STRESS MANAGEMENT

1. STRESS MANAGEMENT

2. General Awareness • Understanding Stress • Effective management of Stress • Symptoms of Stress • Sources of Stress • Effects of Stress • Handling Stress • Minimize burn-out • Distress to De-stress • Coping with increased Stress levels

3. Understanding Stress • To understand stress, we need to look at the events that occur, our thoughts about them, and the way we respond • Stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize

4. Major approaches to manage Stress • Action-oriented: In which we seek to confront the problem causing the stress, changing the environment or the situation • Emotionally-oriented: In which we do not have the power to change the situation, but we can manage stress by changing our interpretation of the situation and the way we feel about it • Acceptance-oriented: Where something has happened over which we have no power and no emotional control, and where our focus is on surviving the stress

5. Symptoms of Stress • Emotional Disturbance • Disruption of Thought Processes • Physical Discomfort • Behavioural Changes

6. Emotional Disturbance • Bouts of depression • Impatience • Fits of rage • Tearfulness • Deterioration of personal hygiene and appearance

7. Disruption of Thought Processes • Lack of concentration • Memory lapses • Difficulty in making decisions • Confusion • Disorientation • Panic attacks

8. Sleep pattern changes Fatigue Digestion changes Loss of sexual drive Headaches Aches and pains Infections Indigestion Dizziness Fainting Sweating & trembling Tingling hands & feet Breathlessness Palpitation Missed heartbeats Physical Discomfort

9. Behavioural Change • Appetite changes - too much or too little • Eating disorders - anorexia, bulimia • Increased intake of alcohol & other drugs • Increased smoking • Restlessness • Fidgeting • Nail biting • Hypochondria

10. Sources of Stress External Internal Inability to accept uncertainty Pessimism Negative self-talk Unrealistic expectations Perfectionism Lack of Assertiveness • Major life changes • Work • Relationship difficulties • Financial problems • Being too busy • Children and family

11. Effects of Stress Positive Negative It is a contributory factor in minor conditions, such as headaches, digestive problems, skin complaints, insomnia and ulcers Excessive, prolonged and unrelieved stress can have a harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health • Stress can also have a positive effect, spurring motivation and awareness, providing the stimulation to cope with challenging situations • Stress also provides the sense of urgency and alertness needed for survival when confronting threatening situations

12. Handling Stress

13. How to minimize burn-out • Understanding where pressure comes from • Too much to do, too little time… • Distancing from the people • Avoiding Exhaustion • Protecting the meaning of the work

14. Distress to De-stress • Physical Exercises • Healthy eating and drinking • Relaxation techniques • Diversions

15. Coping with increased Stress levels • Physical • Psychological

16. Thank you