Stress and Stress Management By Laura Chng and

Stress and Stress Management By Laura Ch’ng and Rabbia Ahmed

Stress

What is Stress? Stress is the physical or emotional response to a situation or event where we find ourselves in a demanding situation. Our bodies may respond negatively or positively to stress.

Aetiology of Stress • • • Can be due to different factors: Society Genetic Environment Psychological Personal exposure all play their roles.

Pathophysiology of Stress Pathways

Aetiology mostly depends on how people deal with stress Women report that: • • Eat more Talk to others Go out Meet friends Men report that: • • Drink Alcohol Avoid others Remain isolated Avoid friends

Rate of stress • Worldwide frequency is not known. • In children rates are much higher especially in foster care. • Women experience stress more than men.

Classification of Stress • Chronic Stress • Acute Stress • Episodic Acute Stress

Reactions of Stress • Physical stress • Behavioural stress • Psychological stress

Physical implications of stress • • • Stress can make us physically sick Dampens the immune system Dries out digestive tract Impairs memory Fuels anxiety

Causes of Stress • • • Challenges in work life and commitments Financial pressures Sleep deprivation Lack of time Work load Divorce

Symptoms of stress • • • Fatigue Depression Isolation Agitation Irritability Headaches • Gastrointestinal System upset • Sleep abnormalities • Overwhelmed • Unable to concentrate

Stress The idea is to have right amount of stress There is no uniform right amount of stress Each of us has a different stress As stress in appropriate amount keeps us engaged with the world • A goal is not a life without stress threshold • •

Dealing with stress • Individuals deal through various thoughts and actions • Youngsters mostly do exercise • Elderly mostly use spiritual help

Managing stress • • Progressive muscle relaxant (PMR) Autogenic training (AT) Emotional freedom technique (EFT) Diaphragmatic breathing origin Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) Transcendental mediation history (TM) Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)

Stress & Nurses • Assess, identify and manage • Physical assessment from head to toe • Give patients time to talk and express their feelings. • Open questions should be asked. • Avoid questions that have answers in them. • Responds should be recorded in notes.

Stress and nurses • • It is important to give: Support Education Hope of recovery Healthy diet Relaxation techniques Physical exercise Good sleep

Resources • • • Archer, C. (2004). Stress Management for Carer’s of Young Children. Childcare and children's health, 17(6), 1 -4. Brunero, S. , Cowan, D. , Grochulski, A. , & Gravey, A. (2006, August 6). Stress Management for Nurses. New South Wales Nurse’s Association. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from www. nswnurses. asn. au/multiattachments/5695/Document. Name/Nurses_Stress_Management_Bo oklet. pdf Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Exposure to Stress: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals. Department of Health and Human Services, 136, ii - Section 2: 14. Lumpkin, M. (2007, June 1). The Pathophysiology of Stress. The Middle East Cancer Consortium. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from mecc. cancer. gov/larnaca/1_m_lumpkin. pdf Psychological Society. (2012, January 1). Understanding and Managing Stress. Australian Psychological Society. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from www. psychologyweek. com. au/Assets/Files/Stress. Tip. Sheet. pdf The Better Health Channel. (2011, August 1). Work Related Stress. The Better Health Channel. Retrieved March 23, 2012, from www. betterhealth. vic. gov. au/bhcv 2/bhcarticles. nsf/pages/Workrelated_stress

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