2. What is Stress ?

4. • Stress - General concept describing a ‘load’ on the
system
• Stressor - A specific problem, issue, challenge,
personal conflict (External / Internal)
• Strain - The prolonged impact of a stressor on the
system (overload), fatigue, precursor to illness.
• Stress Reaction - An individual response to a given
stressor (physiological, behavioural, emotional,
cognitive, signs and symptoms)
A Conceptual Understanding

5. When you leave office today.
Study this small story,
Hope that makes a BIG change
in YOU

6. Professor began his class by holding up a
glass with some water in it.
He held it up for all to see & asked the
students……
“How much do you think this glass
weighs?”
..the students answered
'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms'

7. “I really don't know unless I weigh it,”
said the professor, “but, my question is:
What would happen if I held it up like this
for a few minutes?”
'Nothing' …..the students said.

8. 'Ok what would happen if I held it up like
this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of
the student

9. “You're right, now what would happen if I
held it for a day?”
“Your arm could go numb, you might have
severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to
go to hospital for sure!”
….. ventured another student & all the
students laughed

10. “Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the
glass change?”
asked the professor.
'No‘…. Was the answer.

11. “Then what caused the arm ache & the
muscle stress?”
The students were puzzled.
“What should I do now to come out of
pain?” asked professor again.
“Put the glass down!” said one of the
students

12. “Exactly!” said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they
seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to
ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze
you. You will not be able to do anything.

13. It's important to think of the
challenges or problems in your life,
but EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is
to ‘PUT THEM DOWN' at the end
of every day before You go to sleep.
That way, you are not stressed, you
wake up every day fresh &strong &
can handle any issue, any challenge
that comes your way!

14. 'PUT THE GLASS DOWN
TODAY! '
So, When you leave office today,
Remember friend to

15. STRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY BADSTRESS IS NOT NECESSARILY BAD
AND AS SUCH!AND AS SUCH!
• IT ALSO HAS A POSITIVE VALUE
EXAMPLES:
• PERFORMANCE IN SPORTS
• PERFORMANCE IN ACTING

16. STRESS IS WHEN YOUSTRESS IS WHEN YOU
CONFRONTCONFRONT
• OPPORTUNITIES
• CONSTRIANTS
• DEMANDS

17. ARE YOUARE YOU
A Zero StressA Zero Stress
Individual?Individual?

18. Can You Fight WithCan You Fight With
Darkness?Darkness?
Darkness IsDarkness Is
OnlyOnly
Absence ofAbsence of
LightLight
Bring Light InBring Light In
AndAnd
DarknessDarkness

19. Can YouCan You
FightFight
WithWith
Hunger?Hunger?
Hunger Is OnlyHunger Is Only
Absence of FoodAbsence of Food
Take Food And HungerTake Food And Hunger
DisappearsDisappears

20. Can You Fight WithCan You Fight With
Confusion?Confusion?
Confusion Is Only Absence of ClarityConfusion Is Only Absence of Clarity
GetGet ClarityClarity And ConfusionAnd Confusion
DisappearsDisappears

21. Can You Fight WithCan You Fight With
Poverty?Poverty?
Poverty IsPoverty Is
OnlyOnly
Absence ofAbsence of
RichesRiches
Earn Money AndEarn Money And
PovertyPoverty
DisappearsDisappears

22. Can You Fight WithCan You Fight With
Stress?Stress?
STRESSSTRESS
is only Absence ofis only Absence of
AA

23. LIFE IS FULL OF Situations &LIFE IS FULL OF Situations &
SituationsSituations
UNMANAGEABLE SITUATIONUNMANAGEABLE SITUATION
PROBLEMPROBLEM
FEARFEAR
WORRYWORRY
(MIND)(MIND) (BODY)(BODY)
STRESSSTRESS
TENSIONTENSION STRAINSTRAIN

24. Symptoms of StressSymptoms of Stress
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Insomnia
• Heart palpitations
• Decrease in
concentration/memory
• Loss of sense of
humor
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Anger
• Irritability
• Increased/decreased
eating
• Crying
• Yelling

25. Harmful Effects of StressHarmful Effects of Stress
When stress becomes excessive it can be very
damaging. It can harm:
• Health
• Happiness
• Work performance
• Team spirit and co-operation
• Relationships
• Personal development

26. EFFECT OF STRESSEFFECT OF STRESS
Stress can manifest in many ways, but the four most
common are:-
 Physical: Sometimes stress can contribute to conditions
like headaches, high blood pressure, chest pains and
stomach aches.
Emotional: Stress can contribute to anger, sadness and
anxiety.
 Behavioral: Sometimes people react to stress by crying,
drinking excessively, or nervous habits like nail biting.
 Cognitive: Stress can impact cognitive functions like
concentration and memory.

27. Reasons for Stress In Teams
Organizational:
• Overwork
• Feeling of being undervalued
• Poor communications
• Job ambiguity
• Conflict with colleagues
Environmental:
• Poor physical working conditions or job design
• Heat
• Noise
Personal:
• Ill health
• Relationship problems
• Financial difficulties
• Family worries
• Addictions

28. Harmful Effects Of Stress In aHarmful Effects Of Stress In a
TeamTeam
The impact of excessive stress on
teamwork is also harmful, and it can
damage:
• Individual work performance
• Team performance
• Working relationships
• Cooperation between team members
• Team spirit

29. STAGES OF STRESS

30. ALARM STAGEALARM STAGE
As you begin to experience a stressful
event or perceive something to be
stressful psychological changes occur in
your body. This experience or perception
disrupts your body’s normal balance and
immediately your body begins to respond
to the stressor(s) as effectively as
possible.

31. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
Cardiac - increased heart rate
Respiratory - increased respiration
Skin - decreased temperature
Hormonal - increased stimulation of
adrenal genes which produce an adrenal
rush.

32. RESISTANCE STAGERESISTANCE STAGE
During this stage your body tries to cope
or adapt to the stressors by beginning a
process of repairing any damage the
stressor has caused. Your friends, family
or co-workers may notice changes in you
before you do so it is important to examine
their feedback to make sure you do not
reach overload.

33. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
Behavior indicators include: lack of
enthusiasm for family, school, work or life
in general, withdrawal, change in eating
habits, insomnia, hypersomnia, anger,
fatigue.
Cognitive Indicators include: poor problem
solving, confusion, nightmares, hyper-
vigilance.

34. RESISTANCE STAGERESISTANCE STAGE
MORE EXAMPLESMORE EXAMPLES
Emotional indicators include:
tearfulness
fear
anxiety
panic
guilt
agitation
depression
overwhelmed.

35. EXHAUSTION STAGEEXHAUSTION STAGE
During this stage the stressor is not
being managed effectively and the body
and mind are not able to repair the
damage.

36. EXAMPLESEXAMPLES
Digestive disorders, withdrawal,
headaches, tension, insomnia, loss of
temper.

37. The causes of stressThe causes of stress

38. High Stress Cause:
•Harm the Heart, promote clogged
arteries.
•Surge of stress harmones in the blood-
stream – weakens the body’s immune
defences.
•Heartburn
•Cold sores to asthma
•Cancer

39. •People say they’re too busy to stop
and deal with stress.
•By learning to calm down, can
actually feel less busy

40. Categories of StressorsCategories of Stressors
Exraorganizational
Stressors
•Social &
Technological
changes
•Family problems
•Relocation
•Economic &
Financial conditions
•Race & Class
•Residential &
Community
conditions
Organizational
Stressors
•High-stress jobs
•Job role
•Poor working
conditions
•Organizational
politics
•Poor work
relationships
Group
Stressors
•Absence of
group
cohesivenes
•Absence of
support from
group
members
•Conflicts
related to the
group
Individual
Stressors
•Role conflict
& ambiguity
•Type A
characteristics
•Locus of
control
•Learned
helplessness
•Self-efficacy
•Psychological
hardiness
R
RESULT IN JOB STRESS IN THE INDIVIDUAL

41. EXTERNAL STRESSORSEXTERNAL STRESSORS
• Physical Environment: Noise, Heat
• Social: Rudeness, Aggressiveness
• Organizational: Regulations, Deadlines
• Major Life Events: Death of a Relative, New Baby
• Daily Hassles: Traffic, Vehicle Breakdown

42. Internal StressorsInternal Stressors
• Lifestyle choices: Not enough sleep, Overloaded
schedule.
• Negative self-talk: Pessimistic thinking, Self-
criticism.
• Mind traps: Unrealistic expectations, Taking
things personally.
• Stressful personality types: Perfectionist,
Workaholic

43. • Emotional disorders caused by stress
– Anxiety
– Panic attack
– Depression
– Adjustment disorders
• Behavioural disorders caused by stress
– Conduct disorders
– Eating disorders
– Alcoholism
– Discuss the relationship between stress and
illness

44. Work Related StressWork Related Stress
• Decreased quality and/or quantity of work.
• Loss of the sense of humor.
• Working late or more obsessively than usual.
• Sudden increase in accidents.
• Difficulty in communicating and getting along
with others.
• Apathy
• Sudden reversal of usual behavior.

45. LEVELS OF STRESSLEVELS OF STRESS

46. EUSTRESSEUSTRESS
Eustress or positive stress occurs when your
level of stress is high enough to motivate you to
move into action to get things accomplished.

47. DISTRESSDISTRESS
Distress or negative stress occurs when your
level of stress is either too high or too low
and your body and/or mind begin to respond
negatively to the stressors.

48. SOURCES FOR STRESSSOURCES FOR STRESS
ENVIRONMENTAL
• UNCERTAINITES IN FACORS:
• SOCIAL
• ECONOMICAL
• POLITICAL
• TECHNOLOGICAL
• LEGAL

49. Contd…Contd…
ORGANISATIONAL:
• TASK DEMANDS
• INTERPERSONAL FACTORS
• ROLE EFFECIVENESS DEMANDS
• ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
• LEADERSHIP
• AGE OF THE ORGANISATION

50. Contd…Contd…
INDIVIDUAL
• FAMILY PROBLEMS
• ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
• ATTITUDINAL FACTORS
• SELF IMAGE

51. STUDIES SHOWS:
•The most stressful situations are things
we can’t control.
• We can’t change the past.
• We can’t predict the future.
• Only thing is we can control the present.
Practice this technique – regain a sense
of control – and ease stress.