Origins of Stress

Stress" occurs when there is an imbalance between a person's perception of the stresses imposed on them by their environment and their perception of their own resources to cope with them.

 

Although the process of assessing stress and resources is psychological, the effects of stress are not only psychological. It also affects physical health, well-being and productivity.

 

There are three important concepts in this definition:

stress factors, i.e. restrictive work situations that will favour the appearance of the state of stress,

the person who reacts to what poses a problem, both with his body and his psyche,

and the observable effects on the behaviour or health of the individual and on the company, if the situation concerns a large number of employees.

 

 

 

Indicators of increased stress.

Isolation: the person concerned finds himself in a spiral of isolation which no longer allows him any social support.

 

Working time: The measurement of real working time, of mental on-call time, is an indicator that can be a strong harbinger of future difficulties.

 

Destabilisation of professional reference points: Continuous modification of the scope of activity. Nomadisation of employees

 

Loss of meaning: strategies are constantly changing

 

Dysfunction of the group .

 

Non-recognition: trivialisation of difficulties and work accomplished.

 

The feeling of no longer having control over time and the flow of cases to be dealt with : People no longer deal with the files, they fly over them despite the risk, the stakes and suffer because they are aware of the poor work done.

 

The feeling of being able to cope only at the cost of overwork and a rupture between private and professional life.

 

Behaviours that give rise to outbursts of violence.

 

The feeling of being trapped.

 

 

 

Factors of Workplace Stress

Factors related to the task or to the content of the work to be performed

High quantitative demands (workload, output, time pressure, mass of information to be processed, etc.)

High qualitative demands (precision, quality, vigilance, etc.)

Difficulties linked to the task (monotony, lack of autonomy, repetition, fragmentation, etc.)

Risks inherent in the execution of the task itself (e.g. fatal medical error by the surgeon)

 

Factors related to the organisation of the work

Lack of control over the distribution and planning of tasks in the company

Lack of clarity in the tasks assigned (What is expected of me? How should I do it? On what basis will I be evaluated?

Contradiction between the requirements of the job (How can I do it quickly and well? Who do I have to satisfy: the customer or the quota?)

Inadaptation of working hours to biological rhythms, social and family life

New organisational methods (just-in-time, multi-skilling, etc.)

Instability of employment contracts (precarious contracts, subcontracting, etc.)

 

Factors related to work relations

Lack of support from colleagues and/or superiors

Uninvolved, authoritarian, deficient management...

Lack of or poor recognition of work done

 

Factors linked to the physical and technical environment

Physical nuisances at the workplace (noise, heat, humidity, etc.)

Poor design of workplaces and/or workstations (lack of space, inadequate lighting, etc.)

 

Factors linked to the company's socio-economic environment

Poor economic health of the company or uncertainty about its future

Competitive pressure on a national or international level

 

 

 

The medical consequences are numerous

 

- Cardiac pathologies

 

- Depression

 

Here are some symptoms that indicate a possible development towards a depressive state:

 

General state of fatigue, low mood;

Sudden changes in mood, sudden crying spells;

Worry, anxiety, panic;

Headaches, decreased libido;

Amnesia, difficulty concentrating, indecision;

Frequent absence from the workplace, reduced productivity;

Feeling overwhelmed, loss of sense of humour.

Other adverse effects of stress

 

Stress can cause fatigue, headaches, sleep disorders, etc. It can also affect the digestive system (constipation, spasms, bloating). Finally, stress can also disrupt the functioning of the thyroid gland, reduce the resistance of the immune system and cause allergic reactions. Its effects on high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease have long been known.

 

Yoga and Taichi chuan techniques will help you to resist and transcend the most difficult phases.

 

- Psychosocial disorders

 

- musculoskeletal disorders

 

- violence towards others

 

-Violence towards oneself (up to suicide...)

 

- Sick leave

 

- Fleeing behaviours..pre-retirement, early departure followed by major psychological problems.

 

- Insomnia

 

A study published in March 2003 shows that people suffering from so-called "primary" insomnia (with no precise cause found) have difficulty managing their stress, regardless of its intensity.

 

Researchers at Laval University in Quebec analysed the duration and quality of sleep of 67 people, 40 of whom suffered from insomnia, for three weeks. They also looked at the stressful events that occurred during this period, as well as the depressive symptoms and overall anxiety of these patients.

 

Results: Good sleepers and insomniacs reported an equivalent number of stressful events. However, it appears that people suffering from insomnia give more importance to these stressful moments, as well as to major negative events in their lives

 

 

 

- Fatigue

 

Faced with constant and repetitive stress, our body constantly draws on its energy reserves and struggles to adapt. If our lifestyle is poor, our body cannot find the necessary fuel and breaks down.

 

You then feel tired, which in some cases of long-term stress cannot be repaired by sleep.

 

In this case, it is advisable to restructure your sleep, i.e. to find your own rhythm, your own internal clock.