The latest studies show that over 16 million
working days are lost through sickness mostly relating to stress.
The symptoms of stress are sometimes not recognized for what they
are. An increase in the amount of smoking and drinking, the increase
in the number of cold and flu over the years plus the lowering
of the immune system. Higher rates of heart attack, cancer and
many disabling diseases are known to be prevalent in the group
psychologist call The 'A' type personality. This group is over
ambitious and often highly strung, tend to overwork and worry
about small details.
We all seem to know what stress is. Some
have defined it as "the demands of life" - but these
demands of life are actually stressors. Stress is the effect that
these demands have on our mind/body. Acute stress affects the
autonomic nervous system. Heart rate increases, pupils dilate,
blood rushes toward large muscles and away from the fingers and
toes. Muscles can tighten and adrenaline and cortisol are released
into the blood stream.
These reactions are all part of the "fight-or-flight"
response. Our bodies are becoming prepared to fight or to run.
You can even see this response in animals. Watch two dogs who
are unfriendly facing-off. You'll see them extremely excited;
and you'll see them teeter back and forth between the instinct
to fight and the instinct to run.
This response was handy for cave men and
the early settlers of North America. It also comes in handy in
combat. We need our bodies to prepare us to fight or run. The
fight-or-flight response is not helpful in a job interview; yet
our bodies still respond that way to stress. There's nobody to
fight and nowhere to run. We're just left with fast breathing,
a racing heart, perspiration, and a feeling of anxiety. It's the
same way in a final exam. People often feel up and motivated going
into an exam, only to get stressed-out into the exam. Test-anxiety
often involves the fight-or-flight response kicking in. Memory
retrieval is impaired, and performance suffers.
Just imagine the amount of work that you
could get as a stress Consultant working within Industry or in
private practice. The average charge for stress consultations
are from thirty to eighty pounds per session. You would only have
to book one client per day on a ten week course to be able to
work full time after a few weeks.
The stress management course is complete
and extensive to enable you to manage your own practice within
six month's. You will also have the support and backup of your
own supervisor on call if ever the need arises.
Once you have completed this professional
course you will know how to:
