stress recognition
...ws that will seriously threaten an individual’s way of life than that individual may experience stress. They worry what will happen if and/ or when the political scene changes. Also, many people have anxiety about the new waves of technology that are influencing and changing out society everyday in relation to their jobs. As a whole people of a society may view technological advances as beneficial and economically efficient; however, these advances will in most cases make the current procedures obsolete. Therefore, some individuals experience intense stress for fear that their position in the work force will be replaced or simply erased by advances in technology in their environment. The most relevant environmental stressor, something which causes stress, in the US today is the fear of terrorism. After 9/11, people feared another attack, and experts say that there will definitely be other attacks in the future. Dr. Jessica Hamblem writes on the affects the threat of terrorism can have on an individual, “Problems with anxiety, depression, and substance use are also commonly reported among those with PTSD. (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) Those who watch more media coverage are also at higher risk for PTSD and associated problems.” (Stress Effects of Terrorism) Therefore, it is viable to say that simply watching threats of terrorism on television can create stress for individuals. For this environmental factor as for some instances of the others, it appears that people don’t have to be directly affected by the factor; simply knowing that it exists can lead to stress. Other sources of stress exist at the organizational level, primarily involving different pressures the individual faces between the other people they work with as well as the job they are to complete. Many individuals face task demands, which include “the design of an individual’s job, working conditions, and physical work layout.” (Robbins 579) Of these three task demands, experts agree that the greatest stress causer is the working conditions in which an individual works. Psychologist Sauter Hurrell and Levi Murphy write, “Evidence argues for a greater emphasis on working conditions as the key source of job stress, and for job redesign as a primary prevention strategy.” (pg. 34) They agree with Robbins in the assertion that working conditions play a large role in causing stress within the organizations. Besides task demands, individuals face other demands within the organizations that can cause stress. Role demands lead to stress when individuals feel they cannot meet their expectations because they do not have enough time, or the expectations were not properly explained to them. If these cause stress to the individual, then their supervisor failed to do their job in assessing the situation and forming their own expectations on the matter. This situation is closely relates to the organizational leadership of an organizations. Depending on the status of the organization’s life stage, the upper echelons of the organizations can cause fear and anxiety for their employees by enforcing unrealistic demands upon them. A study in the UK showed that “trouble with the boss” was one of the top three sources of stress for individuals in the workforce. (Sources) Also, included in the list was “trouble with co-worker.” This occurrence would relate to interpersonal demands. These pressures cause stress for individuals who do not receive support from their colleagues and feel that they cannot count on them. However, the amount of stress caused by these organizational factors relies heavily on the individual. Some people are not bothered by other employees or their leaders in the organizations. They simply prefer to do their job and keep to themselves which can be good or bad depending on the task being performed. As stated earlier, it is hard to examine how each individual experiences and is affected by stress. The same UK study cited earlier reads, “Type A personalities – who are more likely to rush, be competitive and perfectionists – are more prone to stress. Type B personalities – who are more easy-going – cope better with stress.” (Sources) However, these basic factors seem to be general sources of stress for individuals. If people are having trouble with their familial relationships at home, it is extremely hard to separate themselves from them and forget about their problems while they work. Stress is additive, that is to say that stress builds up over time with all factors contributing. A single individual factor such as small economic problems with an individual may cause some anxiety, but nothing significant. However, this economic problem aligned with the fear of losing ones job and marital problems within your personal life causes great stress on the individual, and this stress affects them physically’ psychologically, and behaviorally. Stress can disrupt the body in many different ways. Physical symptoms include headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Also, a Matthew Sata writes, “Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.”(Sata) Although this factor cannot be proven beyond any doubt, many doctors both general practicians and psychologists believe this statement to be true. Stress can also affect an individual’s mind and behavior. A person under great stress often experiences “tension, anxiety, irritability, boredom, and procrastination” as well as changes in “productivity, absence and turnover.” (Robbins, 582) People often use drugs or alcohol as a means to fight stress and the affects it has on them. However, Sata writes that, “Instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems.” (Sata) These substances only create sit...