STRESS is a form of response to events that disrupt or

threaten to disrupt our physical or psychological functioning. What causes stress is known as STRESSOR. Stressor can be one or more than one. Whether an event becomes stressor or not depends on the reaction of the individual to the event: it depends on the way one perceives the event.

CHARACTERSTICS OF STRESSORS:
Stress can be caused by many things. It has been observed that the events that produce stress share some of the following characteristics: They are so intense that they produce a state of overload - one can no longer adapt to them They evoke incompatible tendencies in us: such as tendency to both approach and avoid certain object or activity. They are uncontrollable.

 It has been ascertained through research that the amount of stress that one experiences depends in part on ones cognitive appraisal of the situation or event.

MAJOR CAUSES OF STRESS:

Major Life Events Daily Hassles Environmental Stress Noise, Crowding, Natural Disasters; Economic, Political and Technological Uncertainty.

Organisation/Job Related Stress:

Work/Task Overload Role Overload Interpersonal Demand Burnout Lack of Control Over Work Shift Work Job loss / Downsizing Gender Harassment Inadequate Career Advancement Organisational Structure Organisational Leadership Organisational Life Stage Retirement

MAJOR EFFECTS OF STRESS:

The medical research proves that about 50-70 percent of physical illnesses are induced by stress. Such as: Heart diseases High B.P.

Hardening of arteries
Ulcers Diabetes etc.

Stress upsets the operation of our IMMUNE

SYSTEM

Stress gives way to various degenerative and cardiovascular diseases such as: Cancer, Hypertension, Diabetes etc.

STRESS & TASK PERFORMANCE:

Relationship between stress and task performance

takes the form of an upside- down U/Inverted U :

STRESS MANAGEMENT
Relaxation Therapies: There are three techniques included in this therapy:Progressive Muscle Training Relaxation Response Autogenic Training

YOGA: Literal meaning of the Sanskrit word

YOGA is TO YOKE". Is an ancient Indian system of thought and practice that helps in maintenance and promotion of physical and psychological well being.

Meditation: Is a group of techniques, which

have in common a conscious attempt to focus

attention in a non analytical way.

 Effective Time Management: Make time work

for you rather than against you. Cognitive Therapy: What we call stress is actually a form of behavioural response to some form of external stimulus, activated by

the cognitive system.

Organizational Coping Therapies:

Supportive Organisational Climate Job Enrichment Organisational Role Clarity Career Planning and Counselling Stress Control Workshops and Employee Assistance Programmes

CURRENT SCENARIO

CURRENT SCENARIO
Enhance social life in the company; if possible

make the work environment informal (companies

like Infosys have an informal work culture). Establish Health Assessment & Lifestyle Enrichment units, to help the employees fight psychological and physiological ill effects of stress (companies like infoscions have such unit, sleep zones etc.).

Establish Speak-up hotlines, for the employees to report unprofessional and stress causing behaviours like harassments (Pepsi cola has it). Make provision for changeover to another job in the same organisation. For example: a sales

employee can shift to HR if she/he fits the bill.

(ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has this provision).

Now, we can say that Stress is positive but only up to an optimum level after that it becomes detrimental. It effects our physical as well as mental health and many factors contribute to it. It is both individual, societal as well as organizational. One of the most important skill of our time is Stress Management because in every sphere of life we have to face it. So ,we should know how to deal with it successfully and emerge as a Victor.