Pressure Relief Valve (Workplace Stress Adjustment)

Author: Tai Qiying
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-10-01
Features:
1. Stress Definition
Stress was originally a concept in physics, referring to an external force applied to an object. Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye was the first to introduce the concept of stress into medicine and psychology. It can be said that he was the pioneer in studying the effects of stress on humans.
People have to endure various external and internal stimuli every day. Some stimuli can make them relax and feel pleasant, while others can cause anxiety, restlessness, and a tense state. Any stimulus that makes an individual feel tense can be called stress.
Other scholars have defined stress differently, but generally, it is related to tension. Stress refers to the emotional and physiological tension response of an individual to a significant situation for which they lack sufficient ability to cope.
The U.S. Army Field Manual defines stress as follows: "Psychological, emotional, physical tension and exhaustion caused by being in a war or war-related environment, leading to emotional low."
Stress is a broad concept. Generally, it is caused by a series of conditions, including conflict and frustration. Stress is a response to various emotions, such as anxiety, intense emotions, and physiological arousal. Stress is an internal state of an organism, consisting of two factors: one is a threat, or a "stressor"; and the other is a response composed of measurable physiological changes and individual behavior. For example, a person may not show visible signs of stress but may exhibit abnormal physiological or behavioral responses, such as sweating or having nightmares.
The manifestations of stress can be divided into three stages, presenting different symptoms.
The first stage is somatic symptoms, which may include insomnia, anxiety, suspicion, poor appetite, and other conditions;
The second stage involves withdrawal behavior, such as reluctance to go to work, taking unjustified leave, and avoiding participating in various social activities;
The third stage produces aggressive behavior, such as irritability, frequent conflicts, a tendency to destroy things, and even self-harm, self-abuse, or suicidal tendencies.
Stress also affects an individual's physical and mental adaptation. When an individual experiences stress caused by a stressor, they may feel threatened by this tension attack, leading to psychological tension. This psychological tension affects the individual's internal balance, and to maintain this balance, the individual must make corresponding responses. These responses can cause a series of physiological changes, blood changes, heart rate fluctuations, and other effects. If an individual remains in this tense psychological state for a long time, they will develop a specific physiological response pattern to repeated psychological stressors. This pattern is known as the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).