25. Identify circumstances that tend to trigger stress in yourself and others

There
are many factors which might affect whether a person can cope.  In addition to things like skills, experience, age or
disability there are six main areas that can lead to work-related stress if
they are not managed properly. 
See what these are…

1.       Demands

2.     
Control

3.     
Support

4.     
Relationships

5.     
Role

6.     
Change

Take a
moment to think about what you or your colleagues might say…

It shows some of the common causes of stress

“I just
don’t have enough time and there is too much to do.”

Caused by: struggling
to cope with demands of his job.

“If only
management would let me, I could really make a difference here.”

Caused by: feeling out
of control or controlled.

“Nobody
tells me anything! They treat me like a mushroom.”

Caused by: not receiving
enough information and support.

“She
always picks on me! Why doesn’t she ask someone else for a change?”

Caused by: trouble with
relationships at work, or feeling bullied. A very common cause of stress!

“Why do
I always get in trouble? I do my best but it’s never enough!”

Caused by: not fully
understanding his role and responsibilities.

“Why do
they keep changing things. What was wrong with the old way?”

Caused by: not engaging
with changes.

Just because we
say things like this all the time it doesn’t mean we should ignore them.
Remember chronic stress is caused because feeling like this is allowed to carry
on for a long period of time. You can have a
greater awareness about stress if you can identify the circumstances that tend
to trigger stress.

For workers these may include:

-Working long hours

-Work overload

-Not enough work

-Unsociable work hours

-Trouble at home

-Danger of harm

-Shift work

- Noise

-Rapid or slow change

-Boredom

-Lack of control

-Poor communication

-New technology

-Difficult relationships

-Repetition

-Lack of support

For the individuals you support, this may include:

-Medical conditions

-Terminal illness

-Difficult relationships

-Lack of choice and control

-Difficulty in communication

-Danger of harm

-Lack of respect

-Loss of dignity

-Lack of mental capacity

-Loss of independence

If you are concerned about stress in yourself or people
you support, speak to your manager. Don’t leave it to get worse.