How to Cope with Stress - Stress Management Tutorial and Exercises

by Joyce Henderson, RN

Stress - the automatic, physiological response to any situation evoking a physical, emotional or psychological response that mobilizes the body for quick action. Stress may arise from a one-time event or be a chronic, long-term condition.

Burn-out - the downward spiral produced by an accumulation of chronic, overwhelming stress, characterized by disillusionment, apathy, resignation and exhaustion of caring energies.

Stressors - sources or causes of a stress response.

At some time in life, almost everyone notices the effects of stress in their lives, careers and relationships. The physical and emotional symptoms associated with stress are especially prevalent among those who expend caring energies, are frequently over-achievers, and often must confront unchangeable realities. While the sources of stress are the same for everyone: work, home, spouses, family, many people face the additional stressors of

• abusive managers,
• non-functioning, dirty or missing equipment,
• unavailable supplies,
• inadequate or ill-trained staffing,
• long hours, heavy workloads,
• the need to stay current in an ever-changing environment

Next Page: Manifestations of Stress