1. Stress Management
Lalith Sivanathan

2. Content Definition Stressors Causes of stressors Response to stressors
How to handle stress
Stress reducing techniques
Points to remember

3. Stress
Stress is the body’s reaction to any stimulus that requires a person to adjust to a changing environment.
Change always initiates stress.
The stimuli (an event) to change, alter behavior, or adapt to a situation are stressors.

4. Stress Stressors can be caused by internal or external forces.
Internal stress – “heart attack,” cancer
External stress – new job, marriage, divorce, test.
No matter what the cause, a stressor will cause the body to go into alarm or warning mode…..the “fight or flight” response.
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for action by releasing the hormone adrenaline into the blood stream.

5. Stressors cause Body goes into an alarm mode
Sympathetic nervous system works OT
Adrenaline released (hormone from adrenals)
Blood vessels to heart & brain dilate
Pupils in eye dilate
Saliva decreases
Heart beats faster, blood pressure rises, respiratory rate increases
Actions provide body with burst of energy & stamina required to respond to stressor

6. Causes of stress Relationships Job or school
Foods – caffeine, salt, sweets
Illness & lifestyle
Finances
Family events – birth, death, marriage, divorce
Overwork, boredom, negative feelings
Time limitations – too much to do
Failure to achieve goals

7. Stress Not all stress is harmful.
A small amount of stress is essential to an individual’s well- being because it makes the person more alert and raises the energy level.
Stress can cause positive feelings such as excitement, anticipation, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement.

8. Response to stressors
If stress causes positive feelings, it can be helpful (achievement, excitement, anticipation, etc)
If stress causes negative feelings, it can be harmful (boredom, frustration, irritability, anger, depression, distrust, self- criticism, exhaustion)

9. Negative Stress Can lead to substance abuse
Smoking, alcohol use, drug use, excessive eating
Trying to find comfort & escape from negative feelings
Can lead to mental breakdown
Be aware of stressors & learn to control them

10. Stress
Working in health care can be very stressful. Sometimes you will deal with life and death situations.
How do you handle stress?

11. Stress – How can you handle it?
Stop: immediately stop what you are doing to break out of the stress response.
Breathe: take a slow deep breath to relieve the physical tension.
Reflect: think about the problem and the cause of the stress.
Choose: determine how you want to deal with the stress.

12. Steps to control stress
Identify stressors
Awareness of stressor & how you deal with it, can you change it?
Solve or eliminate the problem
Gather info, assess situation, identify problem, list possible solutions, make a plan, act on solution, evaluate results, change solution if necessary

13. Stress-reducing techniques
Live a healthy life – diet, exercise, rest
Take a break from stressors
Take a warm bath
Escape to quiet music or book
Relieve tension – slow deep breaths
Rely on others – talk to a friend
Meditate & use imagery
Enjoy yourself & Renew yourself
Think positively
Develop outside interests
Seek assistance & delegate, say NO

14. Stress Everyone experiences
Amount of stress depends on the individual reaction to & perception of the situation
Example – blood test can be stressful for some, but routine for another

15. After the stress is over
Parasympathetic nervous system works
Opposite reactions cause fatigue or exhaustion while body recovers
If body is subjected to constant stress, normal body functions are disrupted
Can result in serious illness or disease
Migraine headaches, anxiety reactions, depression, allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, hypertension, insomnia, heart disease

16. Remember Stress is a constant presence & cannot be avoided
Be aware of causes & learn how to respond when a stress reaction occurs
Solve problems effectively
Practice techniques to reduce the effect of stress
Patients also can experience stress as they deal with their illness

17. Thank you…