Stress Management

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What is Stress?

  • Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.
  • The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life.
  • You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts.

Group Work – Stress Causes

  • Participants to break in two groups to identify causes of stress in:
    • Workplace
    • Non workplace
  • There are various conditions and incidents that can lead to experiencing stress. The stressors can be divided into three main categories:
    • Psychological
    • Social
    • Physical

Psychological sources of Stress

  • Constant work over- or underload
  • Permanent time pressure and tight deadlines
  • Vague responsibilities and confusing work instructions
  • Micromanagement through supervisors
  • A lack of feedback on completed tasks
  • Constant job-related availability

Social sources of Stress

  • A bad working atmosphere: persisting conflicts on the team or with the superiors
  • Bullying and discrimination
  • Little opportunities for professional development
  • Lack of appreciation by colleagues and superiors

Physical sources of Stress

  • Frequent disruptions, for example
    • noise
  • An unpleasant workplace, for example
    • uncomfortable room temperature or lighting conditions
    • Lack of space

Causes of Stress

  • Common causes of stress in the workplace include:
    • Fear of being fired
    • Heavy workloads
    • Poor management
    • Lack of control over your work activities
    • Financial worries
    • Etc.

Signs & Symptoms of Stress

  • Symptoms of stress include:
    • Low energy.
    • Headaches.
    • Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea.
    • Aches, pains, and tense muscles.
    • Chest pain and rapid heartbeat.
    • Insomnia.
    • Frequent colds and infections.
    • Loss of sexual desire and/or ability.

How Stress Affects your Work

  • Stress can cause physical, emotional, and behavioral problems which can affect your health, energy, well-being, mental alertness, and personal and professional relationships.
  • It can also cause defensiveness, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, accidents, reduced productivity, and interpersonal conflict.

Coping with Stress