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Stress can impact the way in which we deal with others
and our ability to perform our jobs effectively. It can occur through
not only negative life events, but through the culmination of daily life
events. Work in the field of human service – like Personal Care
Attendants - can be especially stressful because you are dealing not
just with your daily life events but you are also helping others deal
with theirs. Below you can find some additional information and tips for
managing stress and staying healthy.
Most often stressful events are characterized by the fact that they
are:
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Uncontrollable |
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Unpredictable |
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Challenging or threatening |
Stress can affect you both physically, psychologically (emotionally)
and in the way you interact with others (relationally). Examples of
these and how you can avoid or minimize the effects of stress can be
found below:
Physical Effects of Stress:
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Body aches |
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Lethargy |
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Butterflies in the stomach |
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Change in appetite |
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Chest pains |
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Indigestion |
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Muscle tension |
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Sleep problems |
Physical Self-Care:
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Exercise |
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Good nutrition |
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Adequate sleep |
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Regular physical check-ups |
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Relaxation/meditation
practices |
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Avoid excessive substance use
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Psychological Effects of Stress:
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Anxiety (general tension) |
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Worry |
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Irritability |
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Hypervigilance |
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Fatigue |
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Sleep disturbance (insomnia) |
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Acute or chronic psychological
Disorders |
Psychological Self Care:
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Enhancing the Positive in
daily occurrences or activities |
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Positive recreational
activities |
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Time for yourself (bath,
massage, back rubs, etc.) |
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Positive mental engagement
(it’s not just TV watching) |
Relational Effects of Stress
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Works stress “spills over” to
home |
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Conflict and arguments |
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Withdrawal (occurs more often
in men) |
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Emotional expression & support
seeking (occurs more often in women) |
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Lack of positive time,
relationship development – not enough FUN |
Relational Self-care
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Schedule/protect time with
people that matter to you |
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Maintain a regular schedule,
integrating rituals (meditation or prayer) that are calming |
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Plan positive time |
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Maintain boundaries between
work and home |
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Reciprocity & appreciation,
tell people you care about them and the good things they do |
What can I do to prevent negative effects of stress?
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Cultivate an ‘optimistic’
explanatory style to help handle defeat and rejection, look at
the positive in what happens |
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Focus on how you can solve the problem |
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Don’t just try to avoid or escape
problems, this is a mal-adaptive coping mechanism |
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Cultivate supportive relationships |
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Get involved with people! |
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Guard against cynical, negative
attitudes |
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Change or discontinue undermining,
hurtful relationships |
Boundaries: Work vs. Home:
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Create rituals to transition from
work to home and vice-versa |
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On your way home, think of 1 good
thing that happened at work |
Honor yourself:
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Remember that in the big picture
you are part of the solution |
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Feel proud about your
contributions |
Boundaries: Self-Care & Serving Others:
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Be aware of individual differences
between you and the people you work/interact with |
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Care for yourself as much as you
care for others |
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You are a helper, not a magician |
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You cannot change another person;
you can only create an environment to help a person change him
or herself |
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