Stress - defined

• Response to action of external force which distorts the

body
• Demands placed on people by their work or personal
environment. As without demands people would
become dull, unproductive, static
• Irritating or annoying state of mind including anything
that makes angry, tense, frustrated, miserable etc
• Mentally or emotionally disruptive or disquietening
influence
• Non-specific response of body to any demands made
upon it (Selye)
• Disorder or breakdown of coping mechanism (Doctors)
• Adaptive response to any external situation that
results in physical, psychological &/or behavioural
deviations of organizational participants (Luthans)
• Response of action to external force which distorts the
body
•10/17/08 Dr Ashutosh N Misal
Conditions arising from interactions of people and their1
FOLLOWING CHANGES HAPPEN
↑ Adrenalin is released in body
WHEN YOU ARE FACE STRESS SITUATION – WHEN YOU SEE A
↑ Pupils
TIGER ofOFeyes
IN FRONT YOU dilate to allow more light in

↑ Mouth goes dry

↑ Digestions stops temporarily and more blood is
supplied to brain and muscles
↑ Neck and shoulder muscles gets tensed up and
prepare for action
↑ Breathing quickens and allows more oxygen to your
lungs and muscles
↑ Heart beats increase
↑ Blood pressure rises
↑ Perspiration increases to cool down the body
↑ Liver releases glucose to provide burst of energy for
muscles
↑ Spleen releases stored blood cells and chemicals
into blood stream to thicken the blood
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 Mechanism of Stress –
Hans Selye

• General Adaptation
Syndrome
• GAS has 3 Stages
–Alarm
–Resistance
–Exhaustion
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 Types of Stress
• Based on Effect • Based on
– Positive: Eustress Levels
– Negative: – Extrinsic
Distress
(Organizatio
– Indifference:
Neustress
nal)
• Based on Intensity – Intrinsic
– Life threatening (Individual)
– Non-life • Based on
threatening Predictability
• Based on – Predictable
Avoidability
– Non-
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 Mild Stress is required..
Too much of stress affects

Health Emotional
(occupational stability
hazards) Ability to
Well being empathize
Routine Ability to listen
Performance Physical
Expectation of stamina
life Tendency to err
Relationship Proneness to
Perceptions Dr Ashutosh N Misalaccidents
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 Factors affecting Stress
Constitution Nutrition state
Family Age
background Physical and
Upbringing mental fitness
Education (switch on and
Past experience off)
Present Health habit
circumstances No of life events
requiring
Future
adaptations
expectations
Mental attitude, Personality
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values, beliefs
 Types of Personalities
Type A Type B
Motivating
• Not concerned about
Walks fast, eats fast,
talks fast time
Impatient • Patient
Does two things at a • Does not brag
time • Plays for fun not to
Can’t cope up with win
leisure time • Relaxes without guilt
Obsessed with
numbers • Has no pressing
Measures success by deadlines
quantity • Mild mannered
Aggressive • Never in a hurry
Competitive • Cooperative
Constantly feels under • Highly quality
time pressure
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Highly ambitious
conscious
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 Types of Personalities
• Greek Classification:
– Choleric: Irritable and react with anger
– Melancholic: depressed and give up
– Sanguine: optimistic and react well
– Phlegmatic: calm and try to avoid or evade
situation
• Carl Jung:
– Extrovert
– Introvert
– Ambivert
• William Sheldon: (physique with temperament)
– Endomorphic: overweight, relaxed and
sociable and react well to stressors
– Messomorphic: strong, muscular, energetic,
aggressive, courageous, react well
– Ectomorphic: long thin body, large brain,
sensitive nervous system, restrained and
fearful, manage stress poorly
• Rotter: (on Locus of Control)
– Internals
– Externals
 Symptoms of Stress – Physical Signs

