This document outlines a group work discussion on stress. It begins by defining stress as the pressures of life that cause the body to react. It then lists various causes of stress like death, accidents, illness, job loss, etc. and symptoms like fatigue, headaches, irritability, lack of concentration. It discusses ways of coping with stress like planning work effectively, taking time off, exercising, exploring new interests, spending time with others, and reflecting spiritually. Key questions are provided to help people address stress in their lives by improving balance, relationships and change management. Counselling skills that can help with stress include genuineness, empathy, unconditional positive regard, listening, paraphrasing, confrontation, focusing, immediacy

1. GROUP WORK OUTLINEGROUP WORK OUTLINE

2. GROUP WORKGROUP WORK
How were you affected by theHow were you affected by the
What do you feel about what has happened?What do you feel about what has happened?
What do you see as the possible effects of this?What do you see as the possible effects of this?
How do you think it will affect your work?How do you think it will affect your work?
What are the possible solutions/intervention?What are the possible solutions/intervention?
What issues may arise among students/staff asWhat issues may arise among students/staff as
a result of what happened?a result of what happened?

3. STRESSSTRESS
AIM:AIM:
Participants discuss stress and its causes,Participants discuss stress and its causes,
share experiences on the occasions thatshare experiences on the occasions that
they themselves have gone through stressthey themselves have gone through stress
and some copying strategies.and some copying strategies.

4. WHAT IS STRESS?WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is the inevitable pressures of lifeStress is the inevitable pressures of life
brought on by either people orbrought on by either people or
circumstances to which our bodies react.circumstances to which our bodies react.
It is being stretched beyond your limits,It is being stretched beyond your limits,
over extending your self without adequateover extending your self without adequate
time for recovering, or believing you cantime for recovering, or believing you can
do, more than you can physically take.do, more than you can physically take.

5. CAUSES OF STRESSCAUSES OF STRESS
Death- witnessing sudden death of a lovedDeath- witnessing sudden death of a loved
one.one.
Seeing a person who is being seriouslySeeing a person who is being seriously
injured or killed as a result of an accidentinjured or killed as a result of an accident
or physical violence.or physical violence.
New babyNew baby
Disasters/accidents/tragedy.Disasters/accidents/tragedy.
Continual conflict at home or workContinual conflict at home or work
Prolonged or serious illnessProlonged or serious illness

6. Changing residenceChanging residence
Lose of job.Lose of job.
Lose of any formLose of any form
Failure to archive, finding it difficult to perform aFailure to archive, finding it difficult to perform a
task and yet determined to do ittask and yet determined to do it
Pressure to meet deadline in a limited timePressure to meet deadline in a limited time
Over workOver work
Lack of resources and skills-financial problemsLack of resources and skills-financial problems
and loses.and loses.

7. Physical/psychological torturePhysical/psychological torture
Destruction of one’s home or communityDestruction of one’s home or community
Disillusionment due to unmetDisillusionment due to unmet
expectations.expectations.

8. SYMPTOMS OF STRESSSYMPTOMS OF STRESS
Extreme fatigueExtreme fatigue
Fast breathing patternsFast breathing patterns
Loss of confidence and self esteemLoss of confidence and self esteem
HeadachesHeadaches
Insomnia- restless sleep patternsInsomnia- restless sleep patterns
IrritabilityIrritability

9. Lack of concentration, forgetfulnessLack of concentration, forgetfulness
Lack of enthusiasmsLack of enthusiasms
Poor feeding patternPoor feeding pattern
Depression-spending a lot of time at workDepression-spending a lot of time at work
and yet achieving very littleand yet achieving very little
Lack of organisationLack of organisation
TelevisionTelevision
Mental fatigue, worryMental fatigue, worry

