Melanie Boyack, a national keynote speaker and corporate trainer, focuses on stress, trauma, burnout, and productivity/performance. Drawing from her experience as a trauma therapist, she has helped over 1,000 clients navigate various stressors in their lives. Stress, whether crippling or merely annoying, invariably leads to pain in individuals’ lives. Some clients experienced PTSD symptoms that led to a lack of trust in their bodies, while others struggled with managing their work-life balance, leading to tension with their families. Understanding stress is crucial for executives and managers to lead their teams effectively.
Stress is a personal experience that varies greatly among individuals. Not all stress is necessarily bad; in fact, some stress, known as “eustress,” can be a powerful motivator. Good stress like deadlines, time limits, and goals can help individuals stay focused and productive. However, when stress becomes overwhelming and paralyzing, it is considered bad stress. This type of stress keeps individuals awake at night and impacts their daily functioning. Recognizing the threshold between good and bad stress is essential for managing stress effectively.
Coping with stress can be done in either adaptive or maladaptive ways. Adaptive coping mechanisms involve making positive changes to achieve a sense of balance and emotional regulation. On the other hand, maladaptive coping mechanisms can be harmful and exacerbate stress. Examples of adaptive responses include having constructive conversations with family members or colleagues, while maladaptive responses may involve outbursts of anger or avoidance of issues. It is important for individuals to identify their coping mechanisms and strive to adopt adaptive strategies.
Stress and trauma can have a significant impact on the body’s nervous system, leading to fight, flight, or freeze responses. These responses are the body’s way of reacting to acute stressors, releasing chemicals to help individuals react for safety. Trauma can cause a heightened stress response, leaving individuals stuck in a state of hyperarousal or dissociation. This can interfere with the brain’s ability to focus, heal, and negatively impact the immune system. Creating a sense of safety and security is crucial for individuals who have experienced trauma.
Individuals have a choice in how they react to stress and trauma. Ignoring these experiences is also a choice, one that can lead to subconscious decision-making by the body. It is important for individuals to actively engage with their stressors and make conscious decisions about how to respond. Employers can help their employees manage stress by identifying and eliminating workplace stressors, holding workshops to help employees identify triggers, and creating a safe workplace culture that is open to discussions about stress and trauma. Supporting employees in managing stress can lead to increased productivity and overall well-being.
In conclusion, understanding and managing stress and trauma is essential for individuals to thrive in both their personal and professional lives. By recognizing the various ways stress manifests, individuals can develop adaptive coping mechanisms and create a sense of safety and security in their environments. Employers play a crucial role in supporting their employees in managing stress and trauma, ultimately leading to a more productive and healthy workplace. Consulting with qualified healthcare providers and seeking professional help when needed is important for individuals experiencing significant stress or trauma.
