The Two Sides of Stress in the Workplace Positive and Incentivising or Negative and Oppressive?

Why Don’t Zebras Get Ulcers?* Zebras live short and brutal lives Only Zebras is zoos die of old age (and most of them are not happy) Zebras are mammals with adrenal glands Zebras live in dangerous places Big cats and other predators like chasing and eating Zebras

So Why Don’t Zebras Get Ulcers? Because they do not spend any time worrying about: Living short and brutal lives Having adrenal glands (or any other internal organs) Where they live Or big cats and other predators (unless they are around)

Life in the Zoo! In many cases animals do suffer from stress They don’t like living in zoos They don’t like being worked to death They don’t like being mistreated But plainly many of them not only experience stress but utilise it in coping and surviving strategies *With thanks (and apologies) to Prof. Robert Sapolsky

Stress Psychological Stress can be a very unpleasant experience Common signs are: Irritability Disturbed sleep Inability to concentrate Poor performance (often leading to more stress)

Occupational Stress Occupational or work-related stress "is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope.” World Health Organization (WHO)

Work Related Stress Experiencing stress is negative Experiencing stress is unpleasant Experiencing stress is bad for my health Experiencing stress is bad for my career Experiencing stress is a threat to my job

Work Related Stress Stress must be avoided! Stress is someone else’s fault! It is someone else’s responsibility to protect me from stress! I am ill because others are causing me stress!

Myths About Stress Increases risk of heart disease? Increases risk of cancer? Increases risk of infections? Kills Brain Cells? Increases Ageing?

The Stress Nocebo A nocebo is the opposite of a placebo If you believe it is doing you harm…it will do you harm! Stress response is a physiological mechanism Hormones are released by the adrenal glands during stress Cortisol Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

The Normality of Stress Stress is a normal physiological process The release of stress hormones is a biological function evolved to activate multiple biological systems We evolved stress responses to activate coping strategies

DHEA & Cortisol It is the ration of these two hormones that determine the long term effects of stress This is most pronounced when the stress is chronic Long term elevated cortisol can cause impaired immune function and depression In extreme cases can result in Selye’s Generalized Adaptational Syndrome leading to serious debilitating illness

DHEA & Cortisol In contrast to the effects of elevated cortisol Higher levels of DHEA are linked to reduced anxiety, depression and typical ‘stress related’ diseases Elevated DHEA is found in individuals who seek out stressful pastimes such as dangerous sports, intellectual challenges and risk

DHEA Elevated levels of DHEA facilitate concentration and focus to assist in coping with pressure (Flow State) The ratio of Cortisol to DHEA can be controlled Stress can be self-managed Reacting to stress as normal can influence the levels of DHEA released

“Stress Mindset” Stress is Enhancing “The effects of stress can be positive and should be utilized” Professor Alia Crum (Psychologist) Columbia Business School

Crum’s Mindset Acknowledge stress by taking note of how it is affecting you. Understand that stress is a response to something that you have positive feelings about, identify why it matters to you. The physical effects of a stressor give us energy, utilise it rather than waste it.

Happy Lives, Stressful Lives Stress is a part of all our lives and is as natural as happiness. “Happy lives are not stress free, nor does a stress free life guarantee happiness” Kelly McGonigal, The Upside of Stress. 2015