10. Fear and threat to lifeFear and threat to life
DepressionDepression
Great pain, sorrow or suffering and feelingGreat pain, sorrow or suffering and feeling
alone, feeling guilty, e.t.calone, feeling guilty, e.t.c
Emotional , irrational and short temperedEmotional , irrational and short tempered
distancing from patience/clientdistancing from patience/client
Social: deterioration in interpersonal relationshipSocial: deterioration in interpersonal relationship
at work and at home.at work and at home.
Spiritual: value system becomes eroded andSpiritual: value system becomes eroded and
may even inflict pain of patientsmay even inflict pain of patients

11. COPYING WITH STRESSCOPYING WITH STRESS
We must develop effective strategy for dealing withWe must develop effective strategy for dealing with
it. Professional strategies can include:-it. Professional strategies can include:-
Planning and prioritising work load effectivelyPlanning and prioritising work load effectively
Negotiating time spent with patients and familiesNegotiating time spent with patients and families
so that clear boundaries are establishedso that clear boundaries are established
Taking time off such as holidays and weekends.Taking time off such as holidays and weekends.
Leaving work on timeLeaving work on time
Caring for self:-Caring for self:-

12. PHYSICALLYPHYSICALLY
Follow a sensible exercise planFollow a sensible exercise plan
Eat healthy foodEat healthy food
Chill out-find something that helps youChill out-find something that helps you
relax, that is personally satisfying andrelax, that is personally satisfying and
enjoy doing it. (not harmful to your health)enjoy doing it. (not harmful to your health)

13. INTELLECTUALLYINTELLECTUALLY
Find new prospects, perhaps change ofFind new prospects, perhaps change of
job or career or sabbaticaljob or career or sabbatical
Explore chances of a lateral transferExplore chances of a lateral transfer
Attend workshops or courses to equipAttend workshops or courses to equip
your self with latest evidence-basedyour self with latest evidence-based
information and practicesinformation and practices
Managing timeManaging time

14. SOCIALLYSOCIALLY
Share, discuss feelings with colleagues atShare, discuss feelings with colleagues at
work and organise social occasionswork and organise social occasions
Work on improving family relationshipsWork on improving family relationships
Develop interest and hobbies outside theDevelop interest and hobbies outside the
work environment, and meet other peoplework environment, and meet other people
Go on holidayGo on holiday

15. SPIRITUALLYSPIRITUALLY
Reflect on the meaning of your life andReflect on the meaning of your life and
your spiritual belief/values and meditate.your spiritual belief/values and meditate.
Write down your personal, professionalWrite down your personal, professional
goalsgoals
Which of these goals are still being met?Which of these goals are still being met?
What changes have you got to meet thoseWhat changes have you got to meet those
goals?goals?

16. KEY QUESTIONS WE NEED ASKKEY QUESTIONS WE NEED ASK
OURSELVESOURSELVES
Do I need to give my self permission toDo I need to give my self permission to
take charge of the pressure in my life?take charge of the pressure in my life?
Do I need to sort out the balances in myDo I need to sort out the balances in my
life?life?
Do I need to increase my resistance toDo I need to increase my resistance to
stress?stress?
Do I need to concentrate on internal orDo I need to concentrate on internal or
external pressure?external pressure?

17. Do I need to concentrate on managingDo I need to concentrate on managing
change better?change better?
Do I need to concentrate on improvingDo I need to concentrate on improving
relationships?relationships?
Do I need to tackle specific pressure?Do I need to tackle specific pressure?
Is there anything else I need to do toIs there anything else I need to do to
tackle pressure?tackle pressure?

18. Genesis 1:31” then God saw everythingGenesis 1:31” then God saw everything
that He had made, and indeed it was verythat He had made, and indeed it was very
good.” God created us with the mentalgood.” God created us with the mental
capacity to handle stress.capacity to handle stress.
God made the brain to produce its ownGod made the brain to produce its own
natural tranquiliser (Gaba and Serotonin)natural tranquiliser (Gaba and Serotonin)
also calledalso called neurotransmittersneurotransmitters. These are. These are
calledcalled happy messengers.happy messengers.

