STRESS IN WORKING WOMEN

I get up early in the morning and the thought that gives palpitation is, my "job" that waits ahead for that day. I pray, meditate, have a fresh cup of coffee and relax for a while. This simple act in the morning pushes my tension aside. I plan my day balancing any work at home and outside. I check for my "help lines" availability. This helps me to ease my tensed nerves. I prepare myself to face the day with confidence and strength. That gives a happy end for the day. I wonder how the other working women cope up with their stressful routine. If we practically look into issue of "stress in working women", I think it definitely strikes that women are under great pressure. It is because they have to take care of their responsibility as house wives and task performers at their work place. Some women feel that 24X7 time schedule is inadequate to accomplish the tasks given to them. Let us give a thought of why there is stress? The factors causing stress should be eliminated in first place. Recognition of these factors is important to brush them aside. There are so many problems that cause stress in women in a unique way whether the job is small or big like:

• Responsibility of house hold work such as cooking, washing, cleaning, house decoration or housekeeping.

• Responsibility of children, husband, parents or in-laws & other family members, if there are sick or aged persons at home, adds to the work pressure.

• Transportation is one of the major problems, even if the women owns a vehicle, still reaching the work place in time keeps the adrenalin levels raised till target is reached.

• Job stress is faced by different women in different forms based on their job, number of working hours & work load, interest on the work, pressure from colleagues, work without break, reduction of incentives when work is not finished within dead line etc.

Women are vulnerable to stress because they prefer to be perfect house wives and at the same time try to maintain the "equality with men" at job."Pleasing others" is one of the core attitude of women. I feel this puts off women from saying "no" whenever necessary to the "extra work" that’s demanded. A stern attitude is implied as "selfish" behavior which upsets women. Hence this weakness is used to manipulate the female ego to get the work done at home or work place. Changes in hormones at different levels of development effect a great deal in women. These changes can increase the vulnerability to stress as seen in pre menstruation, after delivery, post menopausal period and when faced with marital problems. SYMPTOMS OF STRESS: Early recognition of symptoms of stress helps to eliminate the problem at the root level. The usual common symptoms seen in stress are:

• Tension

• Anxiety

• Frustration

• Irritability

• Headaches

• Stomach upsets

• Increased toilet needs

• Anger

• Violence

• Antisocial behavior

• Substance abuse like alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse

• Insomnia

• Disturbed sleep patterns

• Lethargy

• Frequent out bursts

• Mood swings

• Negative attitude and thinking

• Lack of emotional control

• Poor concentration & attention

• Hostility

• Poor decision making

• Feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, depression and thoughts of suicide, thoughts of self harm or harming others.

EFFECTS OF STRESS: Sometimes stress is taken in a positive way by some women, it motivates them to be more productive and creative. Self motivation creates interest in them to handle the problem appropriately and come out of it with best results. On the other hand it could be destructive because of infliction of negative thoughts and development of negative attitude. This leads to Tension, anxiety, frustration, apathy, reduces decision making power, depression, and self harm and suicide behavior. HOW OUR BODY IS AFFECTED BY STRESS: Mind and body work together. Mental stress effects the physiological activity, increased stress precipitates chronic problems like asthma, heart diseases & skin problems, increases risk to develop hypertension, diabetes, ulcers, cardiac problems, stroke, nervous system problems, decreases resistance to infection. It also can lead to eating problems like poor eating or over eating which again affects the health.

• Problems of bowel and bladder are quite common when stress peaks up.

HOW TO COPE UP WITH STRESS: Identifying & recognition of the causes for stress is significant to prevent the problem.

• To know one’s responsibilities, expectations and at the same time to realize their limitation is also important to handle stress in right way.

• Women should learn when to say "No" and do not force themselves to accept things which over burden them.

• It is good and of no harm to accept help or take help when ever and where ever necessary. If there is possibility to take help, better go for that option.

• Women should learn to delegate work or responsibility as per need.

• One should cultivate the habit of "prioritizing" work in order to reduce stress and anxiety. This really helps when practiced in day to day life.

• Physical activity also helps to relax mind like walking, dancing, swimming, sports, games, exercises and playing with kids.

• Practicing favorite hobbies like writing articles, poems, journals, books, singing, painting, handicrafts, music, prayer, meditation works out well.

• In extreme conditions where the other techniques would not help it is always better to take professional help from experts like counseling, behavior therapy, psychotherapy, group therapy, relaxation therapy, family counseling and personal counseling.

• It helps to attend classes on stress management, work management, home management, child management, occupational management etc.

This gives a new outlook of life, common problems of life and how to manage them effectively without need to face stress. Stress is not a psychological disease, it is a common problem faced by many. It can be reduced or eliminated or prevented totally by taking right step at right time.