 Heavy drinking  Muscle spasm

 Irregular eating  Nervous habits

habits  Often short of

 Weight fluctuation breath

 Sleeping disorder  Excessive sweating

 Feeling constantly  Indigestion, ulcers

tired and under  Allergies

pressure  Abnormal menstrual
 Sedentary life style
cycle
 High/ low blood  Dryness of throat
pressure
Frequent cold/
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 Symptoms of Stress – Social Signs

 Close friend/ relative  Difficulty in decision

died recently making
 Recently got  Feeling of

married/ divorced bitterness/

 Major arguments intolerance/
with partner jealously towards
 Difficulty in asking other people
assertively what you  Feeling of
want boredomness/
 Difficulty in saying withdrawal from
“no” to society
 Unhappiness about
inappropriate
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request financial
Dr Ashutosh N Misal
situation/ 10
 Symptoms of Stress – Emotional Signs

 Rapid mood  Feeling

swing nightmares
 Getting angry  Feeling restless

easily  Emotionally
 Suffering from numb
anxiety attacks  Frequent
 Frequent bursting into
depression/ tears
feeling of  Being
despair
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hypochondriac
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 Symptoms of Stress – Mental Signs
Doing several 
 Often feeling things at a time
bored  Frequent lapses
 Becoming of memory
frustrated  Difficulty in

standing in concentrating
 Feeling confused
queues
 Contemplating
 Feeling of being
suicide
always behind the 
schedule Having phobias
 Disliking about
 Feeling that
your body
people don’t
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 Symptoms of Stress – Spiritual Signs

 Feeling of  Having a
aloneness feeling of guilt
 Feeling of  Practicing self
emptiness/ abuse
hopelessness  Feeling of
 Difficulty in
hostility
forgiving towards others
 Feeling of lost
 Feeling of ‘life
direction in life
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lost meaning
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 Coping with Stress
Individual Level Techniques

Physical Exercise: yoga, health care,

obesity, fitness gyms, jogging, exercises etc
Relaxation techniques: reiki,
meditation, kundalini, mind control,
breathing, self hypnosis etc
Behavioural self control: change the
world/ give me a theme
How person looks at the stressors
is more important: life is a comedy and
tragedy
Networking: social support, confidence
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building, counseling etc
 Coping with Stress - Organizational Level
Techniques
 Emotional climatic control: participation in decision
making, open door policy etc
 Supporting organizational climate/ culture
 Elimination of overload and under load; proper task
planning
 Reduce conflict and clarify organizational goals
 Redefining employee roles and designation
 Job enrichment
 Planning and development of career, futuristic
planning
 Assistance and counseling to stressed employees
 Participation, OD, training to increase morale, job
satisfaction, competence
 Effective communication and communication
channels
Programs for job stress
10/17/08 prevention: proper selection,
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placement, training, job design etc
 Managing Stress - TOI
• Have a good laugh • Quit smoking
• Adjust sleeping • Relax
time
• Eat more garlic
• Get a pet
• Drink tea • Exercise
• Drink more red • Eat more fruit
wine and vegetable
• Regular self • Get a good job
examination (responsible)

• Have regular • Have a happy

smear/ prostate marriage
test
• Be optimistic
• Monitor your bowel
behaviour
10/17/08 17:10 Dr Ashutosh •
MisalEat dark 16
Managing Stress – Reader’s
Digest
• Do
nothing
• Laugh out
loud
• Tune in
• Think
happy
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 4 dimensions of Stress Management

Spiritual Dimension

Prayer
Meditation
Forgiveness
Faith
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 4 dimensions of Stress Management

Mental Dimension

Visual Imagery
Autogenic Training
Positive Self-talk

A peaceful (imaginary)

Trip
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 4 dimensions of Stress Management

Emotional Dimension

Your Support
System
Touch
Humour and
Laughter
10/17/08
Mood
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 4 dimensions of Stress Management

Physical Dimension
Immune System
Nutrition
Deep Breathing
Anchoring
Massage
Exercise
Physical Examination
Progressive Rrelaxation
A Good Night’s Sleep
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