Stress can be defined as the psychological, physiological and behavioural response of the body to any demand or events, external or internal made on it. It is emotional pressure suffered by a human being or other animals. The level of the pressure could be acute or chronic, positive or negative. The sources of stress could be work place, domestic, economic, political, social or academic, depending on the individual
concerned.
The prevailing economic and social maladies have put heavy pressure on a huge proportion of the populace, especially the working class, who mostly, bears the brunt resulting into stress. It is evident that the middle class in Nigeria has virtually collapsed, leaving the cleavages of the upper and lower categories with the attendant challenges on the latter. Many organisations are barely surviving as many have to resort to downsizing, rightsizing and retrenchment and, in all these, the workers are at the receiving end. Unfortunately, many employers or management seem to have taken undue advantage of the precarious situation to build more pressure on the already pressed workers by not paying them their wages as and when due, engage in threats and depriving them of other entitlements, after all, the jobs are not readily available anywhere. The social infrastructure is near collapse, making life unbearable for the people with no one to turn to for succour.
Adding salt to injury, the worker may have to cope with domestic/family pressures such as marriage, pregnancy and childbirth, bringing up children, moving homes, marital disharmony, family finances, life altering situations (to one spouse, child or parent), extended family, divorce, bereavement, deteriorating health of family member, menopause and retirement. Medical experts have identified the signs or symptoms of stress as anxiety, short temper, mood swings, lethargy, emotional outburst, crying or withdrawal, aggressive behaviour, depression, forgetfulness, poor concentration (day dreaming), changes in sleeping pattern and eating habit, reduced sex drive, religious extremism and feeling of insecurity (superiority/inferiority complex) which must be dealt with at infancy before the situation becomes unmanageable. Chronic stress could cause chronic illness and diminishes quality of life.
Workplace stress could be attributed to a combination of factors such as:
Personal factors: poor time management, unhealthy competition, allergic to change and performance pressure.
Contractual factors: low remunerations, unsocial work hours, job insecurity, unfair promotional procedures, lack of recognition and work overload,
Relational factors: poor inter personal workplace relationship and communication, sexual harassment and racism.
Other factors are but not limited to multiple social obligations, poor infrastructure and social services, city life and crime.
However, to cope with stress, the worker must recognise the fact that life is not a bed of roses but with its attendant challenges and learn to confront serious and persistent sources of stress in life e.g. impossible job demands, demoralising relationship or troubling family situation. He/She should develop a better time management, prioritise his/her work and commitments, delegate with supervision, know his/her limitations, observe good balance of work and play, maintain a good social network of friends and family, be generous and loving in spirit, benevolent and forgiving, still his/her mind for inner peace, eat right, rest adequately and exercise regularly. The worker should endeavour to be a positive thinker and have regular medical checks. On top of it all, the worker should learn how to put his/her trust in the Almighty God as the ultimate sustainer of life. Study has shown that heart-felt prayers is a great antidote to fear, worry and anxiety. On the other hand, employers must make provision for a conducive working environment for their workers, be employee-friendly, encourage job enrichment and satisfaction, don’t promote beyond worker’s capability, promote good communication and effective feedback, fair and equitable policies, provide employee assisted programmes, in-house facilities such as leisure, clubs, gyms, crèche to bring the stress level of their workers to the
minimum.
