Chapter 16

Stress Management
 Learning Objectives

• The students will be able to learn and

understand:
1. The concept of Stress
2. Types of stress
3. Stress management
 CONTENTS
Definitions
Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Types of Stress
Causes of Organizational Stress
Causes of Non-organizational Stress
Managing Stress
 DEFINITIONS
 Stress is a feeling experienced when a person thinks that the demands
exceed the personal and social resources, the individual is able to
mobilize.–Richard S. Lazarus

 Stress is caused by a multitude of demands (stressors), such as an

inadequate fit between what we need and what we are capable of, and
what our environment offers and what it demands of us.—Levi

 Stress is the psychological, physiological, and behavioural response by an

individual when they perceive a lack of equilibrium between the demands
placed upon them and their ability to meet those demands, which, over a
period of time, leads to ill-health.—S. Palmer
 Understanding Stress
• STRESS

• EUSTRESS- helps an individual to perform

under pressure and also motivates to give best
performance

• DISTRESS- when stress exists for long span of

time, places constant demands and causes
problems.
ASIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
 Signs of Stress in Individuals
­ Sensitive Syndrome: Depression or negative feeling, feeling of loneliness and
solitude, getting disappointed with yourself, more emotional reactions like getting
more aggressive, sensitive or tearful, mood swings, loss of confidence, and loss of
motivation.
­ Mental: More confusion, poor memory, and less concentration.
­ Physical: Headache problem, frequent infections, muscle beat, and breathlessness.
­ Changes in Normal Behavior: Changes in eating habits, arriving late or taking more
time do to things, changes in sleep pattern, mood swings that have affected the
behavior, increased drinking, drug, and smoking.
 Signs of Stress in Groups
­ Stress can be found at workplace too and can be contagious.
­ Example: Low job satisfaction. If the stress in the organization is not noted and
acted upon by the management at an early stage, then team dynamics may
destroy.
• Signs of group stress:
1. Conflict and sickness
2. Increase in staff turnover
3. More absence due to sickness
4. Poor performance
5. Increase in the number of complaints and
grievances
6. Customer complaints and satisfaction
TYPES OF STRESS
 TYPES OF STRESS
 Acute Stress
­ This is a type of stress that occurs due to the day-to-day demands and pressures faced
by every individual.
­ Acute stress in small amount creates a stimulation but causes fatigue when goes
beyond a certain level.
­ Example: Riding a motor boat might be exciting for some time but when the activity is
stretched over hours, it might be tiring.
­ Acute stress exists for a short span and may occur due to burden of work, abiding the
deadlines, trivial accident, and so on.
 Episodic Acute Stress
­ When acute stress is experienced frequently, it is termed as episodic stress.
­ This type of stress is typically noticed among individuals who create self-inflicted,
impractical, or unreasonable demands which get all messed up and bring a lot of
stress in their effort to achieve these goals.
­ Episodic stress is generally seen among the ‘type A’ personality people who are
exceedingly competitive, aggressive, and demanding.
 TYPES OF STRESS
Chronic Stress
­ This type of stress occurs due to long-term exposure to
stressors.
­ Chronic stress can occur as a result of some traumatic
events, unhappy marital life, prolonged illness, problems in
relationships, job dissatisfaction, and so on.
­ Severe illnesses like stroke, heart attack, depression, and
post-traumatic disorder can initiate due to chronic stress.
 
CAUSES OF ORGANIZATIONAL
STRESS
 Role Ambiguity
 Role Conflict
 Negligible Management Support
 Time Pressure
 Less Interest in Participation
 No Sense of Belongingness
 Less Opportunities
 Working Conditions
 Work Underload or Overload
 Conflicts at Workplace
 Shift Working
 Lack of Recognition
 Organizational Changes
 Lack of Power
 Social Interactions and Stress
 CAUSES OF
NON-ORGANIZATIONAL STRESS
 The non-organizational stress incurred by an individual during
his lifetime arises due to high expectations in life followed by the
fact that they are not possible to satisfy.
 Non-organisational stress are
­ Basic Needs
­ Sudden Undesirable Changes in Life
­ High Expectations
­ Too Busy Schedule
­ Home Demands
­ Personal Demands
 ABC Model

• Awareness
• Balance
• Control
 GENERAL ADAPTION SYNDROME

• ALARM STAGE
• RESISTANCE
• EXHAUSATION
 MANAGING STRESS
 Communicate with Friends and Family
 Regular Exercise
 Meditation
 Managing Time
 Healthy Diet and Sleep
 Leisure/Hobbies
 Eliminate Stressors in Environment
 Avoid Excessive Alcohol
 Visit Doctor
 Identify the Stressor
 Accept Things That Cannot Be Changed
 Positive Thinking
Thank You…
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