19. God created us with anGod created us with an adrenaline glandadrenaline gland
which gives extra help when we are inwhich gives extra help when we are in
special times of danger or need (fight orspecial times of danger or need (fight or
flight mechanism) the adrenaline glandflight mechanism) the adrenaline gland
produces the chemical cortisol which canproduces the chemical cortisol which can
else be calledelse be called sad messengerssad messengers

20. The brain is equipped with benzoThe brain is equipped with benzo
receptors from receiving “happyreceptors from receiving “happy
messengers” thereby telling the body tomessengers” thereby telling the body to
release energy from stored resourcesrelease energy from stored resources
throughout the body.throughout the body.

21. But when this balance fails then we go intoBut when this balance fails then we go into
stress and need professional help. Whenstress and need professional help. When
stress is not dealt with early, then it willstress is not dealt with early, then it will
lead to other complications that may belead to other complications that may be
more difficult to handle. These include:more difficult to handle. These include:
depression, PTSD, ASD, etc as we shalldepression, PTSD, ASD, etc as we shall
see in our next presentations.see in our next presentations.

22. THANK YOUTHANK YOU

24. COUNSELLING SKILLSCOUNSELLING SKILLS

25. It is important to strive to use a skill in aIt is important to strive to use a skill in a
spontaneous way-avoiding being mechanistic.spontaneous way-avoiding being mechanistic.
It is important to think of ourselves possessingIt is important to think of ourselves possessing
skills, resources and deficits or a mixture of theskills, resources and deficits or a mixture of the
twotwo
They are realistic and rationalThey are realistic and rational
They have self actualizing tendencies (they haveThey have self actualizing tendencies (they have
needs they meet)needs they meet)
You should be committed to self developmentYou should be committed to self development

26. AREAS IN WHICH COUNSELLINGAREAS IN WHICH COUNSELLING
SKILLS CAN BE USEDSKILLS CAN BE USED
Nurturing and healingNurturing and healing
Problem managementProblem management
Decision makingDecision making
Crisis managementCrisis management
SupportSupport
Life skill trainingLife skill training

27. LIFE SKILL/COUNSELLING SKILLSLIFE SKILL/COUNSELLING SKILLS
GENUINENESSGENUINENESS
It is the willingness to be real and not hideIt is the willingness to be real and not hide
behind a professionally faced, to non-behind a professionally faced, to non-
defensive, to be reasonably role free.defensive, to be reasonably role free.
It depends on how integrated we are asIt depends on how integrated we are as
individualsindividuals

28. IMPORTANCE OF GENUINENESSIMPORTANCE OF GENUINENESS
People are willing to trust, open toPeople are willing to trust, open to
themselves and more accepting ofthemselves and more accepting of
themselves.themselves.

29. EMPATHYEMPATHY
Ability to understand accurately what theAbility to understand accurately what the
other is experiencing and communicatingother is experiencing and communicating
that understandingthat understanding
It is an “as if” situationIt is an “as if” situation

30. IMPORTANCE OF EMPATHYIMPORTANCE OF EMPATHY
People feel understood, priced and theirPeople feel understood, priced and their
potential as workers are releasedpotential as workers are released
Worker:-Worker:- I feel worn out and I cant carryI feel worn out and I cant carry
onon
Head:-Head:- I hear you say you have littleI hear you say you have little
energy to continue onenergy to continue on

31. UNCONDITIONAL POSITIVEUNCONDITIONAL POSITIVE
REGARD (UPR)REGARD (UPR)
It refers to the positive attitude that theIt refers to the positive attitude that the
helper has to the helpee.helper has to the helpee.
A consistent and enduring warmth towardsA consistent and enduring warmth towards
another irrespective of how their behaviouranother irrespective of how their behaviour
is.is.
It is appreciation of another as a personIt is appreciation of another as a person
but not approval of all behaviourbut not approval of all behaviour

