Don't Stress

Abstract

Stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. However, just as distress can cause disease, it seems plausible that there are good stresses that promote wellness. The objective of this research paper is to examine some of the common causes of stress, its effect on our physical body, our mind, emotions and our behavior. Another and equally important objective is to explore some of the stress management techniques and treatments available to the individual and medical practitioners. The paper is concluded by highlighting some of the key points and observations from the research.

Don't Stress

With the death of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a new relationship, we experience stress as we readjust our lives. According to Volpe (2000), stress takes us out of our "comfort zone" and forces us to change and adapt. In so adjusting to different circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react to it.

Stress plays an active role in our daily lives and can wreak havoc if left unmanaged. While this is the common cause of many of our problems, what exactly is stress? According to the article, Managing Stress, stress is the reaction our bodies and minds have to any threat to our calm and stability (www.lifeworks.com). These threats may or may not have a positive affect on us. All stress is not bad, surprisingly; some stress is positive and is actually good for us. Feelings of joy and elation are just two examples of positive stress. These feelings can leave us refreshed and recharged.

Causes of stress are commonly referred to as stressors. Stressors can be people, events, or various situations. Among the many stressors, change is no doubt the most common. Humans oftentimes react to change in a negative manner. Many times we are guilty of assuming the worst rather than the best when change is involved. This type of thinking often leads to overreaction, panic, and even anxiety.

Stress is experienced even when positive changes take place. In our workplace we may have a change in our priorities, the boss may ask us to perform a new task, or we may even have to change our daily work routine. This will undoubtedly cause the calmest individual to experience some form of stress. We typically undergo similar changes in our home and tend to react by stressing ourselves out. This is because change is new and uncomfortable. Old habits must die and a new path must be forged. We must face the unknown and our body reacts to the "not knowing".

While change can be positive, at some point in our lives, we have experienced or will experience a traumatic event or a critical incident. A critical incident can be described as any incident that causes people to experience unusually strong emotional reactions, which have the potential to affect their ability to function at their workplace, within their families, and/or in other areas of their lives. The event may be time-limited, ongoing or even chronic.

Once the incident is over, it is possible to experience strong emotional or physical reactions. It is common, in fact quite normal, to experience emotional aftershocks after passing through a horrible life event. The consequences of emotional stress may appear a few hours or a few days later. And, in some cases, weeks or months may pass before stress reactions appear

Effects of stress can be unhealthy or even debilitating. Prolonged stress without some type of control will cause changes in how you eat, sleep and interact with your family and co-workers. The severity of health related problems due to stress would depend on what type of stress it is and the amount of time you are exposed to it.

Stress caused by losing your job will normally be short lived as soon as you find a new job and are comfortable with it. Stress caused by an accident where injuries are sustained and even possibly cause the loss of a loved one are more serious and can last for long periods of time. Medical treatment and extended periods of recovery are often required for the more serious types of stress.

Stress not only affects the individual, but can also affect their employer. According to Anthony Renshaw in his article Don't stress!, the peak period for heart attacks is Monday morning (when people are returning to work), the cost of stress leave in Australia is more than $60 million annually, and "60-80 percent of industrial accidents are due to stressed workers." (2001, paras. 6-8). More than seventy percent of workplace absenteeism is due to stress-related factors (Renshaw, 2001). For this reason, businesses have significant financial interest in helping employees minimize stress.

Minor indicators of stress can be characterized by symptoms such as emotional detachment, temporary loss of memory or de-realization. Major symptoms of prolonged stress can cause more debilitating disorders such as Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Both major disorders are similar except Acute Stress Disorder is differentiated as a time limited disorder while Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is more permanent.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition triggered by a major traumatic event, such as rape, war, and a terrorist act, death of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a catastrophic accident. It is marked by upsetting memories or thoughts of the ordeal, "blunting of emotions, increased arousal, and sometimes severe personality change" (Lon M.D., Jacqueline L. & Granger, Jill, 2001).

Although the effects of stress can seem overwhelming, there are techniques

that can be utilized and incorporated into your life to help reduce the pressures and

the challenges you experience daily. It is important to familiarize yourself with effective stress-managing skills because they can play a vital role in your personal and professional success.

Identifying stressors is the first step towards effective stress management (Volpe, 2000). Are you experiencing significant amounts of stress at home or at the workplace? Are these stresses financial or job expectation pressures? Once the origin of the stress is identified, the technique and stress-reduction plan can be chosen. If the stress is job-related, Employee Assistance Programs, which are offered at many businesses and corporations, may prove helpful. These programs are effective forms of support that assist employees through difficult situations. The programs cannot only be relied upon for assistance with employment stresses,