Stress, Work-Related
Stress has been defined in a number of ways by a number of different individuals, but everyone agrees that stress is experienced by all workers in the business world no matter what their position. Stress is the body's reaction to any demand placed on it, and health experts agree that some stress is essential for human survival. As demands are placed on a person's body, there will be some kind of automatic reaction. When this reaction is positive, the stress helps individuals perform their jobs better. Positive stress, called eustress, can lead individuals to a new awareness of their abilities and a completely new perspective on their jobs. Negative stress, called distress, upsets individuals and can make them physically sick. It can lead to feelings of distrust, rejection, anger, and depression, which may lead to a number of medical problems, including stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and ulcers.
Symptoms of Stress
Because everyone is different, the symptoms of stress are varied and numerous. The symptoms of stress have been placed in different categories, the most common being physical, psychological, behavioral, and mental. Headache, fatigue, grinding teeth, clenched jaws, chest pain, shortness of breath, insomnia, nausea, high blood pressure, muscle aches, constipation or diarrhea, and heart palpitations are all physical symptoms of stress. Anxiety, nervousness, depression, anger, defensiveness, hypersensitivity, apathy, feelings of helplessness, impatience, and short temper are symptoms of psychological stress. Behavioral symptoms include overeating or loss of appetite, procrastination, increased use of alcohol or drugs, pacing, nervous habits (nail-biting, foot-tapping), crying, swearing, poor personal hygiene, and withdrawal or isolation from others. Individuals who experience a decrease in concentration and memory, indecisiveness, confusion, loss of sense of humor, and mind going blank or racing may have mental stress.
Many of these symptoms, when not treated, can lead to serious medical problems as well as loss of time on the job. When individuals experience stress, they often miss work because of illness or arrive late because they dread coming to work. When on the job, they may not performing up to their ability.
Reaction to Stress
When individuals perceive or anticipate a threatening or stressful situation, part of the nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system, becomes activated and releases a number of chemicals. One of these chemicals, adrenaline, is a stimulant hormone and is released into the bloodstream. Adrenaline and other hormones, including noradrenaline, produce changes in the body that get the individual geared up for action.
David Posen (1995), who specializes in stress management, indicates that gearing up for action is often called "the fight-or-flight response" because it provides the strength and energy to either fight or run away from danger. These responses increase heart rate and blood pressure in order to get more blood to the muscles, brain, and heart, the organs that are the most important in dealing with danger. This increase in blood flow to the brain, heart, and muscles means that there is a decrease in the blood flow to the skin, digestive tract, kidneys, and liver, where it is least needed in a time of crisis. Individuals will also begin to breathe faster to take in more oxygen, and their muscles will tense so that they are prepared for action. An increased mental alertness and sensitivity of sense organs occurs. As these reactions are taking place, there is also an increase in the blood sugar, fats, and cholesterol and a rise in platelets and blood-clotting factors.
Repeated release of chemicals as a reaction to stress can, over time, cause wear and tear on the heart and blood vessels, eventually leading to heart disease and stroke. Because adrenaline and the other hormones released during stress increase muscle tension, slow digestion, and constrict and dilate arteries, the liver may deliver cholesterol and fat into the bloodstream. The hormone testosterone may increase, which can reduce the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the good cholesterol.
Causes of Stress
There are a number of life events, experienced at one time or another by everyone, that cause stress. Some of these are family-related, such as marriage, death of a family member or close friend, divorce or separation, birth or adoption of a child, a personal major illness or illness of a family member, and a major change in a spouse's job or income. An individual's control over the situation will determine the amount of stress these events will cause.
Physical stressors include pollution, excessive noise, physical disability or handicap, weather extremes, smoking, excessive drinking, obesity, overeating, poor nutrition, and lack of rest or relaxation. Many of these physical stressors are beyond an individual's control.
Common workplace stressors include the possibility of dismissal, time pressures, too many responsibilities, unreasonable deadlines, disorganization, adapting to new technology, conflicts with co-workers, information overload, and major changes in job responsibilities.
Computers and Stress
The use of computers in the workplace has introduced new sources of stress. One of the most frequent computer-related stressors is repetitive strain injury (RSI), which occurs when the employee is overworked or when the working environment is not physically conducive to work. Causes of RSI may be repetitious actions such as typing or using a mouse, poor lighting, and poor posture. Another computer-related problem is carpal-tunnel syndrome (CTS), which occurs when the person typing has bad posture and uses incorrect hand movements on the keyboard. Hands and eyes are the main source of communication with the computer. When bad posture and incorrect hand movements are too prevalent, the result is tingling and numbness of the fingers.
Extended time spent working before a computer monitor can produce eye irritation, fatigue, and difficulty focusing, all of which are symptoms associated with eyestrain. Nearsightedness has been associated with eye strain caused by working at a computer monitor.
Sources of Job Stress
Job pressures are a major source of stress. Several job conditions have been identified as increasing stress in most employees. Job overload is one such condition. Although some employees may have the ability to do the job, they may not have enough time to do the amount of work necessary. Other employees lack the ability to do the job, being unable to meet the performance standards or expectations set by the employer. Clear job objectives are necessary, and when employees do not know what specific job performance is expected of them, they begin to develop stress.
When jobs are too boring or employees are not challenged to use their abilities, stress occurs. Stress also results from undesirable physical working conditions. Employees experience stress when the work environment is too noisy, too hot, too cold, or too crowded.
A major source of stress involves frequent or significant changes that have a direct effect on the individual's job. These changes can include changes in management, management style, equipment, or job location.
Managing Stress
Just as there are a number of causes for and symptoms of stress, there are a number of ways to manage stress. Individuals vary in their ability to manage stress, and the same techniques do not work for every person. Individuals need to become aware of the stressors they experience and how they react to these stressors.
One stress-management technique that can apply to almost all individuals is learning to manage time more effectively. Managing time more effectively means that individuals learn to prioritize and plan so that they have time for themselves, thus leaving time for listening to music, exercising regularly, mediating, or engaging in whatever type of activity that they find relaxing. Developing an organized time schedule helps ward off tension, which helps reduce stress.
When on the job, employees and managers need to match individual abilities with workload. Managers should be sure that the job objectives are clear so that there is no role ambiguity or role conflict. As employees' work responsibilities change, managers should keep them informed of what is going to happen, why it is going to happen, and when it will happen.
When individuals cannot manage stress on their own or with the help of their managers, medication may be necessary. These medications can, in the short term, moderate physical reactions to stress. Doctors usually prescribe Valium and Xanax for relief from stress. Tranquilizers are suggested for only short periods of time, because individuals can become dependent on them.
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