Stress has become one of the curses of the modern day life
It affects, rich and poor, employed or unemployed, executive or ex-executive.

Some cope, some don’t.

It offers a caring career treating others, and certainly former executives know and understand the pressures of life in the boardroom and managerial office. This knowledge is invaluable and if you have gone undergone stress you can offer empathy as well as sympathy, a valuable counselling tool.

The symptoms of stress can be devastating and stress can compound or be responsible for illness or even death. So what is it? How can we recognise it?

And how can it be beaten?

To find out about stress we sought the expert knowledge of Harley Stress psychoanalyst, Michael Whitenburgh, the head of the Liverpool based  “School of Stress Counselling”. 

“Stress is a state of mind and 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”. Michael Whitenburgh explained.

“Stress is about fear – in our profession we know it as the `fight or flight syndrome`. When ancient man was confronted by a problem- day a saber tooth tiger- he had to decide whether to stand and fight or run like hell!

Either way the mind prescribed a quick dose of adrenalin which boosted the power of the muscles for running or battling on”.

Modern day problems and fears do not usually call for physical action. Decisions, deadlines and long hours all create stress and unless the individual knows how to cope it can cause trouble for them, their working colleagues and their families.

Today’s stress  can be 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. 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 who lash out too. It is just in general women have learnt to cry openly- many men cannot”, said Whitebnurgh.
Stress bursts out in emotional 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 the mind does not know whether to fight or flee. So it takes the other action devised to fool the primevil predator, feign death. Fainting is the subconscious way of doing this.

Stress has an outlet in many ways, some conditions that 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 may have other more seated problems.
We all know that ulcers caused by worry, the old mane for stress, but there are more illnesses. Respiratory problems such as asthma can have their origin in stress, so can diseases such as acne and psoriasis.

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

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 there was no real stress counselling service on the National Health.

The high level of unemployment 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, the teacher and the manager are all susceptible to stress, even the shop steward- although he or she may be able to work out frustration on management.

Much of stress at work is unnecessary. Workers I n 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 stress.

BEATING STRESS IN SOCIETY

There is a growing demand for stress counsellors and hypnotherapists. They treat stress and emotional problems, anything from bed wetting in children to stopping adults smoke, or helping them overcome eating disorders.

Counselling is now being accepted in the medical profession and the skills are being used in some general practices to treat stress and other emotional problems. Business too is becoming more aware of the need to deal with stress in the workforce and are investing.

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%. Too 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, but it all boils down to learning to relax.

Self help can be obtained from specialist relaxation tapes but undoubtedly stress management counselling is the best step. The availability for an employee to visit a counsellor who can 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.

Michael Whitenburgh adds. “Any organisation  will benefit from a counselling service by more relaxed staff and reduced absenteeism. I know by the American experience that it will pay for itself”.

However he has a warning for those considering embarking on a career as a counsellor or hypnotherapists. “Dealing with the emotional problems of others can cause a counsellor to suffer what the business terms `burn out`, unless you have had protection with some form of objectivity skills training or analytical treatment. I insist that all students who take a course with the School of Stress Counselling have such a protection. Anyone considering this highly rewarding career should ask the question `does your course include protection for my mind`.