Stress - Recognising the Signs in Yourself & Others

1. Stress - Recognising the Signs in Yourself & Others

2. Stress - Recognising the Signs in Yourself & Others • Kate Farrow • Client Leadership Development Manager • everywoman

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4. Introduction Sally Kettle

5. What is Stress? • It’s our body’s response to difficult or demanding circumstances. • It’s completely normal. • Good stress helps us to perform and survive. • Bad stress makes us ill.

6. The Science

7. Types of Stress • There are 4 recognised types of stress: • Eustress • Distress • Hyperstress • Hypostress

8. Eustress • Short-term stress • Positive • Extra energy or inspiration • Motivation • Focus and energy needed in order to perform

9. Distress • Negative stress • Anxiety, severe trauma or mental suffering • Reaction to an upsetting event • Over time you can become clinically depressed • Two types of distress: acute stress & chronic stress

10. Acute Stress • Short-term • Response to directly perceived threat, either physical or psychological • The threat can be real or imagined • Chronic Stress • Long-term stress that occurs frequently • Serious health problems e.g. depression, diabetes, heart disease or • weight-gain or weight-loss • You can get used to it and may even not realise that they are under this type of stress

11. Hypostress • Forced to perform above your normal capacity • Heavy workloads & tight deadlines • Emotions run high & the smallest event can trigger a highly emotional outbreak 

12. Hypostress • Opposite of hyperstress • Happens when a person is constantly bored • Unchallenging job • Frequently restless and uninspired 

13. Signs of Stress • Emotional • Agitated, frustrated & moody • Feeling overwhelmed • Difficulty relaxing & quieting your mind • Low self-esteem, lonely, worthless or depressed • Avoiding others

14. Physical • Low energy • Headaches • Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation & nausea • Aches, pains & tense muscles • Chest pain & rapid heartbeat • Insomnia • Frequent colds & infections • Loss of sexual desire & or ability • Nervousness & shaking, ringing in the ear, cold or sweaty hands & feet • Dry mouth & difficulty swallowing • Clenched jaw & grinding teeth

15. Cognitive • Constant worrying • Racing thoughts • Forgetfulness & disorganisation • Inability to focus • Poor judgment • Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side

16. Behavioural • Changes in appetite - either not eating or eating too much • Procrastinating & avoiding responsibilities • Increased use of alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes • Nervous behaviors - such as nail biting, fidgeting & pacing

17. Poll 1. Am I stressed? • Rarely. I feel life’s pressures but overcome them easily. • Sometimes. I recognise situations make me feel stressed. • C. Often. I always feel stressed. I’m often anxious or worried.

18. Things to remember: • Personal & individual response • Stress is not a simple condition • There is no single cause • A whole variety of factors, from our genes to our childhood experiences, affect how we respond to stress

19. What Can I Do About It? What is normal? What is normal for you? What is normal for your working environment?

20. Prevention Taking Action Assessment

21. Poll 2. Recognising Behaviours Which of the following unhealthy behaviours do you employ when stressed? • Consuming too much caffeine • Smoking • Drinking to excess • Compulsive spending • Emotional eating • Others – please write in and let us know.

22. Prevention & Assessment • 1. Look at your stress triggers … write them down. • 2. Five Ways to Wellbeing • Connect • Be Active • Learn • Take Notice Give

23. 3. Manage your time Try not to do too many things at once! 4. Act positively Reflect on what you’ve achieved 5. Try to accept the things you cannot change

24. Chronic Stress

25. Poll 3. Stress-Busting Activities If you had to choose 1 of the following ‘stress busting’ activities, which would it be? • 1. Organise some ‘me’ time • 2. Go talk to a friend, colleague or family member • 3. Get active and make time for exercise • 4. Write down a ‘mini win’ every day • Others – please write in and let us know.

26. Recognising Stress in Others Are you the stressor? Can you make changes to support others & reduce their stress? Will asking help?

27. Open Questions Can you do anything? Should you do anything?

28. Work through the Workbook Work through the the workbook by access the workbooks section in your dashboard, or download the workbook by clicking on the ‘Download PDF versions’. If you have any questions you can submit them in the ‘Ask a Question’ box at the bottom of the everywoman.com screen.