stress management

Fear and Resilience

Today’s working environment is in a perpetual state of change. Even more so with the current restrictions and social isolation regulations that are in place due to COVID19. Jobs that were traditionally seen as safe and secure have also been impacted by the circumstances affecting the world at present. Employees are constantly feeling the stress and pressure of job insecurity. A government job is no longer the safe option with change occurring regularly. How do you cope with stress when facing redundancy and loss of income? How do you gain the resilience and confidence to start again?

Stress management expert Marney Perna shares some tips and strategies that enable her clients to cope better with life’s challenges.
Redundancy, retirement, retraining, job loss, bankruptcy, downsizing and budget constraints are words that can cause even the most confident and experienced worker to feel inadequate and fearful. Just the mention of these words can cause your body/brain/emotion connection to go into a downward spiral. It goes into the emotional flight/fight survival response of the brain. When in this survival response you are unable to come up with new solutions to your situation. This causes you to react rather than act with volition. This causes a chain reaction, as your life energy gets lower and lower it becomes harder and harder to cope with life and work/family responsibilities. The body will soon start to feel the physical and health effects of adrenal burnout.

Whilst working with groups of people that have been made redundant the overriding emotions are ones of disbelief, anger, fear, unfairness, disloyalty, and inadequacy. Their core belief in self is shaken and they start doubting their ability to perform their job to their best. Put plainly the body goes into shock and is often unable to function well or focus clearly. The ongoing and continual shock causes a build-up of stress reactions that can eventually lead to serious health complications. Fear has two acronyms False Expectations Appearing Real or Face Everything And Rise. One statement adds to the stress the other empowers opportunity.

Some of the negative health effects of this stress can be liver and heart issues, digestive complaints, blood pressure, anxiety, depression and in severe circumstances suicide.
Stress management techniques and resilience tools help the body to cope and function better and subsequently enables you to find the courage, confidence and clarity that is required to live with the change that is happening. Change can be very scary and yet without change stagnation occurs. The world is in a constant state of change and it is a necessary part of life. It is up to you to find peace in the change occurring and to be able to have the clarity to find a solution to the challenge. At this particular time many businesses that were predominately face to face services have adapted to providing online options and many businesses have also changed to utilising their staff working remotely from home. Networking and professional peer group businesses have also adapted to using new methods such as virtual online social gatherings and business networking meetings to provide support and training to their members. 

Here are five top strategies that you can use to help lift yourself up and find that resilience.

Tip 1 Smile often and happily.
Smiling activates the happy hormones that help to uplift and inspire. Smiling makes you feel better and is easily shared with others. It gives your body a pause button. Smiling is contagious and spreads easily, so use one often and create a new and uplifting trend.

Tip 2 Breathe deeply and mindfully.
An initial response to stress overload is to use shallow rapid short breaths. Take the time daily to breathe deeply and evenly. As you are breathing slow deep breaths give your mind a positive image to focus on, use the clear, crisp scent of peppermint oil to help you take nice deep breaths. To help open and release your heart region, pull your shoulders back and slightly raise your chin. Your diaphragm will find some room to move.

Tip 3 Be Mindful
Specific things and experiences make your body feel better. Be mindful about what they are and use them for times you are feeling down. Examples can be walking along the beach, listening to uplifting songs/music, online kinesiology/kinesiology/massage, phone a friend/family, using vibrational mists/gems, playing with your pet, or sharing a special meal with your partner. Allow yourself to be open to this changing world, adaptation can be a good resilience method to help you cope.

Tip 4. Surround yourself with positive people.
By mixing with other people who are encouraging and empowering you will find you energy levels increasing and be more open to opportunities. This enables you to regain your positive core belief and instils self-confidence in your abilities again.

Tip 5. Speak confidently and clearly.
Write down the negative words that are overcrowding your mind. Find words to replace the negative ones and use these words consistently. Using these positive words uplifts your life energy and encourages you to look for better options.

Importantly remember that if you are feeling totally overpowered and emotionally unable to cope talk to someone, seek professional help, ring your doctor and don’t be afraid to confide in others. Associations like Beyond Blue or Lifeline provide phone support to those experiencing severe anxiety and depression.