Stress management
The fast pace of life is taking toll on every city dweller,
right from students to home makers and workers to managers,
every body is hit by the bug of the stress. Modern technological
development and communication aids are adding to the stress
because of their high speed. Traveling, exams, admissions etc.
at times are too stressful for students as well as parents
living hectic lifestyle. Stressed individuals are paying heavy
toll in terms of health and well being as they are more prone to
stress induced diseases such as headaches, upset stomach,
rashes, insomnia, ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease,
and stroke. Most people get trapped into the vicious circle of
stress induced diseases and find it difficult to tackle it at
later stage. Hence it is very important for us to learn to
manage the stress.
So what is stress? Stress is an individual's perception and
assessment of the environment. It depends on how one perceives
the situation. The positive perception is called eustress while
negative perception will lead to distress. The amount of stress
at which each individual functions most effectively is unique to
each individual and it is known as optimum stress level (OSL).
Any response, mental or physical, which adversely affects
performance, is called negative stress response.
That which creates stress is called stressor. There are
different types of lifestyle stressors: Performance Stressors:
These are situations where one is stressed to perform, viz.
Driving a car, public speaking, performance appraisal, big
events in one's life viz. Exams, marriage etc. Threat Stressors:
These are situations perceived as dangerous, viz.: Riots, War,
High risk sport, accidents etc. Boredom Stressors: These are
situations which are perceived and assessed as lacking in
physical or mental stimulation, Viz. Household chores, Routine
factory work etc. Frustration Stressors: These are situations
which are perceived and assessed as being undesirable but beyond
one's power to control, Viz. Govt. Taxation. Bereavement
Stressors: Loss of relationship, Death of loved one, losing a
Job, possession or Reputation, dignity etc. Physical Stressors:
Actual physical damage viz. breaking limbs, suffering from
disease or infection, working in conditions where extreme
temperature and pollution exists which can not be avoided.
Effect of Positive Stress: As we have seen, positive stress adds
anticipation and excitement to life, and we all thrive under a
certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions,
confrontations, and even our frustrations and sorrows add depth
and enrichment to our lives. Our goal is not to eliminate stress
but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us.
Insufficient stress acts as a depressant and may leave us
feeling bored or dejected; on the other hand, excessive stress
may leave us feeling "tied up in knots." What we need to do is
find the optimal level of stress which will individually
motivate but not overwhelm each of us. If you are experiencing
stress symptoms, you have gone beyond your optimal stress level;
you need to reduce the stress in your life and improve your
ability to manage it.
So, how do we manage stress? As there are many sources of
stress, there are many possibilities for its management.
However, all require work towards change. As stress is an
individual's perception and assessment of the environment, one
needs to look into the possibility of changing one