This document outlines strategies for managing stress, including defining stress and differentiating between eustress (good stress) and distress (bad stress). It discusses stress responses and sources of stress, as well as symptoms of stress. Personal strategies for coping with stress include adopting the right attitude, while organizational strategies involve decentralization, improved communication, and stress prevention programs. The overall goal is for individuals to understand stress and develop effective stress management techniques.

1. Dr Aloni Alali
MBBS. MSc Hlth Mgt. FWACP.

2. Expected Learning Outcomes
• At the end of this course, learners should be able to:
• define stress
• understand types of stressors; good stress – eustress, bad stress –
distress
• understand the sources of stress
• understand stress response
• develop a strategy for managing stress
• able to help others deal with stress

3. Introduction
• The process of living is the process of reacting to stress.
…Stanley J Sarnoff, MD
•
• This implies that, the way you react or respond to stress will
determine your quality of life and efficiency as a leader.

4. Introduction
Two scenarios
2. Modern day issues,
deadlines, traffic,
power outages etc
1. Pre historic man
encounters a wild
animal in a turn

5. Key terms
• Stress–It is a state of tension experienced by individuals facing
extraordinary demands, constraints, or opportunities.
• Stressor – anything that causes stress
• Eustress – a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on
health, motivation, performance, and emotional well-being, often
referred to as “good stress”.
• Distress – severe, prolonged stress or both extreme anxiety, sorrow or
pain, often referred to as “bad stress”.

6. What is Stress?
• It is a state of tension experienced
by individuals facing extraordinary
demands, constraints, or
opportunities. A condition or feeling
experienced when a person
perceives that demands exceed the
personal and social resources the
individual is able to mobilize.

8. Eustress
• Also called constructive stress, acts in a positive way to increase
efforts, stimulate creativity, and encourage diligence in one’s work. It
occurs in moderation and provides energising and is performance
enhancing.
• positive or good stress, has the following characteristics:
• Motivates, focuses energy.
• Is short-term.
• Is perceived as within our coping abilities.
• Feels exciting.
• Improves performance.

9. Distress
• Also called destructive stress impairs the performance of an individual. It is
dysfunctional. It can lead to job burnout; a form of physical and mental
exhaustion that can be incapacitating both personally and in respect of
one’s work.
• negative or bad stress has the following characteristics:
• Causes anxiety or concern, heart racing, irritability, sense of being
overwhelmed.
• Can be short- or long-term.
• Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities.
• Feels unpleasant.
• Decreases performance.
• Can lead to mental and physical problems.

10. Personality Type And Stress
• A type A personality is a person oriented toward extreme
achievement, impatience, and perfectionism
• Always moving, walking, and eating rapidly extremely competitive
• Acting impatient, hurrying others, disliking waiting.
• Doing, or trying to do several things at once aggressive and restless
• Feeling guilty when relaxing leisure time is difficult to cope with
• Trying to schedule more in less time set themselves objectives to
achieve in both domestic and working life.

11. Personality Type And Stress
• Type B behaviours are the opposite of type A. They will experience
much lower levels of stress. Type B characteristics are:
• Little sense of urgency or importance
• Enjoy leisure and do not feel guilty about it
• Can play sports and games without always being competitive
• Feel little need to advertise their achievements

12. Symptoms of Stress
• Cognitive Symptoms
• Memory problems
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying
• Phycological Symptoms
– Eating more or less
– Sleeping too much or too little
– Isolating yourself from others
– Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
– Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
– Nervous habits (e.g., nail biting, pacing

13. Symptoms of Stress
• Emotional Symptoms
• Moodiness
• Irritability or short temper
• Agitation and inability to relax
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness and isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness
– Physical Symptoms
– Aches and pains
– Diarrhoea or constipation
– Nausea and/or dizziness
– Chest pain and/or rapid
heartbeat

15. Personal Strategy for Coping with Stress
Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one … Hans Selye

16. Personal Strategy for Coping with Stress

19. Organisational Strategy for Reducing Stress
• Decentralization
• Adjustments to reward system
• Improved techniques of training and placement of
employees
• Arrangement for employee participation in the decision-
making process
• Improved lines of communication in the organisation

20. Preventing Job Stress
• Intentional Job Design
• Clear and Open Communication
• Positive Workplace Culture
• Employee Accountability
• Stress Prevention Programs