Stress Can Be Contagious: How To Manage For Yourself And Your Patients
Pegasus Home Health Care is an industry leader known for its adherence to the highest ethical and clinical standards. Our nurses’ diverse clinical backgrounds and experience are essential in maintaining those standards. As an equal-opportunity employer, Pegasus seeks to hire clinicians who reflect the community we serve. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion have always been core values within our organization.
Pegasus in-home nurses in Mount Washington and elsewhere know that patients may experience anxiety about their health. And they understand that stress can be contagious. Career home health care nurses explain how to manage stress for yourself and your patients.
You may notice that this article is about managing stress. It isn’t about eliminating stress, as that is rarely possible. But it is possible to keep stress from controlling your life.
What Causes Stress?
Stress is how your body responds to changes, even positive changes. The changes require you to act or modify your life in some way. Common sources of stress include but are not limited to:
- Accumulated minor annoyances or problems
- Additional or extraordinary expectations of others
- Death of a loved one
- Disagreements with others
- Financial worries
- Having too much to do without having enough time
- Health problems
- Personal or professional relationship issues
One or more of these are a source of either short-term or long-term stress for many people. The severity of stress from similar circumstances varies significantly among individuals. Much depends on the degree of control and ability to cope that you or your patients feel about the situation.
You can sometimes manage stress with organization and planning, but all too often, events often disrupt even the best preparedness. Unfortunately, sometimes all that you or your patient can do is take a deep breath and relax as much as possible. Then do what has to be done one step at a time.
What Are The Types Of Stress?
Experts define the main types of stress as follows:
- Acute: usually brief
- Chronic: long-lasting
- Episodic acute: brief but recurring
- Eustress: positive and energizing
Stress affects individuals emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Acute stress is the reaction to an immediate threat. The threat may be serious or trivial. It’s the most common type and is often experienced daily by many individuals.
Although acute stress typically triggers a physiological response, the body recovers quickly. It’s usually manageable with relaxation techniques. And it rarely results in lasting harm to your body.
Chronic stress is much harder on individuals than acute stress. The body stays on high alert, causing harm. Among other conditions, chronic stress leads to:
- Anxiety and depression
- Chronic illnesses, such as diabetes
- Headaches
- Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Impaired cognition
- Obesity
- Tension and pain
- Ulcers and other digestive system problems
As a nurse, chronic stress can also lead to burnout for you.
Managing chronic stress starts with analyzing why particular situations or events trigger the stress reaction. The next step is to remove as many of the triggers as possible. Finally, individuals must change themselves to minimize their reactions.
For example, recommended changes include adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Practicing relaxation techniques is also beneficial. Other suggestions include:
- Exercising your sense of humor
- Keeping a gratitude journal
- Nourishing your relationships
- Organizing your life
- Volunteering
And of course, seek professional help if you are totally overwhelmed with unending stress. All of these suggestions apply to your patients as well.
Episodic acute stress refers to frequent intense reactions to minor stressors. Individuals are often described as having a “Type A personality,” labeled as perfectionists, or dismissed as “overly dramatic.” Episodic acute stress can lead to many of the same health issues as chronic stress if not managed.
Management can be complicated. Most experts again recommend learning relaxation techniques and striving to overcome compulsive behavior. The management suggestions for chronic stress can also be helpful.
What Is Eustress?
Eustress is the so-called “good” stress. An individual’s body might go on high alert, but the outcome is positive. The person feels capable of coping because the required change isn’t viewed as threatening.
Eustress is generally short-lived. It’s also usually exciting, motivating, and generates can-do feelings. It’s also key to helping you and your patients manage stress.
For example, viewing a change as a challenge rather than a threat can lead to growth. You engage in positive self-talk because you know you can meet challenges. And that enables the mind to switch from what’s wrong to what can be accomplished.
You can increase eustress and reduce harmful stress by examining your life values. To the extent possible, include activities that reflect those values in your daily activities. Additionally, practice self-care, learn to control what you can, and accept what you can’t.
It’s Time to Join Our Team
Pegasus in-home nurses in Mount Washington and our other locations teach patients how to improve their well-being. That includes explaining how to manage stress. Career home health care nurses also manage their own stress so they can provide the best possible care.
Pegasus is a licensed Home Care Organization and a Joint Commission Accredited Home Health Care organization. Our nurses provide a full range of services to patients of all ages and medical conditions. Join our team now to work for a nurse-owned and operated organization that appreciates your skills.
