Your Mind
There are also many symptoms of stress that are associated with your mind. If the stress you’re going through is something serious you can’t shake on your own, you may need to see a counselor. This isn’t something you should be ashamed about, either. Did you know two-thirds of Americans say they would seek help for stress? If you feel like all you need is a day off to get away from the stress, don’t be worried about that, either. The American Psychological Association says 25 percent of American workers have taken a mental health day off from work to deal with stress in their lives.
One of the most noticeable affects of stress on your mind is a heightened level of anxiety. You may feel an overwhelming sense of dread you just don’t understand. You may feel jittery too, without knowing why. Nervous people tend to fidget a lot, and if your nerves are fried from a lot of stress, you may be so restless you can’t sit still at all.
Did you know depression can be a symptom of stress? If you’ve been feeling really down lately, more than a case of the blues, then take a look at how much stress you have in your life. It’s quite possible your depression is rooted in stress. Sadness goes hand-in-hand with depression. Both of these symptoms could be mistaken for a simple case of the blues, or depression caused by something else. Some people even suffer depression for no apparent reason, but if you’re feeling really down in the dumps, it’s a good idea to see if stress is causing it. Remove the stressor, and your depression just might slip away!
Have you been fighting a lot with others lately? You could be picking those fights yourself, as a result of all the stress. Irritability and anger also top the list of psychological symptoms of stress. Stressed people often feel angry because they feel like things are out of their control. Let’s face it. It’s very stressful to not know where your life is going, and you could be taking your stress out on other people by arguing with them all the time.
The last group of psychological symptoms is centered around concentration. If you’re feeling stressed it’s very difficult to concentrate. You may not be able to focus on even the most mundane task. You might forget things you wouldn’t normally forget. You might even feel all the things you’re forgetting just sitting at the back of your brain, teasing you with how close they are. This can lead to frustration with yourself because you know you’re usually better than this. Finally, you may start to suffer from burnout. This is the lowest point you can reach before that big flashing sign pops up and says, “HEY! Take a BREAK!”
Your Behavior
All the signs of stress we’ve already discussed lead to the Mayo Clinic’s third category of stress symptoms. Everything you’re feeling will eventually come out in your behavior. Once you start acting like a stressed person, it can be very difficult to break the cycle associated with stress. Many people who suffer from addictions started during a time when they were stressed in their lives. From there, that one stressor they could have dealt with on a smaller scale ballooned up into a serious addiction they cannot control.
Concluded; Part 3
October 15th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
stress management
October 14th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
October 14th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
Stress vs. Challenge
Don’t confuse the two. Although they are closely related to each other they are quite different. A challenge is something we strive to accomplish. Stress is something that a person does not want to achieve. Stress does not really have an end. It leaves you exhausted, depressed, and disappointed. While after completing a challenge one usually feels triumphant.
What causes Stress at Work?
Practically everything. A person in the wrong position, the manager’s leadership style, co-workers, and job insecurity all play a part in creating stress in the workplace.
Organize³
Although some job conditions are outside your influence, there are ways to cope with them. Therapists say to “clean house”. Not literally of course, but tidy up your work area. Get a to do list from your boss. If it is too long ask about priorities. You’ll need to be careful just how you ask however, so your boss doesn’t think you’re trying to get out of work. Schedule your time so that you will have enough for the project. There may also be a strategy to getting everything done and having your boss be reasonable at the same time.
Breathe Through your Nose
If you feel that you are reaching the peak of your tolerance, stop for a moment, and take a deep breath through your nose. When you breathe through your nose cyou will not open your mouth and ssay something you will regret later. Also breathing in that manor will help circulate your blood and make you feel that much better.
Take a Break
If your boss gives you the okay, (and they should according to certain regulations), you should take a break every once in a while. Step away from your desk for five minutes and clear your head. If you can go outside for a few minutes, that’s even better. Everything may look completely different when you get back.
Share some Laughs
Have you ever tried to make your co-workers laugh? Even if you’re not the joking type, finding something to get around of giggles going will always lighten the moment. Have you ever wondered why the most thrilling action movie has bits of comedy dropped in here and there? It’s not just those witty writers! They’re trying to help you lighten up a bit, because if they’ve done their job to make you feel tense through the situation that’s on-screen, then you’ll need a little comic relief to help relieve some of the tension.
The same is true at work. If you can help everyone lighten up a bit, then pretty soon everyone will be feeling better. The overall stress level in your workplace will drop, morale will go up, and people will get a lot more work done. Instead of a continuous cycle of stress, you’ll kick off a wonderful cycle of stress-relief!
Get Better Lights…
Or whatever else would make your workplace a little cheerier. Have you ever seen those offices with the drab, concrete walls, the fluorescent light bulbs that buzz, and odd smell no one can seem to place? Your boss may not have worked some indoor plants into the budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spring for one yourself. Also, see what you can do to replace those buzzing, annoying lights. You’ll be amazed how much better you feel when your environment isn’t so depressing.
