YOUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | 1 Stress Management.

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Stress Management


Seminar Goals

1. Define stress ( Stress is unpredictable)

2. Identify individual responses to stress

3. Increase awareness of individual choices that produce stress

4. Identify various stress management tools and techniques

What are the stressors in your life?

+ Personal?

+ Professional?

+ Social?


What is stress?

+ Human reaction

+ Anything perceived by body as a threat

+ The body’s reaction to any demands on it resulting in a “fight or

flight” response


Responses to stress

+ Body mobilizes+ Adrenaline flows+ Heart rate increases+ Blood pressure is elevated+ Adrenaline and other hormones are secreted. + Muscle tone expands+ Pupils dilate+ Perspiration increases+ Oxygen uptake increases + Glucose and fatty acids are mobilized, and blood coagulants are

released


The issue of imbalance causes the stress not the event

+ To be a stressor, the event must be perceived by the individual as a

threat

+ Positive or negative events can cause the person’s stress level to

rise (Kabasa)

+ We all need some stress in our life but too much causes burnout,

too little causes rust out


Kabasa Study

Too much stress, positive or negative, increase chances of becoming ill

+ Control

+ Commitment

+ Challenge


Two types of stress

+ Eustress

+ Destress


Eustress (Good Stress)

+ We need it to succeed

+ It heightens our performance

+ It makes us stronger

+ It helps us accomplish things that are important to us

+ It is what motivates all of us!


Distress (Bad stress)

+ Long-term stress is chronic, makes us sick, detracts from our

enjoyment of life.

+ It can ultimately kill us!


Stress Scale


STRESS

PRODUCTIVIT

Y

x

How does your body tell you that you are under too much stress?

+ Physical signs

+ Emotional signs

+ Intellectual signs

+ Every individual may have different signs of stress (Don’t compare

yourself to anyone else – Important to be aware of your symptoms

or you can’t manage)



AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM RESPONSE (“FIGHT OR FLIGHT” RESPONSE)

The heart rate increases; blood pressure is elevated; adrenaline and other hormones are secreted. Muscle tone expands; pupils dilate; perspiration increases; oxygen uptake increases. Glucose and fatty acids are mobilized, and blood coagulants are released.

PHYSICAL SIGNS OF STRESS

EMOTIONAL SIGNS OF STRESS

INTELLECTUAL SIGNS OF STRESS

Headaches Backaches Changes in Appetite Insomnia Hypersomnia Accident proneness Exacerbation of already present Dryness of mouth Stiff neck Irregular heartbeat Hyperventilation Fluttering eyelids Cold hands “Butterflies” Eye strain Gritted teeth Indigestion Muscle fatigue

Irritability Angry outbursts Increase in tardiness Increase in absences Crying episodes Mood swings Marked differences in grooming habits Withdrawal; isolation from relationships in the work setting Depression Jealousy Anxiousness Critical of self and others

Forgetfulness Preoccupation Rumination Mathematical and grammatical errors Blocking Diminished fantasy life Lack of concentration Reduction in interest Lack of attention to details Reduction in creativity and productivity

Managing Stress

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Negative ways to cope with stress

+ Increased use of alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes and other drugs

+ Over-eating

+ Over work

+ Dwelling on past mistakes

+ Compulsive behaviors


Managing Stress (two options)

+ Control the stressors encountered

+ Control your reactions


Four (4) F’s

+ Fitness (endorphins released, more energy, increased focus, etc)

+ Food (want to increase energy level)

+ Fun (laughing also releases endorphins with same impact as physical activity)

+ Forty Winks (adequate sleep)


Positive ways to deal with stress

+ Take control

+ Stop wishing it were different

+ Move from thinking to doing

+ Verbalize and ventilate

+ Watch your diet

+ Deal with incorrect perceptions

+ Visualize success


Positive ways to deal with stress

+ Exercise+ Set limits+ Prioritize+ Choose your battles+ Keep your life balanced – friends, leisure, spiritual, family and work+ Avoid self medication+ Practice relaxation


Relaxation Techniques

+ Physical relaxation – isometrics

+ Deep breathing

+ Visualization

+ Stretching


EAP

+ Good place to get help in identifying stressors and support to practice techniques

+ Benefits to employees, family and significant others+ Voluntary+ Confidential+ Good resource to use when problems are just beginning -

preventative


Questions and Evaluation

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YOUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | 1 Stress Management.

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Transcript of YOUR EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM | 1 Stress Management.