STRESS & COUNSELLING

CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
TO UNDERSTAND
The role of Stress in Employee Health Extreme forms of Stress Reactions Causes and symptoms of Stress Organizational Effects of Stress Actions that may Prevent or Reduce Stress Different Counseling Functions Three types of Counseling and Their Usefulness

EMPLOYEE Stress

WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is the general term applied to the pressures people feel in life. Stress is your mind and bodys response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event or change. The threat, event or change are commonly called stressors. Stressors can be internal (thoughts, beliefs, attitudes or external (loss, tragedy, change).

Types of Stressors

Injury Emotion al

Career Pressures Environmen tal

Illness Physical

Work Stress

Deadlines and pressures

Surprises
Interpersonal difficulties

Role and rank issues

Environmental stressors

Techno Stress
E-mail and computers T.V.

Phone
Pagers

Others

Home Stressors

Chores

Finances
Kids wanting attention

Discipline
Fun time

Love Relationships
Strained? Stressed?

Distant?
Great?

STRESS
Physiological
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE: MUSCLE TENSION NAUSEA, VOMITING HEADACHES MOODINESS JAW, NECK & BACK PAIN DEPRESSION DIARRHEA APPETITE VARIES SLEEP DISTURBANCES RACING THOUGHTS DRY MOUTH, SWEATY PALMS UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS COLD HANDS BREATHING CHANGES (E.G., SHALLOW, SIGHING) NIGHTMARES DIMINISHED CONCENTRATION IMPAIRED MEMORY OR FORGETFULNESS ON EDGE INCREASED FRUSTRATION/IRRITABLE MORE ACCIDENTS OVERREACTING RUSHING/PACING NERVOUS BEHAVIOR/HABITS SERIOUS APPEARANCE

Psychological
EMOTIONAL/MENTAL SYMPTOMS:

Behavioral
BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS EXCESSIVE SMOKING EXCESSIVE SMOKING TARDINESS

ANXIETY, WORRY, GUILT, NERVOUSNESS

ANGER, FRUSTRATION

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STRESS MANAGEMENT

IS A PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE IS NECESSARY

TIME, MONEY, AND RELATIONSHIPS ENSURE THAT STRESS WILL ALWAYS BE WITH US

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STRESS MANAGEMENT

STRESS

DOES NOT HAVE TO BE NEGATIVE OR OVERWHELMING

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STRESS MANAGEMENT
DEFINITION:

THE NON-SPECIFIC RESPONSE OF THE BODY TO ANY DEMAND

Hans Selye, MD
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STRESS MANAGEMENT
DR. HANS SELYE WROTE:

STRESS IS ESSENTIALLY REFLECTED BY THE RATE OF ALL THE WEAR AND TEAR CAUSED BY LIFE.
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EUSTRESS
Eustress or positive stress occurs when your level of stress is high enough to motivate you to move into action to get things accomplished.

DISTRESS
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.

STRESS MANAGEMENT
NOT ALL STRESS IS NEGATIVE
EUSTRESS: POSITIVE STRESS

RESULTS FROM EXHILARATING EXPERIENCES: WINNING THE LOTTERY

UNEXPECTED PROMOTION
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AWARD

STRESS MANAGEMENT
DISTRESS
STRESS OF:

LOSING, FAILING, OVERWORKING AND NOT COPING CAN BE HARMFUL AND IT IS NORMAL FROM TIME TO TIME
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STRESS MANAGEMENT
CAUSES OF STRESS FALL INTO TWO CATEGORIES:

EXTERNAL

INTERNAL

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STRESS MANAGEMENT
INTERNAL STRESSORS
INSIDE OURSELVES

THIS TYPE OF STRESSOR MAY PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN THE STRESS OF DAILY LIFE
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STRESS MANAGEMENT
MAY BE CAUSED BY EVERYDAY PRESSURES SUCH AS:

FINANCIAL
DEADLINES

ARGUMENTS
FAMILY CONCERNS
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STRESS MANAGEMENT
EXTERNAL STRESSOR
MAY BE MAJOR LIFE EVENTS:

(REFER TO HOLMES-RAHE SCALE) MOVING

DEATH OF SPOUSE, FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND
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STAGES OF STRESS

ALARM 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 bodys normal balance and immediately your body begins to respond to the stressor(s) as effectively as possible.

EXAMPLES
Cardiac - increased heart rate Respiratory - increased respiration

Skin - decreased temperature

Hormonal - increased stimulation of adrenal genes which produce an adrenal rush.

RESISTANCE 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.

EXAMPLES
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, hypervigilance.

RESISTANCE STAGE MORE EXAMPLES

Emotional indicators include: tearfulness

fear
anxiety

panic
guilt agitation

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

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

Extreme product of Stress

Burnout a situation in which employees are emotionally exhausted, develop cynicism about their work and feel unable to accomplish their professional goals. Workaholics place higher priority on work than on family or recreation, think and talk constantly about work, have difficulty delegating to others, worry about their careers and often try to accomplish multiple tasks simultaneously. Karoshi sudden death at work. Trauma - occurs following a major threat to ones security. Workplace Violence a troubled employee takes dramatic and harmful physical action against co-workers, managers, or company property.

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THREE TYPES OF TRAUMA

Workplace Trauma is the disintegration of employees self-concepts and beliefs in their capabilities caused by sudden job loss e.g. harassment at work, wrongful termination, discrimination Lay-off Survivors Sickness feelings of uncertainty/insecurity, anger, guilt and distrust.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) the shock of sudden and violent incidents often produces immediate stress-related symptoms.
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A Model of Causes, Types, & Consequences of Stress

Individual Differences Organizational Stressors Positive Stress

Constructive Organizational & Personal consequences *Short term *Long term

Employees Negative Stress

Non-work stressors

Destructive Organizational & Personal consequences *Short term *Long term

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