In this world of fast communication and demanding targets, more and more people experience the effects of stress. It helps to manage it by understanding what stress is, recognising the signs, being aware of what causes stress (it’s different for everyone) and having some useful coping strategies.
How can we define stress?
The word stress originates from the old French word “destresse”, meaning to be oppressed. While there is no one definition of stress, it can be defined as our: Inability to cope with the demands of a situation.
It is not necessarily the situation in itself that is stressful, not the external event that determines whether we are stressed, but how each one of us feels and behaves in relation to it. One person’s negative stress is another’s motivation, deadlines for example. We are all individual and will have our personal stress triggers.
However, there are some life events which are more likely to produce stress in the majority of people, such as being made redundant from a job you enjoy or, moving home or coping with an illness or loss of someone you love.
Stress is often defined as a response by body and mind to too much or too little pressure. Stress can be thought of as a combination of high demands plus high constraints and low support.
How do we create greater stress for ourselves?
Irrespective of the stressful circumstance, you can increase the stress you are under by your own thoughts and actions. These include:
- Imposing unrealistically high expectations on yourself as to what you “should” achieve
- Working under great pressure with insufficient resources and not asking for help
- Being resistant to seeking support or advice from your manager, colleagues, friends, family or professionals such as a GP, counsellor or coach
- Distorting a situation so that it becomes more stressful than it need be
Can stress be positive?
Some say that stress can excite, challenge and motivate. If we find ways of managing and coping, we may enjoy the challenge, such as when working to demanding deadlines. I prefer to call this pressure, because we are aware and feel its presence, yet know we can cope.
What are the negative effects of stress?
Stress can induce tears, depression, even breakdown. Over a sustained period it is debilitating. We become worn down and overwhelmed. Our behaviour becomes reactive. We lose the ability to make decisions. Indecision is both a cause and a consequence of stress. For example, if you become unable to decide on your priorities when working to demanding deadlines, you become disorganised, tired, so less able to prioritise.
There is another type of negative stress. This is where the demands placed on us are below our capacities, resulting in boredom, lack of fulfilment and discontent. Then we need to find ways of increasing the demands on ourselves.
Understanding what stress is – positive and negative – helps us to recognise its signs and causes. Then, we can develop strategies to prevent, reduce and cope with stress. Read my next two blogs which will cover these important areas.
In addition, you will find more information about stress management on my website and further tips if you follow me on Twitter.
