Diakonos CounselingDiakonos Counselingwww.DiakonosCounseling.comwww.DiakonosCounseling.com

Dr. Stephen F. Pringle, M.A., D.Min., L.P.C.Dr. Stephen F. Pringle, M.A., D.Min., L.P.C.

President, Diakonos CounselingPresident, Diakonos Counseling

1

Disabling The Stress of Life BeforeDisabling The Stress of Life BeforeThe Stress of Life Disables You.The Stress of Life Disables You.

Normal stress is an important part of daily living.Normal stress is an important part of daily living.

However:However:

Unexpected……..Unexpected…….. Unwanted………….Unwanted…………. Uncontrollable………Uncontrollable………

STRESS : Takes knowledge and skill to manage

and direct. 2

Dr. Heidi Wenk Somaz says,Dr. Heidi Wenk Somaz says,

“ “If channeled correctly, stress can If channeled correctly, stress can enhance your performance and the enhance your performance and the performance of those you manage. performance of those you manage. Of course, if channeled incorrectly, Of course, if channeled incorrectly, stress can be overwhelming and stress can be overwhelming and performance will rapidly decline.”performance will rapidly decline.”

3

Dr. Amit Sood of The Mayo Clinic says,Dr. Amit Sood of The Mayo Clinic says,

“ “Excessive stress decreases efficiency, Excessive stress decreases efficiency, productivity, and creativity. Stress also productivity, and creativity. Stress also weakens attention, worsens most medical weakens attention, worsens most medical conditions and hastens your escape from conditions and hastens your escape from the present moment. Stressed brains make the present moment. Stressed brains make reactive decisions, causing countless reactive decisions, causing countless conflicts. Understanding and working with conflicts. Understanding and working with the brain’s and the mind’s imperfections the brain’s and the mind’s imperfections isn’t a luxury; it is an absolute necessity if isn’t a luxury; it is an absolute necessity if we hope to survive and thrive as a species.”we hope to survive and thrive as a species.”

4

KINDS OF STRESS TO KNOW ABOUTKINDS OF STRESS TO KNOW ABOUT

Chronic and Long TermChronic and Long Term Accelerated and AcuteAccelerated and Acute Internal and ExternalInternal and External

5

Dr. David Olson says,Dr. David Olson says, ““change is inevitable, but growth is intentional.”change is inevitable, but growth is intentional.”

So is the case with learning to handle stress in So is the case with learning to handle stress in daily livingdaily living

6

If you could study the BEST in the following four systems, If you could study the BEST in the following four systems, what what do you think you would find they all have in common?do you think you would find they all have in common?

An Athletic TeamAn Athletic Team

A Military UnitA Military Unit

A Business (small or large)A Business (small or large)

A MarriageA Marriage

8

FOUR COMMON DENOMINATORS FOUND AMONG FOUR COMMON DENOMINATORS FOUND AMONG ADMINISTRATORS AND EMPLOYEES WHO ENGAGE AND ADMINISTRATORS AND EMPLOYEES WHO ENGAGE AND

EXPERIENCE STRESS WITH HIGH DEGREES OF SUCCESS…….EXPERIENCE STRESS WITH HIGH DEGREES OF SUCCESS…….

AwarenessAwareness ToleranceTolerance ReductionReduction ManagementManagement

9

ESSENTIAL PERSONAL SKILLS FOR ESSENTIAL PERSONAL SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE STRESS MANAGEMENTEFFECTIVE STRESS MANAGEMENT

Self-talk ProficiencySelf-talk Proficiency

Mood ManagementMood Management

Behavior RegulationBehavior Regulation

Attitude FormationAttitude Formation

10

FIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS THAT WILL FIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS THAT WILL RAISE THE STRESS LEVEL IN ANY SITUATIONRAISE THE STRESS LEVEL IN ANY SITUATION

EscalationEscalation Angry OutburstsAngry Outbursts Reckless ImpulsivityReckless Impulsivity

InvalidationInvalidation Disrespectful Disrespectful

JudgmentsJudgments Thoughtless Thoughtless

DecisionsDecisions

DisengagementDisengagement WithdrawalWithdrawal AvoidanceAvoidance

Negative InterpretationNegative Interpretation Negative OrientationNegative Orientation Jumping To ConclusionsJumping To Conclusions

Selfish DemandsAnti-Team MentalityNon-Mission Perspective

THEREFORE, the Mission to reduce stress in daily living would be to de-escalate when possible, validate every chance you get, engage with

assertiveness, interpret with reality, and join the team. 11

TWELVE INDICATORS THAT YOU MAY BE COPING TWELVE INDICATORS THAT YOU MAY BE COPING UNSUCCESSFULLY WITH JOB-RELATED STRESSUNSUCCESSFULLY WITH JOB-RELATED STRESS

Don’t take vacations.Don’t take vacations. Don’t enjoy vacations when you do take them.Don’t enjoy vacations when you do take them. Don’t have a sense of humor.Don’t have a sense of humor. Don’t recognize when you are getting fatigued.Don’t recognize when you are getting fatigued. Believe that busy means being productive.Believe that busy means being productive. View change as a threat instead of a challenge.View change as a threat instead of a challenge. Feel that you are not in control of self or events.Feel that you are not in control of self or events. Do not engage in regular activity.Do not engage in regular activity. Overuse alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or food.Overuse alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or food. Worry excessively about problems.Worry excessively about problems. Do not have interests outside your job.Do not have interests outside your job. Become bitter instead of better.Become bitter instead of better.

