Stress:Stress:The effects touch personal, The effects touch personal,

professional and social aspects of professional and social aspects of life.life.

Presentation Courtesy of Presentation Courtesy of

Melissa L. LoudonMelissa L. Loudon

BC ConsultantBC Consultant

scotmel@sbcglobal.netscotmel@sbcglobal.net

330-938-3343330-938-3343

330-428-0735330-428-0735

STRESSSTRESS

The human body is The human body is designed to designed to experience stress and experience stress and react to it.react to it.

DISTRESSDISTRESS

The body’s reactions The body’s reactions to prolonged stress.to prolonged stress.

This can translate to This can translate to actions both inside actions both inside and outside of the and outside of the workplace.workplace.

Affects are no longer Affects are no longer limited to you.limited to you.

Negative Stress ReliefNegative Stress Relief

Using alcohol, Using alcohol, cigarettes and drugs cigarettes and drugs actually worsens the actually worsens the effects of stress.effects of stress.

Stress StatisticsStress Statistics

43% of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress43% of adults suffer adverse health effects from stress 75-90% of all doctors visits are related to stress75-90% of all doctors visits are related to stress OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

declares stress a hazard in the workplace.declares stress a hazard in the workplace. In terms of lost hours due to absenteeism, reduced In terms of lost hours due to absenteeism, reduced

productivity, workers compensation claims stress productivity, workers compensation claims stress costs American industry more than $300 billion costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.annually.

The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.reactions.

Stress LinksStress Links

Stress is linked to the leading causes of Stress is linked to the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.and suicide. Men who respond most intensely to mental Men who respond most intensely to mental

stress have a higher risk of blocked blood stress have a higher risk of blocked blood vessels, which increases their risk of heart vessels, which increases their risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a study attack and stroke, according to a study published in the Dec. 2 issue of the journal published in the Dec. 2 issue of the journal Circulation (Vol. 96, No. 11, p. 3842–3848). Circulation (Vol. 96, No. 11, p. 3842–3848).

Stress LinksStress Links

Stress may take a toll on your health by affecting Stress may take a toll on your health by affecting the strands of DNA on the ends of the strands of DNA on the ends of chromosomes, new research suggests. A report chromosomes, new research suggests. A report published online today by the published online today by the Proceedings of the Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesNational Academy of Sciences indicates that indicates that women with higher psychological stress levels women with higher psychological stress levels have shorter telomeres, which play an important have shorter telomeres, which play an important role in cellular aging. What is more, the role in cellular aging. What is more, the difference between stressed study participants difference between stressed study participants and the control group was equivalent to nearly a and the control group was equivalent to nearly a decade of additional aging. decade of additional aging.

SCIENCE NEWS November 30, 2004 High Stress Levels Linked to Cellular Aging By Sarah Graham

Stress ManagementStress Management

First: identify stressorsFirst: identify stressors Second: evaluate your level of stress and Second: evaluate your level of stress and

determine events that distress youdetermine events that distress you Third: remove yourself from situations Third: remove yourself from situations

when possible without avoiding lifewhen possible without avoiding life Fourth: learn how to relieve stressFourth: learn how to relieve stress

Stress ManagementStress Management

Exercise is essential in maintaining the Exercise is essential in maintaining the physical capabilities to deal with stressphysical capabilities to deal with stress

Deep breathing techniques can help to Deep breathing techniques can help to lower the blood pressure, pulse and (in lower the blood pressure, pulse and (in conjunction with good eating habits) conjunction with good eating habits) increase metabolismincrease metabolism

Relaxation!Relaxation!

Relaxation Techniques and Relaxation Techniques and Cognitive EffectsCognitive Effects

A study on high school students with poor A study on high school students with poor academic skills due to stress found that academic skills due to stress found that teaching relaxation techniques had a teaching relaxation techniques had a positive effect on grades.positive effect on grades. The effects of two types of relaxation The effects of two types of relaxation

training on students' levels of anxietytraining on students' levels of anxiety• AdolescenceAdolescence,  ,  Spring, 1998Spring, 1998  by  by

Zulkifli Mohamed RasidZulkifli Mohamed Rasid,  Thomas S. Parish,  Thomas S. Parish

RelaxationRelaxation

In today’s society we feel guilty taking time In today’s society we feel guilty taking time for ourselves due to work, family, and for ourselves due to work, family, and social responsibilities.social responsibilities.

The benefits of relaxatioin are proven, The benefits of relaxatioin are proven, both physically and mentally, long and both physically and mentally, long and short term!short term!

Positive Thinking!Positive Thinking!

Just like negative environments can have Just like negative environments can have effects on stress so can negative thoughts.effects on stress so can negative thoughts.

Repeated negative thoughts WILL Repeated negative thoughts WILL manifest themselves both emotionally and manifest themselves both emotionally and physically.physically. Positive thinking: A skill for stress reliefPositive thinking: A skill for stress relief

• Stress management requires a positive Stress management requires a positive perspective — knowing how to turn pessimism perspective — knowing how to turn pessimism into optimism. into optimism.

• MayoClinic.com June 2005MayoClinic.com June 2005

Create Relaxation RoutinesCreate Relaxation Routines

Combine Physical and Mental Combine Physical and Mental Techniques Techniques

Example: take a warm bath using bath Example: take a warm bath using bath minerals for skin health and aromatherapy minerals for skin health and aromatherapy with meditation techniqueswith meditation techniques

Soak your feet while using positive visual Soak your feet while using positive visual imagery DVDs or relaxation / music imagery DVDs or relaxation / music therapy CDstherapy CDs

Relaxation, a scheduled part of life!Relaxation, a scheduled part of life!

It It isis a necessity just like a necessity just like ExerciseExercise NutritionNutrition Sufficient sleepSufficient sleep

Be balancedBe balanced Be HappyBe Happy Be ProductiveBe Productive Be PositiveBe Positive

Stress Relief WebsitesStress Relief Websites http://www.allaboutdepression.com/relax/index.htmlhttp://www.allaboutdepression.com/relax/index.html http://www.holisticmed.com/stressfree.htmlhttp://www.holisticmed.com/stressfree.html http://www.helpguide.org/mental/http://www.helpguide.org/mental/

stress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htmstress_relief_meditation_yoga_relaxation.htm http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009