Michael Harris

Contents

1.. Stress 2.. Stress at work 3.. Stress management

Stress

Legal OverviewHEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992 (sect 6)

Every employer shall take all practicable steps to ensure the safety of employees

while at work

HEALTH AND SAFETY IN EMPLOYMENT ACT 1992 (sect 7)

Every employer shall ensure that there are in place effective methods for identifying existing hazards, and (if possible before they arise) new hazards to employees at work.

What is stress?

Stress is the way our body handles events in your life, like major events, huge work loads, money etc. It can be emotional stress or physical stress that affects the body/mind.

Stress feeling

Stress can make you feel:

- Restless, you will find it hard to sleep

- You wont be able to think clearly

- You will feel hot and sticky

- It will be hard for you to work-

TYPES OF STRESSORS Self criticism Clutter on your desk Major events traffic noise heat cramped spaces Your location deadlines Over worked Self criticism People around you

NEGATIVE STRESS

Negatives about being stressed:

You will get a lot of head aches, maybe stomach pains like your going to be sick. You will have trouble sleeping as things stressing you will be running though your head. So in other words, it makes life hard.

POSITIVE STRESS

Positives about being stressed

If you are stressed you are likely to do your work, If you were really relaxed and chilled back you might not be doing the best work that you can do. Stress helps us achieve our goals, without it we wouldn’t do anything.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

Physical symptoms Mental symptoms Behavioural

symptoms Emotional symptoms

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Tiredness Chest Pain Trouble breathing or fastened pulse Sweating Fainting Headaches or pains

MENTAL SYMPTOMS

You wont be able to concentrate You will feel Confused You will be grumpy at everything Decision making will be hard Depression Panic attacks

BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS You will fidget with things Tired Messy Desk Nail biting Eating to much Pacing Head banging

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Depression Crying or real emotional behaviour Angry at everyone for no reason Impotence

ILLNESS FROM STRESS Stress is not the same as ill-health, but

has been related to such illnesses as

-Asthma -Diabetes -Immune system disease

COSTS OF STRESS

Friends Money Relationship Failure Sleep Health Your job

STRESS AT WORK

FACTORS INFLUENCING WORK STRESS When you are given way to much work

than what you can cope with or if you've been given a deadline and there is way to much work to do, then this can cause stress on your body and mind. Conflict, bullying or even to little work can stress you out.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Causes of Stress

External Stresses

Internal Stresses

External Stresses - Organisational

External stress will come from things around you that are affecting your daily motion. Like to much work will stress you out etc. It can also be other people around you making you stressed out

External Stresses - Major Life Events Major life events are out of your control,

you cannot decide when these will happen and they can be completely un suspected.

Examples: Death, Birth, Loss of your job,

Relationship failure etc.

INTERNAL STRESS

Internal stress comes from your mind, it is what you think or yourself, your confidence etc. Depression / negative thoughts are the main internal stresses.

STRESS CONTROL

The best way to stop being stressed is to take breaks often, organisation, and eating and drinking normally.

Stress Management Techniques

Eating well Sleeping well Drinking well Planning ahead Spreading out your work load Positive thinking

SUMMARY

Stress will get you down at times, but if you can plan out your work and deal with any stress properly then you should be alright.