Stress has become one of the modern day life. It affects rich and poor, employed and unemployed, some cope some don’t

Symptoms can be devastating and they can compound or even be responsible for illness. So what is it? How can we recognise it? And how can it be beaten?

Stress in the Ambulance Service is part of the job so we sought the expert knowledge of leading British Psychoanalyst –Michael Whitenburgh, the head of the “School of Stress Counselling”. We put the question to him in his new Rodney Street Stress Clinic in Liverpool.

He explained: “Stress is a state of mind it is not necessarily a negative force, it can get the adrenalin flowing and boost our performance. When it is negative it can be crippling for the individual under stress and their family and friends”.

“Either way the part of the brain which we know as the mind prescribed a quick dose of adrenalin which boosted the power of the muscles for running away or battling on”.

 Today’s problems are not always physical conflict. It is not having work, knowing you can do the job but not being allowed to do it, having to watch your budget, the rise in mortgage rate, pressure from the kids to buy gear you cannot afford because their pals have it, not having holidays or things your neighbours have, it is the frustration of the unemployed-the frustration leads to stress if it is not relieved. Add these everyday problems to the rigours of ambulance service life, confronting the dead or dying, the suicides, attending accidents and driving in emergency conditions. It is amazing that the ambulance person copes as well as they do.

Many women will tell you that they have a good cry and feel better-that is their release. Men shout and swear or lash out at some inanimate object. The burst of energy relieves the pressure.

Before feminists shout, I know women lash out too! It is just in general women have learnt to cry openly – many men cannot”, he said.

The World Health Organisation say that 70%  of illnesses have stress related problems. Talking to Merseyside doctors they consider this to be conservative. One confided in Michael Whitenburgh, because Merseyside is a high stress area with high unemployment, well over 80% of his patients were affected by stress to greater or lesser degree.

PANIC ATTACKS

Another hard pressed doctor admitted he could only treat the symptoms and was forced to prescribe drugs to ease the stress. He was concerned that he could not provide the time and there was no real stress counselling service at the National Health.

Stress bursts out in mental and physical problems, the classic case is that of a panic attack. First a problem-then the mind goes into over drive and releases the chemicals into the body, the heart beats faster, breathing speeds  up and you cannot fight or flee. So the other action devised to fool the primevil predator, feign death. Fainting is the subconscious way of doing this.

Another action of aggression. The subject starts a mood change when he or she cannot deal with a problem and becomes extremely. Reacting with anger lashing out or breaking up the home. This is a factor with some of the soldiers who have just returned from the Gulf War, many where psychologically hyped-up to fight, kill and hate the enemy. Because the shortness of the war many did not have a chance to work out the aggression from their system. Returning home they are still highly charged under stress. Some can come down on their own others need help. The problems the macho image of the armed forces, you’re a wimp if you seek counselling-this of course is absolute rubbish. A physical wound is treated by professionals so why not a mental one-and war can cause many of these.

Other mental conditions which cause married couples anguish are sexual problems, men under stress can become impotent and women frigid. Even conception can be prevented by stress, although this condition can have other more deep seated problems.

COULD NOT CONCEIVE

Michael Whitenburgh, related “A friend  of mine had a secretary who was in a real mental state because she could not conceive, tests proved she and her husband had no physical reason why they could not have a baby. She was highly strung and so uptight, my friend gave her one of my relaxation tapes, she played this regularly and learned to relax, I cannot claim any success but she does now have a bonny baby boy and is a changed woman. She and her husband arte delighted although my friend is not delighted-he lost a damn good secretary.

“As a practising psychoanalyst I do have a number of people referred to me by doctors including leading gynaecologists for stress related problems. Some are stress and others are more deep seated. I can honestly say I have helped lots of ladies become pregnant-and have never infringed my institutes code of ethics”, he chuckled.

We all know that ulcers are caused by worry, the old word for stress, but there are many more illnesses. Respiratory problems such as asthma can have their origin in stress, so can diseases such a acne.

 
SUDDEN DEATH SYNDROME

Michael Whitenburgh, suspects that stress is responsible for a condition known in the medical profession as `sudden death syndrome`. Young healthy people in their mid twenties die in their sleep and there is no apparent cause. A sort of cot death of young adults. He believes there have been 50,000 such cases which have doctors baffled.

The high level of unemployment in the region is a major factor in creating stress. But stress is not confined to the jobless it is prevalent amongst the working population.

We have heard of executive stress much of which is caused by the increasing competitive society in which we live and work. The pressure is not the prerogative of the Board Room it is felt at all levels in business. The ambulance driver, the typist, the clerk and the manager are all susceptible to stress, even the shop steward-although he may be able to work out his frustration on management.

Much of stress at work is unnecessary. Workers in offices and factories are more intelligent than some of their bosses realise or care to admit. Giving employees more responsibility for planning their tasks and encouraging dialogue about the efficient running of the section or office can make economic sense. It can also reduce frustration of staff-the major cause of work related stress.

STRESS MANAGEMENT COUNSELLORS

The first step to reduce stress at work can be employing the services of a Stress Management Counsellor. In America their experience has been that employing a counsellor can reduce absenteeism by up to 60%. To a large organisation of 4,000 employees or so it could mean a saving of 2 million in lost time.

When stress strikes it can be a problem with a variety of ways in which it can be relieved. In most cases the remedies can be quite simple, but occasionally there is one which requires more probing.

Self help can be obtained from specialist relaxation tapes but undoubtedly Stress Management Counselling is the best step. The availability of an employee to visit a counsellor who can then determine whether a good talk or hypnotherapy or a more detailed exploration of the root cause with a qualified analyst is best for the individual.

One of the smallest bus companies on Merseyside, City Fleet, have entered into a contract with City Psychological Services of Rodney Street, Liverpool, to provide a stress counselling services for their drivers and other staff. Bus drivers do have a stressful job, but what about ambulance crews?

A final thought from Michael Whitenburgh, “Any organisation will benefit from a counselling service by more relaxed staff and reduce absenteeism. I know by the American experience it will pay for itself.