According to my Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory test score, I have a relatively low amount of life changes so I there is a low susceptibility to a stress-induced breakdown. I still have times when I do get stressed about things and the coping and stress management test is a great way to understand how I deal and process it. After taking the coping and stress management skills test, I learned that I do a great job with managing stress I have over controllable situations, but having a problem-focused strategy approach can be harder when situations are out of my control. Next, I got my results from the personality test which indicated a 35 for irritability which is low. While my interactions with others are warm and tolerated, I may get impatient and hostile on occasion when something really annoys me. Rarely do I ever lash out or stew in my frustration. I trust others and am willing to open up emotionally about things that bother me. I value relationships for the sake of the people involved, not what they can do for me. This shows that I do not have a high amount of the Type A Behavior Pattern (TABP). Having opposite results would be harmful to relationships and my health. Based on my results I am likely not at a very elevated risk of heart disease.
In order to help manage stress throughout my career, I can continue to talk to trusted people about what I am going through and continue to seek out help. I can also acknowledge that I am stressed in the moment and take the time to relax and focus on one thing at a time. Maybe writing a to do list and taking the time to think about what I should do to fix it rather than think about the negative aspects. Every reaction is dependent on what is going on but having something I can turn to every time I am stressed would be helpful.
Work stress is the leading workplace health problem for employers in the United States. Lots of other factors decrease worker productivity such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, and obesity. The CDC has provided many employers with a workplace health model that addresses risk factors and health conditions and provides access to quality healthcare programs and improve quality of life. These include benefits, policies and environmental support such as health education classes, access to local fitness facilities, policies that promote healthy foods or tobacco-free workplaces, and insurance coverage for preventive screenings. This is for companies that have 500 or less employees.
As a result of COVID-19, companies have spent a lot more time and resources helping employees with stressors and mental health such as providing counseling, access to mental health and meditation apps, more time off, promote healthy work-life balance habits, encouraging leaders to talk openly about stress and mental health. For example, Starbucks a bigger company has provided its employees with 20 free counseling sessions as well as a free subscription to Headspace, an app where you can listen to guided meditations to help with anxiety, sleeplessness or other things.
By providing necessary and accessible resources and creating a safe space where people can open up and leaders also partake in, employers can work to decrease stress and anxiety for their employees.
Sources:
Chronic Disease Fact Sheet: Workplace Health Promotion | CDC
Starbucks Expands Mental Health Benefits, Offers Therapy To All U.S. Workers (forbes.com)
5 Ways Companies Are Supporting Employees’ Mental Health and Preventing Burnout (linkedin.com)
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