The Eight Illusions About Stress - 1

1. You have to be a doctor to diagnose and treat stress

2. Stress is a normal part of everyday life
3. Some stress is necessary in order to reach peak
performance
4. Stress is purely a physical phenomena and rest and
relaxation will make it go away
 The Eight Illusions About Stress - 2
5. A change of diet, a little jogging and a good holiday
will make your stress away
6. Other people, situations and events are responsible
for your stress
7. You have to be working 14 hours a day and
constantly meeting deadlines to experience stress
8. You never experience stress
 What most people do?
• Jogging • New hobby
• Aerobics • New relationships
• Change of diet • Sleep
• Vitamins • Alcohol
• Vacation • Tranquilizers
• Sport
 WHAT IS STRESS?
• Stress is physical or emotional
reaction/response to any kind of change –
external or internal
• Stress is a form of pain that comes to tell me
there is something I need to change
• Pain is a messenger that comes to tell me
there is something I need to learn
 The Physical Signs of Stress
increased heart rate,
stomach & digestive disturbances,
diarrhea, sweating, heart attack, ulcers,
head aches, chest pains, insomnia,
accident prone, alcoholism
high blood pressure
 The Mental Signs of Stress
tension, tightness,
resistance, friction, anger,
guilt, critical, anxiety, evasion, reactive,
discontentment, worry, impatience,
apprehension
 Effects of Stress
MENTAL
Irritability increases, forgetfulness, concentration
decreases, less judgment power weakens

BEHAVIOURAL
Smoking / alcohol addiction, nail/biting,
not mixing, reckless driving, eating
more or less, sleep more or less,
work-alcoholism or absenteeism
External & Internal causes of Stress
External
Fast changing world, hurry, consumerism,
media, government policies,
population explosions, pollution
Internal
change of attitude, fear, jealousy,
hatred, aspirations, approach
From Victim to Agent of Change
Victim Change Agent
Blaming Objective Helper
Manipulating Process Helper
Forcing Counsellor
Resisting Stabilizer
Fighting Referee
Fleeing Educator
Criticizing Energizer
Stress Management Skills
DETACHMENT
FILTERING
CONTROLLING
NOT ABSORBING
STABILIZING
HUMOUR
 4 Levels of Stress
SPIRITUAL – identity, perception, values,
self awareness
MENTAL – thinking, discriminating,
deciding, acting
EMOTIONAL - feelings, emotions, intuition
PHYSICAL – disease, illness, fatigue, food
 Causes or Triggers of Stress
Events, situations, and circumstances at work
being fired, competition, demotion, conflict,
over qualified or under qualified, dealing with
aggressive people, noisy environment, communication failure.

Events, situations, and circumstances at home

death, diverse, difficulties with in-laws, trapping,
addiction, uncertainty, fear
 Physiology of Stress
Events, situations, and circumstances at work
being fired, competition, demotion, conflict,
over qualified or under qualified, dealing with
aggressive people, noisy environment, communication failure.

Events, situations, and circumstances at home

death, diverse, difficulties with in-laws, trapping,
addiction, uncertainty, fear