IBRAHIM SIAWASH
Destiny by Design
Certified Trainer, Organizational
Psychologist, Motivational Speaker, Success
Coach
• Associate Trainer at Youth Studio
• Associate Consultant at Possibilities
• Creator of FAST Coaching Model
• Author of “Destiny by Design”
1. Mastering Self
2. Mastering Others
3. Mastering time and Stress

What is Stress?
“an interaction between the person and their (work) environment
and is the awareness of not being able to cope with the demands of
one’s environment, when this realization is of concern to the
person, in that both are associated with a negative emotional
responses” - (OSH) Occupational Safety and Health Services
“Stress becomes dangerous when it interferes with your ability to
live a normal life over an extended period. You may feel tired,
unable to concentrate or irritable. Stress can also damage your
physical health.” - APA

What is Stress?
“The emotion we get when environmental demands exceed
internal resources.” – Ibrahim Siawash
3 Components:
1. Environmental Components
2. Internal Resources
3. Emotion

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Signs Of
Stress
Mental Signs
Behavioral
Signs
Physical
Signs

Mental symptoms of stress
• Feeling
– Anxious, fear, irritable, angry
• Thoughts
– Low self-esteem
– Fear of failure
– Worrying about the future
– Preoccupation

Behavioral symptoms of stress
• Behavior
– Crying
– Changes in Appetite
– Acting impulsively
– High pitch laughing or nervous tone of voice
– Increasing drug or alcohol use

Physical symptoms of stress
• Physiology
– Sweaty hands
– Increased heart rate
– Trembling
– Tiring easily
– Butterflies in the stomach
– Changes in eating patterns

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Symptoms cont.…
• Decision making issues
• Tunnel Vision
• Selective attention
• Mental, Social and Physical exhaustion
• Insomnia
• Loss of mental concentration
• Absenteeism
• Depression
• Substance abuse
• Extreme anger and frustration
• Family conflict
• Migraine, Headaches and back problems

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Possible Causes
• Job Insecurity
• High Performance Demand
• Bad Boss
• Workplace Culture
• Personal or Family Problems
• Technology
• Change

Possible Causes
• Exams
• New classmates
• New course
• Deadlines
• Presentations
• Fees
• Teachers and faculty
• Co education

Things that build stress
• Perfectionism
– Are you a high achiever?
– Do you criticize yourself when your work is not perfect?
– Do you always feel you could have tried harder?

Things that build stress
• Control
– Do you have to be in control at all times?
– Do you feel lack of control is sign of failure?
– Do you have difficulty delegating to others?

Things that build stress
• People Pleasing
– Do your feelings about yourself depend on other’s opinion about you?
– Do you avoid things because you are concerned about disappointing
others?
– Do you take better care of others than you do of yourself?

Things that build stress
• Confidence
– Do you feel you will never be as good as others?
– Do you feel you lack common sense?
– Do you struggle to believe people that tell you have done a good job?

Is Stress the Enemy?

Two kinds of Stress.
• 1. Bad stress (Negative Stress)
• Distress
• 2. Good Stress (Positive Stress)
• Eustress

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Positive stress
Results
Enables
Concentration
Increases
Performance
Energizes You
Into Motion

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Negative Stress
Results
Loss of motivation
Reduces
effectiveness
Physical, mental,
and
behavioral problems

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Stress Busters
• Be Prepared for Changes
• Find and protect time to refresh, re-energize and re-motivate.
• Avoid giving in to alcohol, smoking and other substance abuses.

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Stress Busters
• Positive attitudes towards stressful situations in life.
• Don't be complacent.
• Sit straight and comfortably on your seat, and try breathing
exercises
• Try creative visualization

ABC Strategy
• A = Awareness
• B = Balance
• C = Control
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Stress Management Plan
• Identify Stressors
• Events
• Situations
• People
• Techniques currently used
• Coping Mechanisms
• Techniques to add or change
• Environment
• Habits
• Beliefs

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The Study (Kelly McGonigal)
• 3500 Adults in US for 8 years
– How much stress did you feel in the last year?
– Do you believe that stress is harmful for your health?
Public Death Records
High stress: 43% increased risk of dying
Believed stress is harmful
• 18500 premature deaths
• 20,231 Deaths per year

Don’t take life too
seriously, It’s not
like you will get
out of it alive.
Yours Sincerely
Ibrahim Siawash