Stress Counseling in the Organization Context
Nowadays much attention has been devoted to stress and the impact of it on human life. Huge researches and various experiments are carried out in this area. The results of the research are carefully inspected and utilized to remove stresses at workplaces. Especially this issue is thoroughly examined in business environment on the examples of numerous organizations. People who are in charge of managing big businesses and who feel the responsibility for the entire enterprise or separate department are especially exposed to stress. Due to intense competition and aggressive business conditions people more frequently become subjects to stress and depression. Innovations and new approaches in stress counseling are elaborated and implemented in business world. 
The consequences of stress can be very diverse. Stress can affect performance both negatively and positively. The result of stress may include complete indifference to the happening events, as well as deep depression. However, moderate amounts of stress can call the spare abilities of an individual, and urge employees for more effective performance. It is a common knowledge that subjects to constant and deep stress can not perform at highest possible level and bring a company maximum benefit. But, as mentioned above, the results may be very unfavorable for the prosperity of an organization. Therefore, human resource managers of large organizations dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to predict and avoid possible serious stress situations at their workplace, and at the same time to maintain the amount of stress conditions necessary for enhanced and more effective performance. So, the assignment of a good human resource manager is to calculate and follow the optimal proportion of stress required for successful operating and motivation of employees for better achievements at their workplaces. 
In order to better understand the nature of stress, the definition offered by Richard S. Lazarus should be addressed. His statement goes, “stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize” (Mind Tools). In other words, a person feeling unable to accomplish or complete some mission experiences stress. If an individual is put in tougher or more severe conditions, he/she turns out to be in stressful circumstance. Certainly, in the course of lifetime a person finds him/herself in stressful conditions very often. Definitely, people reveal themselves differently in stressful situations. It largely depends on the individual how to cope with it, and individual perception defines the seriousness of stress impact. Usually, stress becomes a vital criterion in evaluating human performance. People, who experiencing stress rarely can be unaware of the amount of power and energy stored in them. They cannot even imagine what unexpected abilities they can reveal under tough and unfamiliar conditions. And, on the contrary, people, who experience stress too often may find their energy thrown about. But what is even worse, constant stress undermines their nerve system and influences their behavior in a negative way. Such individuals are frequently characterized as irritable and anxious. 
To understand the origin of changes in human behavior during stressful situation, physiology of stress should be exercised. A number of significant reactions takes place in our organisms in order to switch on ulterior abilities of our bodies. An organism put in stressful conditions secretes special hormones, which help to survive. Their purpose is to make all reactions faster in order to take one’s bearings better. Besides, these processes help draw additional attention to the matter and solve the problem as soon as possible and with minimum damage. The responses of an organism to threatening environment, which manifest through physiological processes, depend on how serious that threat is. For example, the characteristic features of stress include sweating, more frequent heart beating and increased blood pressure.  All reactions take place for the purpose to protect human body. Certainly, manifestations of stress vary from one individual to another, and the behavior depends rather on personal characteristic features. One can bare a particular stressful situation worthy and calmly, while another can lose his temper. Thus, our bodies switch on definite defensive mechanisms, which assist to endure the consequences of stress. 
The signs of stress are usually easily recognized, as the surrounding people may notice them. The indicators of stress may include irritation, lack of attention, reluctance to conversation, inability to focus and concentrate, as well as physical symptoms such as headache and overall weakness. The threat of stress consists in the difficulty to distinguish the seriousness of matter. It is rather hard to define whether a person is able to cope with stress independently or whether he/she needs additional assistance. But if the signs of stress remain for a prolonged period of time, if a number of symptoms occur simultaneously, and if a person’s behavior differs significantly from his/her ordinary one, then special attention should be paid to this person. The case with the recognition of stress impact gets more complicated also because a person usually seldom admits that he/she needs outside qualified help and is inclined to overcome stressful situation independently. 
Human life is organized in such a way that people are constantly exposed to stressful conditions and in almost every sphere of activity. Family, work, school or university, some other social activities serve as a limitless source of stressful situations. The problem is that these areas of human life are very interdependent. A negative impression about the dispute at work may flow out in a conflict at home and vice versa because it is difficult to separate all aspects of life. Thus, any source of stress inevitably affects all components of human activity, and is reflected on the individual’s behavior. 
Numerous researches and surveys have proved that fears and apprehensions at workplace are the primary source of stress of adults. In the contemporary business environment a person constantly experiences tension and pressure for a number of reasons. The major sources of stress at job include incomplete goals and assignments and as a result lack of self-confidence. Besides, in the search of self-development and promotion, people are obliged to change the familiar circumstances; this leads to uncertainty, and it is usually accompanied with stress. Employees are frequently put in time pressure to fulfil the instructions in the assigned period. If everything goes according to the planned scenario, then everything is fine. But, sometimes, things do not follow the predetermined plans regardless of employee’s efforts and his/her attempts to regulate the matter become useless. This presses one’s consciousness and reflects in stress, a person can not sleep well, is unable to devote proper attention to family and can not focus his/her energy to fulfil instructions at work. Accumulated incomplete business becomes a major source of overwhelming anxiety, and can disappoint even the most confident and competent individual. 
