How to thrive under pressure

Definition of Stress
Stress is the over-arousal of body and mind which if prolonged leads to disease. Most stress comes down to problems in our perception, communications and the environment.

Stress is a problem which concerns us all. No matter how creative, dynamic and resourceful we might be, stress prevents us from fully using our potential. There is however, 'good' stress and 'bad' stress. A certain amount of stress is necessary for optimum functioning. When we go outside these limits of optimum stress our performance falls off.

Before point 'A' there is insufficient pressure from the environment to perform at peak levels. This is the stress of boredom. Many people experience this kind of stress for the first few days on holiday. On a deck chair, lying in the sun, they find this too frustrating and would rather be doing something. Then gradually they get used to it, and start to enjoy the experience. By then however it's too late. The two weeks are up. It's time to come back and they start to think of all those things piling up for them at work. Stress levels go up again and they're back in the office before they actually arrive!

The optimum level of stress for this person is between the points A-B. As the pressure builds up especially from over-load at work, the stress goes beyond the level that particular person can handle and so he signs off sick, gets the flu or worse.

To combat this, we need to do two things: reduce the unnecessary pressure in the environment and at the same time enhance our ability to deal with it. Thus, like the duck, we can paddle through the water and not get wet.

Causes of stress
The source of stress lies in three main areas : Environmental, Psychosocial and Personal. The results of stress produces physical fatigue, dulls the mind, inhibiting the clear thinking so necessary for creative planning and decision making, leads to a general deterioration in personal relationships, and when severe, results in heart disease, stomach ulcers, anxiety neuroses and many other functional disorders.

Cures for stress
Most of the stress we experience can be cured by overcoming problems in two main areas of life : our perception and communications. Stress itself is not necessarily bad. The question is - can you let go of it when you want to? Some people are lucky enough to work for organisations that provide annual medical check-ups. While the early discovery of a medical problem is usually an aid to a good recovery; nevertheless the majority who pass the examination and are pronounced healthy are not necessarily fit for the continual high demands of modern work. In the same way that when your car passes its MOT, that does not mean it's fit to race at Brands Hatch.

There are many approaches to stress management. Our approach is based on those disciplines that give most value for the least time devoted to their practice. The following six aspects provide the key disciplines that each participant will have an opportunity to experience, and the basis on which they can commit to a personal plan for their 'super health'.

1) Peace of Mind
The natural way for the body to recover from stress is through taking rest. A normal night's sleep and the occasional holiday however are no longer sufficient to deal with today's increased pressures and many find themselves becoming permanently wound up. Some additional form of deep rest is needed and many busy people are finding specific relaxation techniques to be of great benefit. Techniques to elicit this response are many and varied. In essence they all come down to "stilling the mind and body" and they are taught in hospitals and clinics up and down the land.

2) Body Therapies
Again there are numerous approaches to releasing stress built up from chronic body tensions. The approaches we find especially useful are 'On-Site Massage', Shiatsu and The Alexander Technique. All these methods complement each other well, are appropriate in the work setting and require the individual to be fully clothed.

3) Exercise
Movement is a must for everyone engaged in sedentary occupations. Doing a work-out in the gym at least three times a week for twenty minutes is a minimum. But we have a set of specific exercises designed and approved by professional osteopaths that take a short time to learn and only ten minutes to practice each day. These are linked to visualisations to enhance their psychological effect.

4) Diet and Nutrition
'We are what we eat' is the well known catch phrase. Bad eating habits, increasing pollution and disruption to the food chain is at the root of a large part of our dis-ease. We give clear guidance on how to create a healthier lifestyle and the nutritional supplementation to use as both a preventative measure, as well as an alternative remedy for some of life's common but debilitating complaints.

5) Emotional Management
Much of the stress we experience comes from our beliefs and attitudes and how we think about ourselves and others. We need to develop an ability to simply be happy and handle the negative emotions that come from our relationships both at work and in private life. We cover the key elements in dealing skilfully with difficult people and situations and improving our Emotional Intelligence.

6) Creating the Future
Goal setting, getting what we want and on the other hand, wanting what we have are the two sides to success. The ability to visualise and affirm what we want is part of it, the other part is accepting what we've got. Here we learn to change what we can, accept what we can't and know the difference.