This document discusses stress, defining it as the emotional and physical strain caused by responding to pressure. It notes that stress is present from birth and can affect anyone. While some positive stress can motivate, excessive stress undermines performance and health. The body's fight or flight response releases stress hormones that increase heart rate and blood flow to prepare the body for emergency action. Constant stress can increase health risks like high blood pressure, heart attacks, and asthma attacks. However, stress can also be managed and used to advantage by letting go of unwanted thoughts and evolving as a person.

1. STRESS
Main Learning Objectives:
• To understand what STRESS is all about
and how it affects your BODY
• To appreciate the IMPORTANCE of
Stress both to self and others.

2. What is STRESS?
Stress is the emotional and physical strain
caused by our response to pressure from
the outside world.

3. Definition of STRESS by HSE
'The adverse reaction people have to
excessive pressure or other types of
demand placed on them.' - HSE

4. WORRY is STRESS

5. The EXPERIENCE of Stress
• Regardless of age and gender, STRESS
is present from the day we are born
• Regardless of time, place and
circumstances, STRESS can strike
anyone in any type of occupation
BUT
STRESS is manageable.

6. Positive Stress
Positive stress adds anticipation and
excitement to life, and we all thrive under a
certain amount of stress.

7. PRESSURE
Pressure is part and parcel of all work and
helps to keep us motivated. But excessive
pressure can lead to stress, which
undermines performance, is costly to
employers and can make people ill.

8. STRESSORS affecting QOL

9. STRESSORS and the BODY

10. Physical and Physiological Reactions
to STRESSORS
Two of the Body’s Systems are involved:
1. Autonomic Nervous System
2. Endocrine System

11. HOW does the Body react when
faced with a THREAT?
• Your heart speeds up
• Blood flow to your brain and muscles
increases up to 400 percent
• Your digestion stops (so it doesn't use up
energy that's needed elsewhere)
• Your muscle tension increases
• You breathe faster, to bring more oxygen
to your muscles

12. “Fight or Flight” Response
This biological stress response is meant to
protect and support us. It’s what helped our
stone age ancestors survive the life-or-
death situations they commonly faced.
But in the modern world, most of the stress
we feel is in response to psychological
rather than physical threats.

13. “Fight or Flight” Response
The “fight-or-flight” stress response involves a
cascade of biological changes that prepare us
for emergency action. When danger is sensed, a
small part of the brain called the hypothalamus
sets off a chemical alarm.
The sympathetic nervous system responds by
releasing a flood of stress hormones, including
adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol. These
stress hormones race through the bloodstream,
readying us to either flee the scene or battle it
out.

14. “Fight or Flight” Response
• Heart rate and blood flow to the large muscles
increase so we can run faster and fight harder.
Blood vessels under the skin constrict to prevent
blood loss in case of injury, pupils dilate so we
can see better, and our blood sugar ramps up,
giving us an energy boost and speeding up
reaction time.
• At the same time, body processes not essential
to immediate survival are suppressed. The
digestive and reproductive systems slow down,
growth hormones are switched off, and the
immune response is inhibited.

15. MENTAL Symptoms of STRESS
• Tension
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
• Feeling excessively tired
• Trouble sleeping

16. PHYSICAL Symptoms of STRESS
• Dry mouth
• A pounding heart
• Difficulty breathing
• Stomach upset
• Frequent urination
• Sweating palms
• Tight muscles that may cause pain and
trembling

17. Stress related Disorders/Diseases
• Stress can cause chronic fatigue, digestive upsets,
headaches, and back pain
• Stress can affect the blood cells that help you fight off
infection, so you are more likely to get colds and other
diseases
• Constant stress can increase blood pressure and can
increase the risk for stroke
• Stress can increase the danger of heart attacks
• Stress can make an asthma attack worse
• Stress triggers behaviours that contribute to death and
disability, such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, and
overeating
• Stress can lead to diminished sexual desire and an
inability to achieve orgasm
• Stress makes it harder to take other steps to improve
health, such as giving up smoking or making changes in
diet.

18. Why tackle work related Stress?
1. To reduce sickness absence
2. To benefit your business

19. The Positive Effects of Tackling
Stress
• Employee commitment to work
• Staff performance and productivity
• Staff turnover or intention to leave
• Staff recruitment and retention
• Customer satisfaction
• Organisational image and reputation.

20. Use STRESS to your advantage
One can use it as an impetus to achieve
success. If approached positively, stress
can help us evolve as a person by letting
go of unwanted thoughts and principle in
our life. Very often, at various crossroads
of life, stress may remind you of the
transitory nature of your experiences, and
may prod you to look for the true
happiness of life.