STRESS MANAGEMENT

STRESS MANAGEMENT

WRITTEN BY:

AKIN OGUNREKUN

STRESS MANAGEMENT

In a world filled with ups and downs, human beings have continually struggled to make ends

meet and by so doing, end up overstressing the body system.

This brings us to this little write-up on what stress is and how to manage it.

STRESS: Acute stress also known as fights or fight response

to a significant threat, challenge or scene.

A single episode of acute stress generally does not cause problems for healthy people e.g. job intake rock climbing and other energy-demanding activities.

However, severe acute stress can cause mental health problems and in some cases heart attacks for unhealthy people.

MANAGEMENT: This is dealing with or control of things responsible for;

– Body reaction to the demands of the world.

– Pressure for tension exerted on the body system.

– Greatest silent killer in the world

CAUSES OF STRESS:

– Death of a family member, spouse or friend

– Health: injury, illness, pregnancy

– Crime: sexual molestation, smuggling, burglary, etc

– Self-abuse: hard drug usage, alcoholism, self-harm

– Family change: separation, divorce, new baby, marriage

– Sexual problem: erectile dysfunction, getting a partner

– Argument: with spouse, family, friend, co-worker

– Physical change- lack of sleep, new work hours

– New location: moving, changing accommodation

– Money: lack of it is a serious cause of stress

– Responsibility increase: new dependants, new job

– Government policies

STRESS AT WORK

Six key points are listed below as stress factor in a working place.

-The demand of the job

-The control staff have over how they do their work

-The support they receive from colleagues and superiors

-Their relationship with colleagues

-Whether they understand their roles

-How far the company consult staff over workplace changes

Other stress indicators at work include:

- Sickness absence

- High staff turnover

- Poor communication between teams

- Bullying

- Lack of feedback on performance

- Value and contribution

- Technological change

- Lack of clarity of roles and responsibilities

- Dissatisfaction with non-monetary benefits

- Working long hours

- Boring and mundane work

- One-off incidents

- Uncomfortable work place

SOURCES OF STRESS

1. Situational stress: this is caused by stress of immediate environment.

2. Body stress: this results from overt physical system, either abuse or neglet.

3. Minor stress: stress caused by negatively preserving life events

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

COGNITIVE SYSTEM

- Memory problems

- Inability to concentrate

- Poor judgement

- Seeing only the negative

- Anxious or racing thoughts

- Constant worrying

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

- Aches and pains

- Constipation and diarrhea

- Chest pain, rapid heart beat

- Loss of sex drive

- Frequent cold

EFFECTS OT STRESS

- Pain of any kind

- Heart disease

- Digestive problem

- Sleep disorder

HOW TO DEAL WITH STRESS

This is the most important aspect of this short write up. We live in a society where achievement is greatly valued and no one in his right mind will want to be left behind and by so doing, we overstress ourselves.

So how do we now deal with stress? Lets look at the following ways of dealing with it.

- Learn how to rest after a tiring job.

- Relax as often as possible. Don’t overwork your body system for too long.

- Drink a lot of water

- Think positively always

- Laughter is the best medicine.

- Socialize

- Engage in social services

- Live within your means. Especially men.

- Eat good meals

- Maintain a healthy life style

- Don’t self- medicate. Consult your Doctor

- Establish good rapport with your coworkers and neighbors.