Chapter Coping Skills for The Medical Assistant © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part What Is Stress? • Body’s response to mental and physical change • What constitutes stress is highly individual and depends on personality type © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part What Is Stress? • Eustress (positive feelings) • Distress (negative feelings) • Three categories of stressors – Frustrations – Conflicts – Pressure © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part What Is Stress? • Short-duration stress (acute) • Longer-duration stress (episodic or chronic) • Stress has both negative and positive affects on body © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part What Is Stress? • Body’s Response to Stress  – Sympathetic nervous system prepares body for “fight or flight” – Parasympathetic nervous system returns body to normal after stressor has been removed © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) ^^ Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) theory proposes that four stages are involved in adapting to stress © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Factors Causing Stress • • • • Overwhelming situations Feeling of powerlessness Round peg in square hole Traumatic events on the job © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Factors Causing Stress • Stress in the Work Environment – – – – – – – Physical environment Management style Difficult co-workers  Job instability  Technological changes Organization size Overspecialization © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Combatting Stress • Maintain positive relationships – – – – – Be respectful of others Be a diligent worker Be willing to learn Be honest Be willing to assume responsibility for your actions © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Combatting Stress • Maintain positive relationships – – – – Express appropriate humor Exemplify attitude of humility Be goal directed Understand Maslow’s hierarchy of needs © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Effect of Prolonged Stress - Burnout • Stages of burnout – – – – Honeymoon Reality Dissatisfaction Sad state © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Effect of Prolonged Stress - Burnout • Results in physical and psychologically illnesses • Persons most vulnerable to burnout Personality type role in susceptibility â 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part General Stress Management Techniques • Appropriate and helpful changes in stress management – Make concerted effort to say “No” when asked to assume additional work – Prioritize work or delegate to others with approval of your supervisor – Change your work-related environment by creating variations © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part General Stress Management Techniques • Appropriate and helpful changes in stress management – Evaluate the negative feelings about your job and attempt to replace them with more positive thoughts – Try to look on work as a “fun” experience and an adventure – Establish long- and short-term realistic goals and write them down with plan to make them happen © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part General Stress Management Techniques • Appropriate and helpful changes in stress management – Develop strong social support networks – Embark on program of relaxation and meditation to reduce stress – Start exercise regimen © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Goal Setting as a Stress Reliever • Outer-directed people vs inner-directed people • Goal-oriented employees – More effective and assertive than others who are not © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Goal Setting as a Stress Reliever • What is a goal? – Specific, challenging, realistic, attainable, measurable – Long-range versus short-range goals • Long-range goals may take to years to accomplish • Short-range goals help to achieve long-range goals © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part Goal Setting as a Stress Reliever • Long- and short-range goals help make changes in our lives • Goals keep life interesting • We can all reach goals successfully © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part  ... work or delegate to others with approval of your supervisor – Change your work-related environment by creating variations © 2014 Cengage Learning All Rights Reserved May not be scanned, copied or