subject: Work Related Stress - Managing with Massage [print this page] Work Related Stress - Managing with Massage
Most of us spend approximately 25% of our adult life working, and with stress in the work place being higher than ever, employers have a legal requirement to ensure they are putting measures in place to deal with work related stress.
Finding ways to relax both in the work place and in recreation time is an excellent way to manage work related stress.
What is Work Related Stress?
While everybody requires a minimum amount of stress in order to perform at optimal levels, when levels of stress continually escalate then it can become dangerous.
When faced with a stressful situation, the body prepares to 'fight' or 'flight'. During this 'stress response', hormones, including adrenaline, are released in preparation to deal with the impending situation.
Once the perceived threat has passed then the body's equilibrium is restored. However, for many people this is not the case.
For some, stress can be encompassed in every aspect of their daily life. It is this prolonged effect of the stress response that can cause the body's immune system to lower and blood pressure to rise, leading to far more serious consequences.
The physical symptoms of work related stress can include:-
o excessive tiredness
o sleep disturbance
o digestive difficulties
o muscular tension
o dizziness
o headaches
o palpitations
o rapid heart beat
o nausea
o tremors
o aches and pains
o premature ejaculation/erectile dysfunction
o numbness
o dry mouth
o cold sweat
o clammy hands
o abdominal cramps
Added to this there are also emotional and behavioural effects including feelings of an inability to cope, loss of motivation and loss of commitment, low productivity, poor time management, increased absenteeism and unkempt appearance.
The effect of work related stress can cause people to turn to alcohol or drugs. They can become aggressive, irritable, be openly hostile and have angry outbursts.
What Causes Work Related Stress?
Many things can contribute to work related stress and often it is a combination of stressful factors, often going unnoticed, that accumulate over time.
In many case, work related stress is the result of a perceived inability to control a situation.
Stress can arise as a result of the pressure of work, the inability to manage workload, work relationships or organizational structure.
Other common causes include:
o excessive time pressures
o excessive or inflexible working hours
o too much or too little work or responsibility
o confusion about duties and responsibilities
o lack of job variety and interest
o inadequate training and possibilities for learning new skills
o poor work/life balance
o lack of support and lack of contact with colleagues
o organizational confusion, restructuring, job change
Dealing with Work Related Stress
While it is impossible to completely eradicate stress from the workplace, you as an employer can ensure that the negative impact of work related stress is kept to a minimum.
Learning to relax is very important to reducing stress at all levels and an excellent and easy way to achieve this is through massage.
Growing evidence shows that regular massage can reduce stress, relieve muscle tension, soothe the nerves, improve self-esteem, and evoke feelings of calmness and relaxation.
Many organizations recognize these benefits and regularly use the services of on site chair massage therapists allowing employees to have a relaxing break during the working day.
But why stop there, if a ten minute chair massage can have such a positive effect on work related stress, imagine the benefits that could be gained from a full body massage at least once a month.
Whether you as an employer bear the full cost of regular massage for your employees or ask employees to share the cost - It's in everybody's interest to eliminate work related stress.
FOR MORE FREE INFO
On work related stress and its affects and how to combat any form of stress visit our website atwww.privatelyyours.co.uk