32. IMPORTANCE OF UPRIMPORTANCE OF UPR
People feel respected and trusted andPeople feel respected and trusted and
they are free to work on their weaknessesthey are free to work on their weaknesses
when they are not feeling condemned,when they are not feeling condemned,
judged, criticised and blamedjudged, criticised and blamed

33. LISTENINGLISTENING
It involves attending, listening, hearing andIt involves attending, listening, hearing and
understanding the verbal communicationunderstanding the verbal communication
of another person.of another person.
It also takes places within a person.It also takes places within a person.
Inner listening i.e being sensitive to yourInner listening i.e being sensitive to your
own thoughts and feelings is vital to yourown thoughts and feelings is vital to your
outer listening involving understandingouter listening involving understanding
anotheranother

34. IMPORTANCE OF LISTENINGIMPORTANCE OF LISTENING
Creating a rapport, an influence base,Creating a rapport, an influence base,
knowledge baseknowledge base
You also help another to talk, onYou also help another to talk, on
responsibility and problem solve.responsibility and problem solve.

35. PARAPHRASINGPARAPHRASING
Restarting the content of anotherRestarting the content of another
person/client that mirrors another personsperson/client that mirrors another persons
literal meaning of the communication.literal meaning of the communication.

36. IMPORTANCE OF PARAPHRASINGIMPORTANCE OF PARAPHRASING
Communicates your understanding.Communicates your understanding.
Encourages the other person to elaborateEncourages the other person to elaborate
key ideas or thoughtskey ideas or thoughts

37. CONFRONTATIONCONFRONTATION
it is challenging discrepancy and it isit is challenging discrepancy and it is
aimed at expanding the personsaimed at expanding the persons
awareness in some areasawareness in some areas
Head:-Head:- Reduces the ambiguities andReduces the ambiguities and
incongruitiesincongruities
Brings the person into more direct contactBrings the person into more direct contact
with him/her selfwith him/her self
e.g, strengths, resources and destructivee.g, strengths, resources and destructive
behaviourbehaviour

38. Head:-Head:- I hear you say you need a transferI hear you say you need a transfer
but I also hear you request me for a housebut I also hear you request me for a house
here and I do not understand.here and I do not understand.

39. FOCUSSINGFOCUSSING
Helper guidance and directionHelper guidance and direction
It is asking a person to prioritiseIt is asking a person to prioritise
Student:-Student:- perhaps I should do Geographyperhaps I should do Geography
but I am also good in History and CREbut I am also good in History and CRE
Head:-Head:- I wonder which of the aboveI wonder which of the above
subject you would really want to dosubject you would really want to do

40. IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSSINGIMPORTANCE OF FOCUSSING
Provide directionProvide direction
Helps to bring clarity by prioritisingHelps to bring clarity by prioritising
Removes conflicts and confusionRemoves conflicts and confusion

41. IMMEDIACYIMMEDIACY
Discussing your relationship. It is calledDiscussing your relationship. It is called
the “here and now,” “you and me” talk.the “here and now,” “you and me” talk.

42. IMPORTANCE OF IMMEDIACYIMPORTANCE OF IMMEDIACY
Address lack of directionAddress lack of direction
Both of you are able to see what is goingBoth of you are able to see what is going
on between you.on between you.
Helps the other look at interaction withinHelps the other look at interaction within
the relationship as it is happening.the relationship as it is happening.

43. SELF DISCIPLINESELF DISCIPLINE
It is intentional verbal disclosure.It is intentional verbal disclosure.
It involves sharing with another person aIt involves sharing with another person a
similar experience to the one that issimilar experience to the one that is
causing the person present difficulties.causing the person present difficulties.
Self disclosure should be appropriatelySelf disclosure should be appropriately
given.given.

44. IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCLOSURE:-IMPORTANCE OF SELF DISCLOSURE:-
Provides more options to problem solving.Provides more options to problem solving.
Removes unusualness in the problemRemoves unusualness in the problem
situation.situation.
To show genuineness in helping.To show genuineness in helping.
The self is used as a model.The self is used as a model.

45. THANK YOUTHANK YOU