Presentation at the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce

October 2, 2009

To address the issue of work stress, we started right away with questions from the audience:

Q: “I’m awake all night thinking about everything that happened during the day, what I have to do tomorrow, and what bills I have to pay. How do I get some sleep?!”

A: “Start right away with a 45-minute debriefing session, each night. Take the time to talk it all out. Then you’ll be able to sleep better.”

Q: “I have a busy day and I need to focus. But my staff will call me about things they already know how to handle. This disturbs my train of thought; it’s hard to get back and track. What do I do?”

A: “To reduce these interferences give your most anxious staff members five minutes of pure, unadulterated concentration every day. Teach them to think about their next day, and what they want to bring up at the next, intensive five-minute meeting. Help them get ‘stimulus control’ over their interrupting behavior.”

Q: “Some things I have to do as a supervisor makes people hate me. I don’t want to be hated! It upsets me. How do I handle it?”

A: “Set up ‘mini-therapy’ sessions with a trusted friend. Have all your thoughts and feelings about your work environment. And I mean all! Find a private place for this meeting. And remember, a mental murder a day keeps the doctor away. It’s best to talk further with me so I can help you make the process healthful.”

Q: “I find I’m easily distracted, and while I’m doing one thing, I’m turning my attention to a bunch of other things. How do I stop that?”

A: “You don’t. You were built to multitask, to pick up on everything around you. It’s your legacy from millions of years of evolution. Go with it. Use it to help you succeed. Multitasking does reduce the effectiveness on any one task, but that can be worked on.”

The Fight-Flight-Fright reflex is behind these solutions. It also addresses psychosomatic disorders that are part and parcel of modern life:

• How do I live a heart-healthy life?

• What contributes to my stomachaches and GI problems?

• Why do I get so itchy? What makes my dermatitis and eczema flare up?

• I feel anxious a lot. I find work nerve-wracking. Why?

• I stiffen up at interviews or confrontations and I don’t do my best. Why?

Hans Selye interviewed our fighting forces during and after WWII and he linked their stress, resistance and exhaustion with the Fight-Flight-Fright reflex. The eighteen skills listed on our website are all anti-stress solutions. They increase flow towards a desired goal and result, and they address the Fight-Flight-Fright reflex. We’ll help you master them.

For a fuller explanation of our biological reaction in the face of danger, go to our Power Point Presentation: Antistress: Making Your Biology Work for You