Stress Management in Orginizations - Essay Example

Stress management: Essay s Affiliation Introduction Stress is an undesirable emotional experience that comes with predictable biochemical, cognitive, physiological, and behavioral changes which are directed toward accommodating the effects of the stressful even or changing it. As such, stress is the results of an individual’s appraisal processes: that is, the assessment of if the personal resources are enough to satisfy the environment`s demands. Stress-phase model therefore implies a process of evaluating events as harmful, challenging, or threatening and assessing potential responses to those events.

The stress works in two mechanisms: physical mechanism that involving bodily challenge or direct material and psychological mechanism that involves how individuals perceive situations in their lives. These mechanisms can be studied in three ways. The first approach emphases on the environment fit: stress is perceived as a stimulus, since when we have, say a demanding role or experience severe discomfort from illnesses or death in our family, stress may occur. Psychologically or physically challenging events or conditions are known as stressors.

Secondly, stress can be perceived as a response: that is focusing on persons` response to stressors. The physiological and psychological reaction to the stressor is known as strain. The last approach perceive stress as a mere process, which includes the strains and stressors, but adds in a significant aspect: how individuals relate with the environment. This process entails a continuous adjustments and interactions (the transactions) of the individual and the environment with each affecting one another.

Stress affects various body systems in different ways. When an individual is stressed up, the brain reacts by stimulating 1400 different responses. These responses give a temporary power to do whatever the individual needs to do so as to survive. However, when stress is left unchecked, the victim can have a stroke or heart attack. According to Quick, Wright, Adkins, Nelson & Quick (2013), body’s response to stress is called the GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome) and it works in three phases.

The first phase is the alarm reaction. Here, the body discharges adrenaline and a range of other psychological machineries to battle the stress and try to have everything in control. The muscles tense, the perspiration and breathing increases, the heart beats faster, the eyes dilate, and the stomach may compress. The body is prepared to “flee” or “fight”. However, if the cause of that stress is eliminated, the body returns back to normal. If the stress is not eliminated, GAS proceeds to its second phase called the adaptation or resistance stage.

The body secretes more hormones that cause the blood sugar levels to increase, sustain energy and increase blood pressure. In this phase, the adrenal cortex produces hormones that are known as corticosteroids to enhance resistance reaction. If this adaptation stage goes on for an extended period of time minus periods of rest and relaxation to counterpoise the stress response, victims become susceptible to fatigue, irritability, concentration lapses and lethargy since the effort to put up with arousal results into negative stress.

The last phase is the exhaustion stage. In this phase, the body becomes deprived of its reserve energy and immunity. Physical, emotional, and mental resources suffer heavily. That is, the body suffers from “adrenal exhaustion”. The level of blood sugar declines as the adrenal gets depleted, causing decreased stress tolerance, physical exhaustion, progressive mental, illness and collapse. Conclusion Stress management begins with identifying the exact sources of stress and trying to change it.

If you are incapable of avoid the stressful situation, then try to alter or change it. Find out what you may do to alter things so that the problem does not reappear in the future. Again, if you cannot alter the stressor, then change yourself. Certain sources of stress, as we know, are unavoidable. You cannot change or prevent stressors like the death of your loved one, a deadly illness, or even national recession. In such situations, the best approach to deal with stress is just to accept things and fates as they are but strengthen your physical health and regularly create time for fun or relaxation.

References Quick, J., Wright, T., Adkins, J. Nelson, D. & Quick, J. (2nd Ed.). (2013). Preventive Stress Management in Orginizations. Washingto, DC: American Psychological Association.