Stress

Management

Stress can be defined as a state of physical and mental tension caused by certainexternal or internal factor in a person's life. The art of stress management is to keep yourself at a level of stimulation that is healthyand enjoyable. Life without stimulus would be incredibly dull and boring. Life with toomuch stimulus becomes unpleasant and tiring, and may ultimately damage your health or w e l l being. Too much stress can seriously interfer e w i t h y o u r a b i l i t y t o p e r f o r m effectively. By analyzing the likely causes of stress, you will be able to plan your responses to likely forms of stress. These might be actions to alleviate the situation or may be stress management techniques that you will use. Stress arises when individuals perceive that they cannot adequately copewith the demands being made on them or with threats to their well-being.R.S. Lazarus (1966). Stress is the "wear and tear" our bodies experience as we adjust to our continuallychanging environment;

it has physical and emotional effects on us and cancreate positive or negative feelings. As a positive influence , stress can help compel us to action; it can result in a newawareness and an exciting new perspective.As a negative influence , it can result in feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, anddepression, which in turn can lead to health problems such as headaches, upsetstomach, rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.W i t h t h e d e a t h of a loved one, the birth of a child, a job promotion, or a n e w relationship, we experience stress a s we readjust our lives. In so adjusting t odifferent circumstances, stress will help or hinder us depending on how we react toit. Stress results from an imbalance between demands and resources. R.S. Lazarus and S.Folkman (1984).Formula for finding Stress: In simple words we can say that when the pressure is greater that the resources we face stress.Where S stands for StressP is for Pressure& R stands for Resources Types of Stress So, what are the major types of stress? While there are many subcategories of stress thatare being treated today,

the major types of stress can be broken down into four differentcategories: Eustress, Hyperstress, Hypostress, and Distress. Eustress Eustress is one of the helpful types of stress. What is the definition for eustress? It is thetype of stress you experience right before you have the need to exert physical force.Eustress prepares the muscles, heart, and mind for the strength needed for whatever isabout to occur.Eustress can also apply to creative endeavors. When a person needs to have some extraenergy or creativity, eustress kicks in to bring them the inspiration they need. An athletewill experience the strength that comes form eustress right before they play a big game or enter a big competition. Because of the eustress, they immediately receive the strengththat they need to perform.When the body enters the fight or flight response, it will experience eustress. The eustress prepares the body to fight with or flee from an imposing danger. This type of stress willcause the blood to pump to the major muscle groups, and will increase the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. If the event or danger passes, the body will eventually returnto its normal state. Distress
Distress is one of the negative types of stress. This is one of the types of stress that themind and body undergoes when the normal routine is constantly adjusted and altered. Themind is not comfortable with this routine, and craves the familiarity of a common routine.There are actually two types of distress: acute stress and chronic stress.

Acute Stress Acute stress is the type of stress that comes immediately with a change of routine. It is anintense type of stress, but it passes quickly. Acute stress is the body's way

of getting a person to stand up and take inventory of what is going on, to make sure that everything isOK Chronic Stress Chronic stress will occur if there is a constant change of routine for week after week.Chronic stress affects the body for a long period of time. This is the type of stress experienced by someone who constantly faces moves or job changes Stress Areas Things that happen outside your body: SITUATIONS/EVENTS Relationship conflicts Job changes Stock market fluctuations Illness in a loved one Divorce or separation Being sued Losing a job Going to the doctor/dentist

Failures/mistakes Retirement Overcrowding Disasters Death of a loved one DEMANDS Deadlines Competition Tests/Examinations Time pressures Family/children problems Financial pressures Too many responsibilities Public speaking Public performances

Caring for others Dieting Quitting smoking OTHER EXTERNAL PROBLEMS Inconsiderate neighbors Unappreciative boss Traffic jams