1. Session for YWCA HODs
Venue: YWCA, Mumbai Central
On 22 Jan, 2012
By
Dr. Nicholas Correa
Director, New Horizon Scholars School

2. What is Stress?

3. We generally use the word "stress" when
we feel that everything seems to have
become too much - we are overloaded
and wonder whether we really can cope
with the pressures placed upon us.

4. Stress is a feeling that’s
created when we react to
particular events.
We generally use the word
"stress" when we feel that
everything seems to have
become too much - we are
overloaded and wonder
whether we really can cope
with the pressures placed
upon us.
Anything that poses a
challenge or a threat to our
well being is a stress.

5. Stress is often termed as a twentieth century
syndrome, born out of man's race towards modern
progress and its ensuing complexities.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN –
The term "stress", as it is currently used was
coined by Hans Selye in 1936.
He defined it as "the non-specific response of the
body to any demand for change".
The events that provoke stress are called
stressors.
The human body responds to stressors by
activating the nervous system and specific
hormones.

8. Physical symptoms of severe stress Psychological Effects of stress
1.Headaches, dizziness, neck ache, back pain, 1.Anxiety and nervousness,
2. High blood pressure, chest pain, 2. Insomnia, nightmares, bad dreams,
3. Difficulty in concentrating,
palpitations,
4. Difficulty in decision making,
3. Heart Disease, Beware of the heart attack 6. Feeling of loneliness and worthlessness.
symptoms!
4. Frequent colds, infections,
5. Rashes, itches, hives,
6. Fatigue and constant tiredness,
7. Frequent stomach pain and heart burn.
Behavioral Signs of Stress Emotional Symptoms
1. Social withdrawal and isolation, 1.Loss of confidence
2. Increase in alcohol consumption, smoking or 2.More fussy
taking drugs, 3.Irritablility
3. Excessive gambling, 4.Anger bouts
4. Excessive activities like exercise and buying, 5.Depressions
5. Loss of interest in appearance, 6.Apathy
6. Neglect of punctuality, 7.Alienation
7. Not taking interest in work, not feeling 8.Apprehension
motivated to do anything.
8. Not sharing thoughts with others, and
decrease in social interaction.

12. Which Is Your Leading Cause of Stress?
1. Finances
Most studies agree that finances are a leading cause of
stress.
Because of major purchases one has to make, such as a
house, car, etc.
Others are stressed by a loss of income.
For some, financial stress will eventuate in bankruptcy.
Senior citizens find that retirement income can be a
major cause of stress.

13. 2.Career and Workplace
Closely tied to finances as a cause of stress is work.
Our jobs or careers seem to cause constant stress.
How is the workplace a cause of stress?
We worry about getting and keeping good employment or get
promotion.
We worry about new types of work or new responsibilities.
We struggle to climb a career ladder, overwhelmed by the
demands.
Work conditions may change, or we may have interpersonal
trouble at work.
Job insecurity
Bad boss
Latest Technology

14. 3. Family
Family, wonderful though each member may be, is also a
leading cause of stress.
Arguments erupt with a spouse or other family member.
Parents divorce. Daughter’s marriage. The ebb and flow of
family life is filled with stress. A child moves out - an aging
parent moves in.
Family health is also a leading cause of stress. A sick family
member, a serious injury, pregnancy, miscarriage, or
abortion all cause stress.
Family changes of other kinds bring stress, too. Adoption,
relocation, and job changes for just one family member
can cause stress for all.

15. 4. Personal Concerns
Personal concerns that are only indirectly created by others are
another top cause of stress.
Lack of control tops the list of personal concerns. Every human has a
deep-seated desire for control over his or her own life.
When control is weak or missing in a given area, we experience
stress.
To many people, a lack of control over their own time is a leading
cause of stress.
We want to determine when we do tasks around the home, or at
work.
Holding a job, participating in the children's carpool to school,
shopping, and scout meetings while trying to keep the household
running can create major stress.
You would like to control your time, rather than let others' demands
control it, but that is not always possible.

16. 5. Personal Health and Safety
Most people find that personal health is a leading cause of
stress.
Illness or injury, whether less or more serious, can be a leading
cause of stress for many people. Incontinence can be an
ongoing concern.
Personal health is more or less stressful according to the degree
of seriousness and our personal outlook on health.
Personal safety is also a leading cause of stress.
Women, more than men, tend to stress about their own and
others' safety. Adults tend to stress more than young people,
who may act invincible. Crime is a factor, as is

17. 6. Personal Relationships
Whether it is a friendship, dating, separation, marriage,
divorce, or re-marriage, a relationship can be a leading cause
of stress for many.
We all want love, and that is potentially available in
relationships, but getting from A to B can be very stressful.
Some resort to online relationships that are easier to handle.
Others withdraw and become recluses.
Either way, the demands on time, finances, and emotions can
cause ongoing stress.

18. 7.Local Politics
Local politicians have typical way of
creating issues or treating the
NGOs and educational institutions.

19. 7. Death
Probably the most wrenching cause of stress is
the death of a loved one or close friend.
Even the death of a pet can be stressful. Children
are always a source of stress for parents, but
when a child dies, the stress is overwhelming.
The same is true when a lifetime spouse passes
on.

20. 8.Win or Lose
Causes of stress change as we age. The stressed child who
threw tantrums becomes a young student, stressed by the
school bully.
The young student becomes a teenager, stressed by acne,
hormones, and dating. The teenager becomes a young
adult trying to handle the stresses of leaving home,
adjusting to college life, and managing finances.
Life progresses to first jobs, marriage, children, and so on.
Even if you move to a secluded cabin in the woods, stress
will follow you.

21. Incorrect & Wrong Ways of handling Stress

36. The Three Eye Theory of Stress Management
We see the world with two eyes but an inner eye
processes the input. I call the inner eye perception.
It is not surprising that two people gazing at a large sea
swell can see it in quite different ways. One sees the
swell as excellent for surfing while the other sees it as a
danger to be avoided at all costs.
This perception-variance is not produced by the two eyes
in the front of the head but by the inner eye of
perception. Information passing through our eyes is
filtered by the brain.
If you would like to get a real feel for how the brain
processes information that flows through the eyes look at
the object below. This object, called a Necker Cube, will
involuntarily change from time to time as you study it.

38. Weird isn’t it! If the brain flips a simple object
around what does it do to more complex objects?
Changing perception begins when you ask yourself
this question:
“Is there another way of looking at this?“
If you find it difficult to get a new perspective then
ask others what they think – what they are seeing.
Knowledge gained in this way will certainly give you
some different views.
Effective personal stress management always
involves the third eye of perception.
So take a daily hassle and get a new perspective
on it and see if you can make it irrelevant.

46. If you look at these and they are not moving, that means
you are relaxed.
If you look at these and they are moving slowly or even
moderately, you are a little bit stressed.
If you look at these and they are moving fast, it means
that you are seriously feeling the stress. Take a chill pill
immediately.
The really crazy part is that when I relaxed and took a
long deep breath, they stopped moving.
When I purposely thought about something stressful, they
started moving fast.
Once again it goes to show how powerful our brain is, and
how what you are seeing with your eyes may not be what
the person next to you sees.

47. Labyrinth:
Once you are in the labyrinth, there is only one way in and
that way is the same way out. You will follow twists and
turns, but you never have to vary from your path, it is one
long continuous path to the centre of the labyrinth.