STRESS

1. STRESS Lt Cdr Habibur Rahman Khan

2. INTRODUCTION “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” Viktor Frankl Stimulus Process Response Cont.

3. INTRODUCTION These can be life threatening, they simply threaten our pride, our prestige, our image, and our position at work, in the family or society

4. AIM Apprise you about stress, its effects and stress management in military life

5. SEQUENCE • Understanding Stress • Effect of Stress • Stress in Military Life • Recommendation

6. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Stress in Gen Concept • Stress depends on the individual judgment • Produces a complex psycho-physical response • Less able to perceive alternative solutions Cont.

7. The environment • * Life events • *Social environment • *Work environment • *Natural environment The individual *Attitudes and traits *Temperament *Past experience/needs Perception of threat State of stress Coping style Adaptive: overcome problem Negative long-term effects Maladaptive: unsuccessful UNDERSTANDING STRESS A working model of stress (Cooper, 1981) Cont.

8. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Life Stress in Illness • Disrupt emotional, cognitive and physiological activity • Includes negative emotion like anxiety and depression • Impair information processing system • Arousal of somatic, autonomic and endocrine system • Chronic stress causes long-term chemical changes Cont.

9. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Stress as a Post-Traumatic Disorder • Early traumatic experience • Military combat • Natural disasters • Terrorist incidents • Fatal accidents • Violent personal assaults e.g. rape Cont.

10. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Physiology of Stress • Physical, mental, or emotional • Body responds for fight or flight • Adrenal medulla epinephrine and norepinephrine • Hypothalamus corticotrophin -releasing factor • Pituitary adrenocorticotropic • Adrenal cortex cortisol These hormones circulate through bloodstream and reach every organ and activate every cell in the body for action Cont.

11. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Primitive Stress Response • Liver releases sugar and fats into bloodstream to provide fuel for quick energy • Respiration gets faster, more oxygen is provided • RBC flood the bloodstream, carrying more oxygen to the muscles and brain • Heart beats faster and blood pressure rises, sufficient blood reaches the necessary areas • Blood-clotting mechanisms activate in anticipation of injury Cont.

12. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Primitive Stress Response • Muscles get tense in preparation for strenuous fiction • Saliva dries up and digestion ceases to divert blood to the muscles and brain • Perspiration increases to cool down the body • Bowel and bladder muscles become loose • Pupils dilate to receive more lights to see in dark • All senses are heightened to make swift decisions and take action Cont.

13. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Intensity of Stress • Too Little Stress • Optimum Stress • Too Much Stress • Breakdown Cont.

14. Fatigue Exhaustion Performance Breakdown Too little stress Optimum stress Too much stress Burn-out UNDERSTANDING STRESS Intensity of Stress The Human Performance Curve by Chandra Patel, 1996 Cont.

15. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Factors Cause Stress • The Environmental Factors • - Life Events • - Social Environment • - Natural Environment • - Work Environment • Working Condition • Work Overload • Work Underload • Role Ambiguity • Role Conflict • Responsibility • Relationship at Work • Changes at Work Cont.

16. UNDERSTANDING STRESS • Factors Cause Stress • The Individual Factors • - Attitudes/Traits • - Type-A Personality • - Type-B Personality • - Temperament • - Past Experience & Needs • - The Hardy Personality People who have a disposition composed of the 3 “C”: - Commitment - Control - Challenge Cont.

17. UNDERSTANDING STRESS Recognition of Stress • Emotional Symptom • - Irritability or Angry Outbursts • - State of Anxiety • - Irrational Fear or Panic Attacks • - Feeling of Hopelessness • - Feeling of Hostility, Resentment, or Animosity • - Feeling of Guilt • - Increased Cynicism • - Undue Aggression • - Feeling of Depression • - Feeling of Insecurity • - Increased Moodiness • - Fear of Criticism • Physical Symptom • - Tense Muscles (aching shoulders, backache, etc.) • - Erratic Breathing • - Sweaty palms • - Cold fingers • - Dry mouth • - Dizzy spells • - Chest palpitations • - High-pitched voice • - Knot in the stomach • - Nausea • - Frequency of urination • - Diarrhea • - Restlessness • Behavioural Symptom • - Increased Smoking or Alcohol Drinking • - Increased or Decreased Eating • - Increased or Decreased Sleep • - Nail Biting • - Hair Pulling • - Social Withdrawal • - Neglecting Looks or Hygiene • - Reckless Driving • - Knee Jiggling, Finger Tapping, Grimacing, Lip Smacking, or Other Mannerisms • - Non –Stop Talking • - Obsessive –Compulsive Behaviors • - Workaholism or Absenteeism • Mental Symptom • - Inability to Concentrate • - Difficulty in Making Simple Decisions • - Loss of Self-Confidence • - Undue Tiredness • - Memory Lapses • - Difficulty in Making Rational Judgments • - Undue Feeling of Being Under Time Pressure • - Making Rash Decisions • - Muddled Thinking

18. EFFECTS STRESS Cont.

19. EFFECTS STRESS Stress Leads to Conflict • Approach-Approach • Approach-Avoidance • Avoidance-Avoidance • Double Approach-Avoidance Cont.

20. EFFECTS STRESS Measuring Life Stress Holmes and Rahe (1967)

21. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE • Different Level of Stress • Physiological and Psychological • Belong to Family Domestic Stress • Belong to Unit Occupational Stress • Belong to War Severe Occupational Stress Cont.

22. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE • Combat Stress • Anticipation of Death or Injury • Death of Comrades (break the moral) • Young Suffers More than Veteran • 10-25% Casualties for Combat Stress • Separation from Family Gives Rise to Stress Cont.

23. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE Stress Rise in the War situation • Physical Inability Including Injury • Lack of Skill & Sleep Deprivation • Robust Environment • Rumor about the Defeat • Fear of Offensive Operation & Nuclear Weapon • Lack of Information & Prolonged War • Desertion of a Part of Own Forces • Unjustified War Cont.

24. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE Reaction to Stress in the Battlefield • Selfishness in food, blanket and equipment • Become Cautious and Irritable • State of Hopelessness • Loss of Enthusiasm & Memory • Develop Aggressive Attitude • Develop Psychosomatic Disorder • Loss of Moral & Self-respect • Dependency on Alcohol Cont.

25. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE Coping with Stress • Problem-Focused Coping and Emotion-Focused Coping • Getting Outside Help • Biofeedback • Relaxation • - Concentrative Meditation • - Mindful Meditation • Developing Communication Skill • Aerobic Exercise Cont.

26. STRESS IN MILITARY LIFE Combat Stress Management • Training • Equipment • Teaching (Combat Stress & Relaxation) • Information • Keeping Troops Active • Tactical Soundness of Commander • Ensured Sleep

27. CONCLUSION • Stress is a common experience • Unpleasant state of emotional & physiological arousal • People perceive as threatening to well-being • Stress may hinder performance on difficult task • Optimum stress enhance motivation & performance • No stress no life

28. RECOMMENDATION • Religious and ethical values to be focused • Change of social environment • Healthful living • Healthy working environment • Avoid too-much-to-do • Harmony in family life • Out sourcing • Awareness on relaxation technique

29. ...ANY?

30. Stress and depression: The result of not abiding by the religion. “But if anyone turns away from my reminder, his life will be a dark and narrow one” (Quran:20:124)