Specialists suggest the following decision of the matter. The most important stage in stress counseling is to recognize it. First of all, they recommend to set priorities. An individual should choose independently between two alternatives: whether to start with the most significant and difficult tasks or to begin with easy and small problems to get introduced into the matter. Another option is to consider those items that can be ignored, and it is not obligatory for a person to be involved in them.  One more opportunity is to get distanced from business for a definite period of time. The decision of the matter can come by itself when an employee is not preoccupied with the case. Another source of stress of an employee may result when he/she feels embarrassment to admit that a task can not be performed on time. An employee may feel ashamed to ask his/her manager for extra time or assistance. The purpose of a good manager is to recognize the symptoms of overload and suggest assistance. In such a way a manager can prevent leaving of an employee in order to avoid stress. An employee may also face with stress resulting from uncertainty or lack of provided information. Lack of required information leads to uncertainty, and uncertainty results in stress. If a person is confident, his/her performance is more efficient, and, on the contrary, if an employee lacks confidence, his/her level of performance decreases. It may seem confusing to address a manager for additional explanation or help. Thus, an employee can prefer to act at random. In such a case suffers not only employee’s self-confidence, but also the overall prosperity of a company. The solution of the problem can be a friendly and conductive atmosphere within a company.
Usually, people are equally attracted by the opportunity of self-development and leaving things the way they are. Definitely, it is very easy to preserve the common environment, as it guarantees stability and security. However, the habitual mode of life may become boring. The search for changes can easily go together with stress, as there is always an opportunity of failure.
In such a way in contemporary business environment a businessperson has to be aware of how to deal with stress.  The response to stressful conditions should be controlled and managed, as inability to deal with stress can prevent the successful running of business. Inability to get focused and concentrated may setback rational decisions of the matter. Specialists provide some effective guidelines, which help to cope in stressful situations. First of all, they suggest that a person should learn to recognize stress symptoms. If one is aware of stress manifestations, it is much easier for him/her to define its approaching. A person also needs to be physically prepared to handle stress. This can be achieved with the help of physical exercises and other good health activities. When a person faces a huge number of tasks to be completed, he/she is supposed to deal with them in consistent order starting from the most important and proceeding to the least or vice versa. In other words, one should learn to set priorities. It is also very important to define whether some specific task requires one’s total devotion and involvement. It may turn out that a person devoted too much time and energy purposelessly and in vain. It is recommended to avoid applying extra efforts, when it is not obligatory. Another piece of advise suggested in order to successfully cope with stress is not to allow oneself get too concentrated over the matter. It is more efficient to get distanced from work and look at the matter from the other way round. The decision is supposed to come by itself and much faster than in deep and exhausting thoughts. 
Unfortunately, employees are exposed to stress not only at their workplace. Disputes in families also take place, and lead to stressful environment. There is also a number of tips how to avoid conflicts, and create a peaceful and friendly atmosphere at home. The first rule to be considered is that it is almost impossible to change an individual. The best decision is to accept people the way they are. Another important issue is not to conceal personal emotions. Sharing one’s feelings with a close person is the first step in coping with stress. Children are as well very exposed to stress. They can become stressed if involved in too many activities without much free time.  Symptoms that indicate stress in children are changes in behavior, headaches, upset stomach, fatigue, and bed-wetting. Some parents believe that children don’t experience stress.  In fact, both adults and children may become stressed.  It is important to remain conscientious to all stress symptoms and to learn how to cope with them. 
While there is no real way to prevent stress altogether, there are always ways of keeping stress levels low.  Eating healthy, talking about your problems, and staying away from people or situations that can cause you stress is a good place to start.  Practicing deep breathing for everyone and anyone.  People need to allow their bodies and minds time to relax and reflect without feeling pressure. Along with the mentioned above methods, there is also a number of therapies which are developed for the same purpose. Therapy to teach yourself how to cope with stress is recommended along with the relaxation strategies.  An example of therapy would be cognitive-behavioral therapy that teaches people how to change the way that they think and respond to stress.
It is fair to say that all types of stresses are well recognized in modern society. It is very common for people of all ages to be exposed to stresses at all stages in their lives. In order to be able to deal with stresses properly, one must be able to recognize and deal with them accordingly, before they turn into much more serious problems or health issues. 
Bibliography
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