SGTM 04

STRESS
MANAGEMENT

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Structure of Presentation

 Stress and stress management

 Types of stress
 Symptoms
 Stress management & coping
guidelines
 Summary

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Basics in the management of
mission stress

UN

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 What is stress?

A physical and psychological process

taking place when you
react to, and have to cope
with, events or situations
that place extraordinary
pressure on you.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 The stress reaction

 Normal reaction
to an abnormal/difficult situation.
 Facilitates
- full attention
- mobilizes maximum physical
energy on the matter at hand.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Some influencing factor

 Past experience with similar situations

 Education and professional skills
 Pre-deployment training
 Age
 Physical fitness
 Self esteem
 Approach to life

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Types of Stress

 Basal (Basic)

 Cumulative

 Critical Traumatic
(Traumatic Incident)

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Basal Stress

 Normal “everyday stress”.

 Depends on your situation.

 Is normally higher on missions, due

to the character of work and new and
different surroundings.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Cumulative Stress

Stress that comes too often, lasts too

long or is too severe starts to “get to
you”, influencing your well being and
thought processes.

 Frequency
 Duration
 Intensity
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Basic and
Cumulative stresses
Lack of Little
influence variation
in food

Limited
Few work Limited
sleep and
Challenges Recreation
privacy
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Critical (traumatic) Incident
Stress (CIS)

The stress of one specific, difficult,

incident that causes emotional
reaction, affecting you or others.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 CIS

 Powerless spectator to violence

 Hearing first hand reports of ill-
treatment or torture
 Direct intimidation or threats
 Bombing of buildings, mining of
roads
 Attacks on vehicles or convoys
 Accidents with death/injured friends
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 CIS

Some individuals handle

U
 N
With minimal problems

 A grossly affected

This does not make one a better individual

than the other.
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Preparing to cope with stress

Planning a successful military action:

 Exact intelligence as to what to expect

 Briefing, planning and preparations
 Executing the operation
 After mission evaluation
 Follow up

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Exact intelligence as to what
to expect
What to expect
 Operationally
 Emotionally

What not to expect

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Briefing, planning and
preparations.

 Know the situation

 Plan how to deal with it
 Practice
 Trust your abilities and equipment!
 Prepare

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Stress should be expected!

 If stresses are expected, the person

should be prepared for own
reactions!
 If you are prepared for reactions you
acknowledge when they are present!
 You must acknowledge a reaction to
be able to relate to and deal with it.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Non-productive stress
management

Use of alcohol

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Non-productive stress
management

SEX

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Affect of stress on an
individual?

 It is often easier to identify stress

reactions in others than in oneself.
 Recognize it in yourself - accept it
and seek support in dealing with it!
 Recognize it in others - help them to
get the support they need.

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Performance related symptoms
of stress reaction:

 Lowered concentration
 Memory dysfunction
 Difficulty making decisions

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Physical Symptoms

 Dizzy spells

 Increased pulse

 Sweating

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Emotional symptoms

 Emotional “shock”.
 Unprovoked anger.
 Unexpected or
exaggerated grief.
 Depression “for no
reason”.
 Feeling overwhelmed

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Individual Behaviour

 Changes in
behaviour
 Changes in eating
habits
 Decrease in
personal hygiene
 Withdrawal from
others
 Prolonged silences

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 HAPPY
Normal

Stress
UNHAPPY

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Basic Life Support

 Identify need
 Identify cause
 Avoid additional
injury
 Limit damage
 Treat to restore
normal situation
 Send to higher
level if needed
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Approach

The approach to Stress

management is the same
whether you have identified
yourself as needing support or
you are supporting / caring for
somebody else!

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Identify need

Physical changes?

Behavior changes?

Emotional changes?

Cognitive Changes?

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Identify cause

Accept that
cumulative or
traumatic incident
stress may be the
reason for the
changes and
address the changes
accordingly

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Avoid additional injury

 When the cause of injury is identified

the individual must be moved away
to avoid further injury
 The individual may return when s/he
is better prepared to face and
respond to the situation

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Limit damage
 “first aid” in stress
management, and for
most is a sufficient
treatment
 Let the “patient” ease
her/his burden by
listening and sharing
 Acceptance, sharing
understanding
 Take time!

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Treat
to restore normal situation

 Accept that this is a normal reaction

to an abnormal situation.
 Allow the problem to be revisited.
 Follow up after you or the one you
have supported is back to work.
SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO
 Send to higher level if needed

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO

 Questions ?

SGTM 1.2@01OCT04 TES / Mil Div / DPKO