- Understanding And Dealing With Everyday
Stress
Stress is an abnormal condition
that disrupts the normal functions of the body or mind. No two
people are affected in exactly the same way, or to the same degree,
but most people living in our highly industrialized society suffer
from its effects at one or more times during their lives. Symptoms
range from mild headaches, occasional bouts of insomnia, overall
restlessness, digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation
and diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
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Selected Life Events That
Can Bring On Stress:
- Death of Spouse.
- Death of a close family member.
- Death of a close friend.
- Major personal injury, illness
or pregnancy.
- Sexual molestation, drug abuse.
- Gaining or losing a new family
member.
- Sexual difficulties.
Marital separation from mate.
- Marriage, marital reconciliation,
divorce.
- Vacations, Major holidays. In-law
troubles.
- Financing major purchases.
- Changes in working hours or
conditions.
- Troubles with the boss.
- Being fired at work.
- Starting a new job or career.
- Retirement from work.
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- Beginning or ceasing formal
schooling.
- Change in usual type and or
amount of recreation.
- Change in outside social activities,
religions, etc.
- Major change in eating habits,
Iiving conditions, moving.
- Spouse beginning or ceasing
work outside the home.
- Changing to a different line
of work.
- Major change in responsibilities
at work.
- Business readjustment, changes
in financial condition.
- Minor violations of the law
(e.g., traffic tickets, disturbing the peace, etc.)
- Detention in jail or other institution.
- Dealing With Work Related Stress
- Major change in the health or
behavior of a family member.
- Arguments with spouse, family
members, friends, co-workers.
- Changes in sleeping habits or
change in part of day when asleep.
Examples that can cause work
related stress are trying to get too much work done in too little
time, cutting corners or otherwise taking chances that may put
you, or someone else at risk, and trying to get along with superiors
and co-workers.
Everybody has days when there
simply seems there's too much work to get done. Trying to get
everything done by yourself can bring on stress. Some people
try and deal with the pressure by delegating certain jobs to
others. If you can unburden yourself and not worry about when
and how the work gets done, if you can put full faith and trust
in co-workers or subordinates it can be an effective escape valve.
Trouble is, most people can't let go.
If you have the type of personality
that demands to know how things are going, chances are you're
only increasing the pressure and stress on yourself by constantly
worrying if the work is getting done or not.
To lessen stress you must either
learn to trust others to get the job done, or prioritize jobs
to get rid of "what must be done" first. Many people
tend to "put off" the difficult jobs they hate to do
until the last possible minute. Of course, this only makes it
all the more difficult and stressful when you finally get around
to doing what you should have done earlier.
When you feel the "walls
closing in on you" if possible, take a break. Many people
in trying to relax actually kick their bodies into overdrive
by using their break time to either get a nicotine or caffeine
fix. Instead of calming you down, both substances being stimulants
speed up your body processes. You may think you're relaxing,
but your blood pressure and heart are working harder.
Instead of coffee or cigarettes
try a brief chat with friends, a short leisurely walk, even just
looking out the window for a few minutes. Never take breaks,
or eat lunch at your work station. The point of a break is to
get away from whatever work you're doing. You can't get your
mind off your work if you're chained to your work area.
Getting along with your co-workers
and the boss can be more than a sore point. It can be something
you learn to put up with, or it can turn into a festering wound
that only gets worse with time. If you're having problems, get
them out in the open. Most managers today at least have some
training in dealing with personal problems. If you can't clear
the air or have tried using all the company procedures to resolve
a grievance, and you no longer enjoy your job, hate to go to
work in the morning, or feel that the pressure is getting to
be too much, it may be time to seriously consider a change. |
