When stress is getting on top of you.....
Although stress arousal is often healthy, when it is unrelieved, it may cause harm. Then, the risks arises that it may extend to anxiety or depression. It is smart to regard painful symptoms of stress as you would a traffic light signalling warning.
The positive message is that there's no need to simply rely on medication or battling on all on your own. Especially if you are a victim of bullying, harassment or unfairness, the problem lies in the relationship you are in and not simply in yourself.
Stress treatment and Mental Toughness
In treating clients with symptoms of stress, we make every effort to 'stand in their shoes' and to appreciate just how they experience life. For we start with the evidence that stress is often a normal outcome of tough challenges in life and that people can make the adjustments needed to manage them effectively, just as mountaineers do. In this way, we endeavour to design ways in which they can regain energy and momentum in their lives.
One of the positive improvements now possible has come about from research which indicates how people can develop the qualities that make up 'mental toughness'.
| Desire to achieve | An internal, often insatiable desire and commitment to consistently improve how your level of performance and of success |
| Resilience | The ability to withstand and bounce back from situations in which you experience negative outcomes including pressure and setbacks; |
| Control of attention | The ability to manage your attention and concentrate over extended periods of time, despite distractions |
| Self-belief | A rugged conviction in your ability to do well and to persevere |
| Affective intelligence | The ability to regulate your emotions and moods to get the best possible performance |
| 'Knowing the ropes' | Understanding how to exercise influence fairly in situations you work in. |
These qualities can normally be developed through education, coaching and good management.
Assessment and identifying sources of stress
Stress can be slippery as well as costly. Valid assessment it a necessary first step to controlling it well. We always use well-validated questionnaires for this purpose.
If stress is work-related, a more complex assessment may be needed in order for the employer to comply with the Health and Safety Executive's Approved Code of Practice of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Stress levels vary not simply according to different circumstances; they may also be influenced by the age, level of fitness, personality and expectations of the individual.
Stress 'First Aid' and preventing 'Burnout'
Research that indicates how harmful stress may arise from how work is designed. has taught us that you need a smart, mindful strategy to contain it and avoid repeatedly becoming enmeshed in it. Where appropriate, we provide Stress First-Aid guidance in an emergency.
Too often, good people push themselves too far for too long. They reach a stage where they are not only fatigued but risk losing their grasp on positive values and sliding into cynicism and withdrawal.
Our assessment can help your people to pinpoint where you have got to as well as how to start the climb back up the mountain-top to peak performance again. We use a well-validated survey process, developed by a world leader in burnout management, which provides data you can use for benchmarking.
The data will provide the information you need to being to turnaround even the most difficult situation.
After a traumatic incident
On occasions, people at work or elsewhere find themselves caught up in an overwhelming experience which leaves them mentally and emotionally frozen. Confidence spirals downward, they withdraw and close up.
We offer the counselling needed to heal from such experiences, to regain in strength and grow from them.
Telephone 020 8654 0808 now, to arrange a mutually convenient time to talk briefly.
