An Introduction to Stress

In everyday life we are subjected to a wide range of pressures. We also have a wide range of resources and strategies for coping with pressure. Sometimes we will cope well and will not feel that the pressure is having any adverse effect upon us. At other times we will have difficulty in dealing with the situation and that is when we may use the term "stress".

In reality, any situation that puts us under pressure is technically "stressful". Stress is not necessarily unpleasant or harmful. When we are able to cope satisfactorily with the stress and find it to be positive in its effect, we tend to use other words - such as "stimulation" or "challenge". For the purpose of this introduction, we will use the term "stress" to mean the reaction we have to those pressures which are harmful, unpleasant or disabling.

In this regard a simple but accurate definition of stress is:

"Stress occurs when the pressures upon us exceed our resources to cope with those pressures."

It follows, therefore, that we can attempt to tackle stress either by reducing the pressures or by increasing our coping resources - or, indeed, a combination of both strategies.

That sounds easy! The problem is that different people find quite different situations and circumstances to be stressful. At the extremes, a situation which one person experiences as positive and stimulating will cause another person acute distress.

The Changing Times model is one of the few to recognise this fact. It is also one of the few which has been specifically designed to avoid both psychological jargon and an unhelpful emphasis on medical models of stress.

Some people who suffer from mental disorders may be more susceptible to stress. Equally, prolonged or acute exposure to excessive stress can lead to illnesses. For the great majority of us, however, stress is a perfectly normal and natural state that may be unpleasant or disabling but which can be reduced without recourse to medicines or therapy. All we need to do is develop a better understanding of the causes and effects of our stress. The Changing Times model is designed to help us do that.

With that understanding we will be much better equipped to reduce the pressures which cause stress and/or increase our resources for coping with those pressures.

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Management Training

Managers and Trainers wishing to use the PMI Training Modules can obtain further details here