Aug 28, 2014
"Some people are so used to experiencing stress that they don't remember what it was like without it" - Andrew Bernstein
Stress is a major part of life for many people, too many people, sadly to say. Today I want to talk about ways to work through situational stress and encounter stress. Emergencies test your ability to stay cool. They arise out of nowhere giving you little time to prepare. This of course can be a major stressor, a situational stressor. There is also the stressor associated with interactions with people you may not like or who are volatile. This is encounter stress. I will talk about both types of stress and how to cope with each of them differently
SITUATIONAL STRESS
Unlike anticipatory stress which focuses on events in the future, situational stress comes from unexpected emergencies or situations in the moment. Situational stress can be the anxiety that comes from your car breaking down on the side of the road or even the sudden altercation that can arise from a heated discussion.
CAUSES
- Lack of preparedness
- Inability to control emotions
- Inability to think on your feet
- Lack of confidence in your abilities
METHODS OF ELIMINATING THE STRESSOR
- Learn how to better handle your emotions
- Increase your confidence
- Increase your level of resourcefulness
- Be prepared
ENCOUNTER STRESS
Encounter stress is the anxiety that arises from the thought of having to interact with someone you do not want to. It can be a supervisor, someone you typically do not like or it can be any person you meet in a job which focuses on complaints or resolutions. Customer Service jobs are a great example as are doctors and psychologists, because typically the people that come to see them are troubled or sick.
CAUSES
- Lack of people skills
- Interacting with too many people
- Lack of self-worth
METHODS OF ELIMINATING THE STRESSOR
- Improve your people skills
- Become aware of your threshold for dealing with people
- Increase your self-Worth
RESOURCES
Original Article on the four types of Stressors by Karl Albrecht
ACTION OF THE DAY
Make a list of the last 10 things you succeeded at doing today. Don't leave anything out.
Btw, this action of the day is a daily one for me. I journal it daily. It helps me maintain my level of confidence by noting the success I have every day. In regards to today's podcast, increasing your confidence will help you cope with Situational Stress.
JOURNAL QUESTION OF THE DAY
1.) How are your people skills? When was the last time you were in a heated discussion with someone?
2.) Are you reactive or proactive in regards to situations