Is Stress Really a Big Deal in the Corporate World, or Are We Overthinking It?

Dear friends,

Namaskar.

Having gone through previous posts on stress management, I get the impression that stress may not be as significant an issue in the corporate sector. Am I correct?

Regards,
Jogeshwar Mahanta.

I may be contradicting, but I have a different opinion on this. Stress, in fact, is the most important and commonly seen problem with our employees. This is especially true when the project delivery date is fast approaching. Maybe in companies that don't work strictly on deadlines (which I doubt can exist like that for long!), stress may not be all that prominent.

I find myself under stress during quarterly appraisals, salary revisions, etc.

Regards,
Ramya

Dear friend,

Namaskar.

I am happy to receive your reply. I have distinguished between voluntary stress and involuntary stress. To illustrate the former, an Olympian willingly embraces stress to participate in competitions. This is not a problem. Involuntary stress arises when stressors are unexpected or unfairly imposed on an individual. This is problematic. The stress you mentioned may fall into the first category and therefore may not be considered a problem. Correct?

Regards,
Jogeshwar.

Stress is a common feature of corporate life, whether voluntary or non-voluntary, physical or mental. And whatever the type may be, I am sure nobody likes stress. A certain minimum level of stress is definitely required to help us perform, and nobody has any problems with that. The problems begin when 'burnout' occurs—you are stressed out too much for too long without relief or breaks.

I am not sure if the corporates are yet viewing stress as a major issue and actively doing something about it. Considering the various discussions going on regarding the retention of employees, I guess stress management also becomes part of the employee retention exercise. Different approaches are needed for different kinds of stress.

... shoOoonya ...

Dear Sho00onya,

Namaskar.

Your above statement deserves worth discussing. In the preceding year, I have heard of several deaths due to heart attacks. Today, a colleague mentioned that his father passed away from a heart attack at 60. Moreover, there are arguments that yoga (yogasanas) or exercises do not provide benefits because individuals who regularly practiced them still experienced sudden heart attacks.

This situation brings to mind Yaksha's question to Yudhisthir - "What is the wonder?" Yudhisthir responded, "Every day, people die, yet the rest act as if they are immortal."

In today's world, health science has connected nearly every ailment to stress. Despite this, many individuals believe they are immune until they face incapacitation.

Therefore, I often ask newcomers to my morning exercise group, "Have you heard the knock of Yamaraj on your door?" The new members usually smile at this question.

As you can imagine, true realization will only dawn when the corporate sector prioritizes employee retention. Unfortunately, I doubt any company will take action until faced with the possibility of going out of business, which would be too late. Currently, the norm seems to be the "hire and fire" rule.

Regards,

Jogeshwar.

In preceding one year I have heard several deaths of heart attacks. To day also one of my colleague said that his father died of heart attack at 60. More so, when people argue that yoga(yogasnas)/exercises have no benefit because so and so was doing regular yoga/exercises but died of sudden heart attack.
Namaskar
Dr.Jogeshwar Mahanta,
Now a days, we see People dying at a very young age (30-40yrs) due Heart Attacks. Is STRESS, the only reason for these?
In my opinion,I feel that there are several factors like –Changes in Food Habbits,deteoration in the quality of food etc... which usually have a bad impact on Human Health.
Can you please quote few more factors and suggest how to overcome
Regards
Swapna

Dear Swapna,

Namaskar.

Thanks for your queries. I shall answer every aspect of your questions. Before that, let me go to our thinking process. As I time and again repeat - facts remaining the same, interpretation can be anything as the interpreter pleases.

So on the one hand, you have developed your convictions on life sciences which are based on coefficients of correlations, significance of differences, or case studies. These are never perfect and are subject to subjective interpretations.

On the other hand, I lived in Cuttack and Bhubaneshwar from 1965-1975, in Calcutta from 1975-1981, and in Delhi since then. My blood pressure remains at 120/80 or slightly less. In the preceding 5 years, to be safe, I have not spent even a single penny as medical expense, nor has anyone spent for me.

So, credibility of whose convictions will weigh heavier, yours or mine? Let us decide it first.

Regards,
Jogeshwar.

Dear Swapna,

Namaskar.

As you could not decide, here is my straight answer to your queries.

Any ailment has two sets of factors - predisposing and precipitating.

So far as stress is concerned, it affects a person in the following ways:

1. Stress imbalances body chemistry instantly.

2. Prolonged stress disallows the body to return to the state of homeostasis even during sleep, which in turn obstructs the repair of decay caused by day-to-day activities.

3. Stress leads to a decline of self-control.

Thus, though stress itself is not a disease, it makes a person vulnerable to every disease. When a person loses self-control, he/she loses his/her choice of food also. He/she goes by impulse and not by choice.

It appears that as per your notion, people between 30-40 years of age cannot have stress. Stress can be at every age, but it matters how one reacts to it. In today's paper, you can find that a 16-year-old girl has committed suicide. Can it be without stress?

Two cardiologists identified Type A personality in the 1950s. Now more than 45 years have elapsed, and there is repeated research finding to date that persons with Type A personality are more likely to suffer a heart attack than others. Such research has given rise to an area of psychoneurocardiology.

Nutrition and exercises are of no help unless the pollution of the mind is cleared up. Right?

Regards,

Jogeshwar.

Dear friends,

Namaskar.

Is this single directive - nutrition and exercise are of no help unless pollution of the mind is cleared up - acceptable?

Regards,
Jogeshwar.