
- MANAGING STRESS
- learn and utilize relaxation breathing
- meditation
- water - inside and out
- learn relaxation programs
- change diet - less fat, more fresh fruits, vegetables and fiber
- give your self permission to experience your emotions, cry if you want
- began an exercise program
- build healthy personal relationships, have someone to talk to
- learn to control your displaced aggressions; desire to yell at the kids and kick
the dog at home because of stress at work
- reappraise your life and priorities
- realize that most stress is caused from within, not without; take time to smell
the flowers and taste the strawberries
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