American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

Introduction: The Stress Epidemic

Stress is a world-wide epidemic. According to the World Health Organization stress will be one of the greatest burdens of ill-health to developing nations in the 21^st century. Particularly with the rapid development of technology such as the computer, the internet and 24 hour news bringing the latest disasters from around the world into your living room every night. In Abu Dhabi and the UAE which is now front and center on the world stage, stress is also compounded by the constant drumbeat of rapid change and development, global competition and the economic crisis.

Stress is the body’s “fight/flight” reaction to an unpleasant situation. Stress itself is not necessarily bad for us. However, chronic, ongoing stress is undeniably harmful to human mental and physical health. In his book “Is it worth dying for? A self-assessment program to make stress work for you not against you,” Dr. Robert Eliot says, “Stress can be with us for months, years, decades. It can cause tension and illness. And, over long periods, stress can kill.”

Stress is a recognized risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and heat attack. Other classical risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and smoking are targeted actively by physicians; however, stress does not get as much attention. Stress stimulates certain centers in the brain, which through nerve connections to the heart and blood vessels cause the blood pressure to increase and the heart to beat rapidly. Acute life stress can cause a rapid rise in blood pressure and blood clot formation which can lead to acute heart attack and sudden death. In the long term, stress has been found to increase the risk of heart attack by more than double.[1]

Workplace Stress

One of the leading causes of modern stress is the workplace, and the current, fast-paced lifestyle. Technology has radically altered our everyday lives – what we need to know, the problems we have to solve, and the threats we have to meet. We are bombarded with constantly changing mental challenges. The mass media, the jet plane, the knowledge explosion and the computer have all expanded our personal worlds enormously. Researchers estimate that we encounter a thousand times more events per year than our great-grandparents did but, the time available for decision-making remains the same or even less.[2]

Workplace stress can have major, negative consequences on both the organization and the individual. One of the greatest effects of workplace stress on the organization is seen in decreased productivity. The National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety estimate:

• 40% report work is “very or extremely stressful”
• 25% job is #1 stressor in their lives
• 75% believe more stress today
• 40% turnover due to job stress
• Problems at work more strongly associated with health complaints than financial or family problems[3]

[1] Stress and Coronary Artery Disease by Samir Aljabbari MD, ChB, PhD, FESC Consultant Cardiologist Sheikh Khalifa Medical City

[2] Stress Management by Dr. Yousef Abouallaban M.D., MBA, American Board Certified Psychiatry and Neurology, Medical Director American Center for Psychiatry and Neurology

[3] National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health: www.cdc.gov/niosh

Further, chronic stress is well known to have negative, long-term effects on individual health. These include diabetes, heart disease, smoking, alcoholism, a wide range of minor illnesses, poor diet, lack of exercise and mental illness. Certainly these negative effects will have far-reaching effects on the workplace, from decreased workplace morale, increased absenteeism, poor performance, job dissatisfaction, accidents and greater strain on an already-burdened employee health care system.

30 Second Stress Break

• Begin by sitting in your chair back straight, relaxed and looking forward. Place your hands over your stomach and breathe through your stomach so that your hands will rise and fall with your breath.
• Imagine, that with each breath you are breathing in pure, vital energy that fills your whole body and mind. As you breathe out, visualize all your stress coming out with your breath.
• Now, as you breathe in slowly tighten the muscles that connect your shoulders and neck. This is where we keep all of our tension. As you continue to breathe in and tense you muscles, rotate your shoulders with tension, up as though you were going to touch your ears with your shoulders.
• When you have breathed in all you can and your shoulders are snug around your ears, hold it for just a second.
• Now, release the tension in your shoulders and your breath with a big sigh at the same time as though you were releasing the weight of the world off your shoulders, visualizing ALL your tension rushing out with your breath.
• Repeat this exercise until you feel clear, refreshed and revitalized!

By Karl. D. LaRowe M.A., LCSW Director
American Center for Training

For more information about how to schedule a no-fee introductory talk on transforming stress at your workplace call Laura at: 971-02-666-4866 or email: training@americancenteruae.com

OUR PSYCHIATRY CONFERENCE IS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS. IF YOU HAVE IDEAS, SUGGENSTIONS, TOPICS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE PRESENTED, PLEASE CONTACT US TODAY. THE CONFERENCE IS SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2010.