The Stress Epidemic

American Institute of Stress reports that:

• 75% of people report feeling stressed, 40% very stressed.
• #1 cause of stress - Job stress
• 60% of work absences due to stress.
• 40% of job turnover due to stress.
• 42% heard verbal abuse at workplace; Reported that they: 29% yelled, 14% broke equipment, 2% hit someone

Contemporary Stress is more pervasive, persistent and insidious and stems primarily from psychological than physical threats.
75% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems.

  Diseases Caused by Stress or Made Worse by Stress

• hypertension, strokes, heart attacks, diabetes, ulcers, neck or low back pain are all due in part to the  increased sympathetic nervous system activity and an outpouring of adrenaline, cortisol and other stress-related hormones.
• impaired immune system  & decreased resistance  to viruses & diseases: common cold and herpes to AIDS and cancer.
• Inflammation is made worse by stress and can lead to asthma or chronic respiratory problems, arthritis, and potentially cardiovascular disease
• depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal tract  disorders, skin and other organs.

 

More recent research has shown that it is perceived stress levels, not actual stress, that seem to be most significant in the development of the high cost chronic illnesses such as heart disease.

Living & Working in a Stressful World

Corporate Wellness Programs

People are disturbed not by things, but by their perception of things….

- Epictetus –

Success in life is determined 10% by what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. --Lou Holtz—

Stress in the workplace is the number one controllable factor affecting productivity, missed workdays, and rising healthcare cost.  Understanding how our perceptions of others and events impacts our emotions and actions can help decrease our stress level at home and work.  Employees can be taught simple techniques that empower them to make lasting life changes to their attitudes and behaviors and can decrease their stress level by up to 33%.  As negative stress and ineffective behavior decreases, productivity increases.

Reduce Stress

• Control physical reactions
• Reduce perceived threats

  Reframing Perceptions to Reduce Perceived Threats: Programs specifically target the perception of people and events to help participants view their world differently and take control over their response to stressful situations.  They also teach how to correct other less constructive behaviors such as anger, worry, and power centered thinking, and help participants channel that energy into more productive strategies such as realistic problem-solving and collaborative relationships. 

Control physical responses to stress: Experience simple strategies for relaxing and decreasing the stress response in the body. Breathing exercises, guided visualizations, and tai chi made easy & qigong exercises are extremely effective in decreasing stress levels and the physical effects of stress.

These programs combine the best of Western Business & Management strategies with Eastern health promoting behaviors to maximize the potential of each individual.

Participants are offered the tools and simple techniques that empower them to make lasting life changes to their attitudes and behaviors. These changes can result in immediate and long-term improvements in their health and wellness.

Benefits to Employees may include decreased stress levels, improved interpersonal relationships, more focused and productive work time, better able to manage conflict and tense situations. 
 
Health & Wellness benefits may include less sick time, fewer low productivity days, and lower health costs due to a balanced lifestyle and improved health.

Lunch & Learn Program Modules

These 60 minute modules in this lunch & learn series teach simple strategies to make conscious choices on how one perceives and handles everyday work issues as well as dealing with stressful situations and people. The focus of this Lunch & Learn series is on reducing stress and improving relationships, two keys for success in today’s global business environment.


A.  Stress & The Body  (optional)

• What is stress and what causes it? 
• Impact of stress on the body & your health.
• How to know when it is too much: signs of stress, warning signals: pain, chronic headaches, stomach problems,
• Overview of lifestyle strategies to help manage stress: posture, sleep and healthy eating, activity & exercise, relaxation & hobbies
• Activating the Relaxation Response in the body
• Self massage & common acupressure points for signs of stress (optional)

B.    Stress & Perceptions

• Perceived Stress vs Actual Stress
• Perceived stress survey to assess personal stress level (optional)
• Role of conscious choice versus habitual reactions in stress.
• Overview of strategies to change perceptions & behaviors to decrease stress
• How perceptions create your reality
• Changing negative perceptions
• Worry & Anger:  Dysfunctional cyclic thinking
• Change your Mind, Change Behavior
• How to get and stay “in the zone” for better decision-making
• How to not react to negative situations.

C. Stress & Challenging People & Situations

• How to stay centered when challenged.
• How to deal with uncooperative people.
• How to see situations, not problems.
• How to use time productively – stopping the worry cycle.
• How to let go of anger and deal with the underlying issue.

D. Simple Stress Reducing Exercises

Often employees feel tense, anxious, or like their mind are racing. This module teaches some simple techniques that can be done in an office to help them to relax and regain their focus.  Offered as a one-time class or as a 4 week series.

• Understand the link between thoughts, emotions, and physical tightness & pain.
• Breathing exercises to help you relax
• Qigong stretching exercises to release muscle tension & calm the mind.
• Vitality series for easy learning and maximum relaxation.
• Balancing series for office workers targets neck, back & shoulders.

Additional content if offered as a series:

• Review stretching and breathing exercises
• Acupressure points to rub for calming and temporary relief of stress symptoms like headaches
• Progressive relaxation visualization to calm the body
• Simple mind calming techniques to regain focus

Comments from recent programs:

• "Great instructor with valuable information.  I would recommend this to all businesses.  Please come back for a refresher in 6 months."
• "This was very helpful.  Stress is a huge part of everyone's life and I found with this presentation a group of ways to respond and react.  Wonderful presentation."
• "Hit right on the money with my life.  I am going to focus on this and introduce this to my husband.  I feel better already."
• "Great Energy!!  Very informative!”

Coping with Work and Family Stress

Yale University School of Medicine Evidence Based Program
5 half day programs.

Customizable to specific needs of participants.
The spectrum of documented stress-related problems among employees is extensive, ranging from psychological symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and somatic complaints to substance abuse and physical health problems such as heart disease, hypertension, and obesity.  This comprehensive science-based intervention is designed to prevent stress-related problems among workers.  
This program teaches employees behavioral, social, and cognitive coping strategies to address stressful situations at home, work, and on the interface between home and work through a combination of brief presentations, small and large group discussions, and experiential exercises.  
Modules include:  learning how to solve the problem such as problem solving methods & communication skills, manage the problem (self talk and rethinking the problem to see it in a new way), and managing the stress (life style, relaxation, alternatives to substance use).