12

THREE PERSONAL MENTAL RESPONSES TO THREE PERSONAL MENTAL RESPONSES TO THE PRESENSE OF STRESSTHE PRESENSE OF STRESS

SuppressSuppress

RepressRepress

ExpressExpress

13

TWO LEVELS OF COPING WITH TWO LEVELS OF COPING WITH EXCESSIVE EXCESSIVE STRESSSTRESS

SELF-CONTROL means taking responsibility SELF-CONTROL means taking responsibility for……for……

Self-care attentionSelf-care attention Reactions to situationsReactions to situations

SITUATIONAL CONTROL means taking SITUATIONAL CONTROL means taking responsibility for knowing how to responsibility for knowing how to implement…….implement…….

Critical Problem SolvingCritical Problem Solving AssertivenessAssertiveness Conflict ResolutionConflict Resolution Time ManagementTime Management

14

BUILDING A STRESS RESISTANT ATTITUDEBUILDING A STRESS RESISTANT ATTITUDE

EAR Engage and RespondEAR Engage and Respond MAM Mind and MoodMAM Mind and Mood PPM Power Projection MentalityPPM Power Projection Mentality NAV Not a VictimNAV Not a Victim DTF Dreaded Things FirstDTF Dreaded Things First STP Self Talk ProficiencySTP Self Talk Proficiency PSS Positive Sentiment SustainmentPSS Positive Sentiment Sustainment AARx3AARx3

Accept and ReleaseAccept and Release Accept and RedirectAccept and Redirect Accept and RelocateAccept and Relocate

15

STRESS MULTIPLIERSSTRESS MULTIPLIERS

NSO Negative Sentiment Over-rideNSO Negative Sentiment Over-ride HALT HALT Hungry, Hurt, Angry, Agitated, Lonely, Hungry, Hurt, Angry, Agitated, Lonely,

Tense, TiredTense, Tired

FEARFEAR PATHOLOGY PATHOLOGY depression, anxiety, OCD, depression, anxiety, OCD,

PTSD, medical (headaches, vertigo, vision, PTSD, medical (headaches, vertigo, vision, stomach, etc)stomach, etc)

MORALEMORALE

16

WHEN STRESS REACHES THE RED LINE LEVEL, EVASIVE WHEN STRESS REACHES THE RED LINE LEVEL, EVASIVE ACTION WHEN STRATEGICALLY TAKEN CAN BRING THE STESSACTION WHEN STRATEGICALLY TAKEN CAN BRING THE STESS

LEVEL TO WITHIN NORMAL LIMITSLEVEL TO WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS

SUCK AIRSUCK AIR SLOW DOWNSLOW DOWN SIMPLIFYSIMPLIFY STRATEGIZESTRATEGIZE SEEK HELPSEEK HELP SOLITUDE SOLITUDE

17

LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS……..LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS…….. You Are What You Think, by Dr. David StoopYou Are What You Think, by Dr. David Stoop Principle-centered Leadership by Dr. Stephen CoveyPrinciple-centered Leadership by Dr. Stephen Covey Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing The Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing The

Way You Think. Dr. Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. Way You Think. Dr. Dennis Greenberger and Christine A. PadeskyPadesky

Managing Stress: A Business Person’s Guide by Jere E. YatesManaging Stress: A Business Person’s Guide by Jere E. Yates Accelerated Telomere Shortening in Response to Life Stress, Accelerated Telomere Shortening in Response to Life Stress,

published in published in The Annals of Internal Medicine byThe Annals of Internal Medicine by Professor Professor Elissa S. Epel, University of California, San FranciscoElissa S. Epel, University of California, San Francisco

Executive Well-Being: Stress and Administrators by Michael Executive Well-Being: Stress and Administrators by Michael C. Giammatteo and Delores M. GiammatteoC. Giammatteo and Delores M. Giammatteo

Resilient Warriors, by Robert F. Dees, Major General, U.S. Resilient Warriors, by Robert F. Dees, Major General, U.S. Army, RetiredArmy, Retired

The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living by Amit Sood, The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living by Amit Sood, M.D., M.ScM.D., M.Sc

Performance Under Pressure: Managing Stress in the Performance Under Pressure: Managing Stress in the Workplace (Manager’s Pocket Guide Series) by Heidi Wenk Workplace (Manager’s Pocket Guide Series) by Heidi Wenk Somaz, Ph.D. and Bruce TulganSomaz, Ph.D. and Bruce Tulgan

18

Diakonos Diakonos CounselingCounseling

Contact Info:Contact Info:4200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 3604200 Little Blue Parkway, Suite 360

Independence, MO 64057Independence, MO 64057Phone: 816-373-9240Phone: 816-373-9240

www.DiakonosCounseling.comwww.DiakonosCounseling.com

Thank you!

19