The Eight Illusions About Stress - 1 You have to be a doctor to diagnose and treat stress Stress is a normal part of everyday life Some stress is necessary in order to reach peak performance Stress is purely a physical phenomena and rest and relaxation will make it go away

The Eight Illusions About Stress - 2 5. A change of diet, a little jogging and a good holiday will make your stress away 6. Other people, situations and events are responsible for your stress 7. You have to be working 14 hours a day and constantly meeting deadlines to experience stress 8. You never experience stress

What most people do? Jogging New hobby Aerobics New relationships Change of diet Vitamins Vacation Sport New hobby New relationships Sleep Alcohol Tranquilizers

WHAT IS STRESS? Stress is physical or emotional reaction/response to any kind of change – external or internal Stress is a form of pain that comes to tell me there is something I need to change Pain is a messenger that comes to tell me there is something I need to learn

The Physical Signs of Stress increased heart rate, stomach & digestive disturbances, diarrhea, sweating, heart attack, ulcers, head aches, chest pains, insomnia, accident prone, alcoholism high blood pressure

The Mental Signs of Stress resistance, friction, anger, tension, tightness, resistance, friction, anger, guilt, critical, anxiety, evasion, reactive, discontentment, worry, impatience, apprehension

Effects of Stress MENTAL Irritability increases, forgetfulness, concentration decreases, less judgment power weakens BEHAVIOURAL Smoking / alcohol addiction, nail/biting, not mixing, reckless driving, eating more or less, sleep more or less, work-alcoholism or absenteeism

External & Internal causes of Stress Fast changing world, hurry, consumerism, media, government policies, population explosions, pollution Internal change of attitude, fear, jealousy, hatred, aspirations, approach

From Victim to Agent of Change Victim Change Agent Blaming Objective Helper Manipulating Process Helper Forcing Counsellor Resisting Stabilizer Fighting Referee Fleeing Educator Criticizing Energizer

Stress Management Skills DETACHMENT FILTERING CONTROLLING NOT ABSORBING STABILIZING HUMOUR

4 Levels of Stress SPIRITUAL – identity, perception, values, self awareness MENTAL – thinking, discriminating, deciding, acting EMOTIONAL - feelings, emotions, intuition PHYSICAL – disease, illness, fatigue, food

Causes or Triggers of Stress EVENTS, SITUATIONS, AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT WORK being fired, competition, demotion, conflict, over qualified or under qualified, dealing with aggressive people, noisy environment, communication failure. EVENTS, SITUATIONS, AND CIRCUMSTANCES AT HOME death, diverse, difficulties with in-laws, trapping, addiction, uncertainty, fear

Physiology of Stress NORMAL – alert is followed by defense NEUROTIC – alert is greater than defense which becomes in effective PSYCHOTIC – alert may be ignored PYSCHO-SOMATIC – defense by mind fails