Go Do Something Else!
If none of these tips to relieve stress at work are doing it for you, then maybe it’s time to find something else to do. Some people are built to work in an office, while others need to be in the wide, open spaces. It could be that you’re just not cut out to do the job that you’re doing. This is why some people in certain jobs will thrive, while others in that same job will do it poorly. We’re all built differently, and what’s stressful about a job to one person may be heaven to another. If you’re seriously unhappy and there’s nothing that can be done to let some of that work stress go, then find something else. It’s not worth making yourself sick over. As they say, there are plenty of other fish in the sea. Go out there and find something that doesn’t stress you out!
October 14th, 2009 admin Posted in Stress Management for businesses
stress management
Stress: Signs and Symptoms
You sit at your desk, kneading your temples as you figure out what to do. Your mind races a mile a minute, scrolling through every possible scenario. It’s hard to focus because your head hurts so badly. You can feel your heart beating heavily in your chest as you yawn. You didn’t get much sleep last night, and it’s only making the situation worse.
Congratulations. You’re stressed. So is more than half of America. According to the American Psychological Association, 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the amount of stress in their lives. But did you know there are symptoms of stress you might not be aware of? You could be overly stressed and not even know it.
The Basics
Let’s start with the basics. These are the symptoms you would expect to find when you’re stressed. These include headache, insomnia, anxiety, worrying, upset stomach, and depression. You may be more prone to overeat, have crying spells or angry outbursts.
These symptoms are all pretty typical when anyone is feeling stressed, but they certainly aren’t the most dangerous ones. The symptoms you really need to watch out for are the ones you might not even know you have. Some symptoms can be a sign of stress, just as they can be a sign of other things. If you think you might be overly stressed or you’re enduring a large amount of stress for a prolonged period, it’s important to see your doctor. But let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known signs of stress.
Your Body
The Mayo Clinic classifies three different signs and symptoms of stress. The first set of symptoms involves your body. These include headaches, but did you know backache and chest pain could also be associated with stress? Backaches could be a psychosomatic symptom triggered by all that stress, but if you’re feeling chest pain, it’s important to get it checked out right away. Chest pain may be a sign of a much more serious condition, one which would be made even worse by copious amounts of stress. Chest pain is a common indicator of heart problems, and we’ve all heard of cases in which a heart attack was triggered by a stressful situation.
If your life is stressful for a long time, you may develop heart problems, even if you didn’t have any before. Stress takes a major toll on the ol’ ticker, and heart attack isn’t the only stress-related heart condition you may find. High blood pressure can also be associated with stress, along with heart palpitations. All of these heart-related illnesses are serious, and you should see your doctor immediately if you suspect you have any of these resulting from the stress in your life.
You also might find yourself getting sick more often. Doctors say living with a lot of stress keeps your immune system from functioning at its optimum level. You’ll be more likely to catch that cold bug that keeps running around at work if you’re feeling stressed, and you’ll keep catching it if you don’t kick the stress habit.
Continued in Part 2
October 13th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
stress management
October 11th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
October 11th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
October 10th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
October 10th, 2009 admin Posted in Uncategorized
Stress at Work
Do you think about your workplace when you relax, probably not. Most people try to forget about work as soon as they get home. According to a survey conducted by Northwestern National Life, almost 40% of workers say they are stressed out by their jobs. Another survey shows 26% of workers say they are burned out by their jobs. They need some help with Stress management.
Stress is one of societies big buzz words these days. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (or NIOSH) defines job stress as “harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.” Let’s break that down so you do not have to manage more stress just by deciphering the message.
Harmful Physical Responses
These are the signs your body gives you that you are not managing stress very well. Most doctors cannot find a source for these random pains, but don’t worry you aren’t crazy.
If you had been experiencing a lot of aches and pains these are signs of work related stress. You probably developed a twitch; this is a sign that you need some serious stress management. When you are stressed there is no bodily system that will kick in to make you feel that better. You have to do that yourself with some stress management. Your body responds to stress with multiple indicators like heart and breathing problems, excess sweat, and nervous ticks.
Harmful Emotional Responses
If you do not undergo stress management, you will also develop some emotional problems. You may become very anxious or you may start to harbor some angry emotions. It will almost be like a deer in headlights, the first thing that happens is a physical response. The animal’s ears perk up, the muscles tense, and then comes the emotional response. The animal bolts off the road and into the woods.
Requirements of the Job
Are the requirements of your job too ,or not, much? You may need stress management if the job qualifications are not right for you.
Capabilities, Resources and Needs
This is the second part of the requirements. Are you incapable of doing something your boss wants you to. Stress management can come into play if a worker takes on more than they can chew and are unable to complete a task. If you aren’t trained correctly there will be another opportunity for stress management. The worker will feel overwhelmed and may break or buckle under the stress. In that situation there would be a great need for stress management.
October 9th, 2009 admin Posted in Stress Management for businesses
stress management
(I sure will!!!!!!!) 
