Twentieth century has been labeled as an age of anxiety. Today, at the beginning of the twenty first century, stress as a condition of life has taken the form of a threat. In this context, this book is a meaningful effort in suggesting ways for coping with stress. The focus is on making life easier to live.
The author has analyzed the anatomy of stress and dealt with various stressors from cognitive as well as behavioral perspective. At the same time the author has made an attempt to synthesize Cognitive and Behavioral approaches to stress management with priceless Indian spiritual heritage. The work by the author is holistic and rooted in nativity.
The book echoes around the theme: people are slaves of their beliefs, attitudes and values rather than the real situations. The author has proposed certain practical and simple mechanisms to do away with these negative and destructive thoughts/beliefs. These are also supplemented by the behavioral measures to be adopted.
This book is recommended strongly for managers, trainers, counselors, various professional, students, youth, couples and educated housewives.
Prof M.C. Kapilashrami
Former Director
National Institute of Health and Family Welfare,
New Delhi
About the Author:
Dr. Neera Dhar is presently working as an Associate Professor at the National Institute Of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. Her specialization and experience is in the area of Behavioural science, Psychotherapy / Counselling and Training Methodology. She did her doctorate on "Anxiety Proneness, Interpersonal perception and Personality profiles of the rejected". By virtue of her academic brilliance she was chosen and sponsored by the "Rotary International" to pursue her post doctoral studies in USA and also to work as an "Ambassador of Goodwill" from India in the year 1988. Dr. Dhar has been involved in conducting training programmes of executives from Education, Public Sector Undertakings and Health since 1990. A major focus of her training for last couple of years has been on "Stress Management" for doctors, with an innovative perspective. The distinctive and popular features of her creative approach in the training are the messages from Indian spiritual thought, Indian/weeping, catharsis, love and empathy used towards emotional realization of intellectual and scientific process of stress management. Her training efforts orient around the theme: "Keep it simple and beautiful".
PAGE: | |
Chapter I | |
Nature and process of stress | 24 |
Manifestations of stress: physiological and psychological | 26 |
Threat-an antecedent factor of stress | 29 |
Relation between stress and anxiety | 30 |
Chapter II | |
Myths about Stress | 35 |
Functional and dysfunctional aspects of stress | 38 |
Ailments caused due to non-stop stress | 41 |
Chapter III | |
Types of stressors: | 47 |
Stressors related to personality | |
Personal stressors | 48 |
Environmental stressors | 48 |
Stressors related to job functioning | 49 |
Stressors related to natural calamities disasters/other traumatic events | 49 |
Chapter IV | |
How to manage Stress? | |
Approachs and Coping Mechanisms | 51 |
A Cognitive Approach: Coping Mechanisms | 58 |
Accepting death as a basic existential condition, treating death as an opportunity for growth | 59 |
Carving out a meaning for your life | 62 |
Realizing that stress is in-built in life | 64 |
Stress Inoculation | 68 |
Cognitive Restructuring | 72 |
Disputing irrational beliefs | 78 |
A-B-C model of stress management: | |
Role of attitudes and beliefs | 81 |
Positive Imagery | 85 |
Listening to your feelings/needs | 88 |
Accepting responsibility for yourself | 91 |
Realizing you do not control world | 93 |
Stopping perfectionist attitude and setting limits to material desires | 95 |
Chapter V | |
Behavioral Approach - Coping Mechanisms: | 99 |
Planning and organizing your life and work: setting goals/objectives and making decisions | 103 |
Habit Management | 110 |
Time Management | 113 |
Acting as a problem solver/choice maker | 120 |
Assertive behavior management | 127 |
Music therapy | 138 |
Laughter therapy and humour | 148 |
Developing interpersonal skills | 153 |
Dress management | 157 |
Engaging in leisure/physical activities and Sublimating energies | 159 |
Diet and sleep management | 162 |
Generating support system | 165 |
Building up spiritual strength | 168 |
Chapter VI | |
Seeking help from professional Yoga/Meditation Centers: Some Cases | 177 |
Chapter VII | |
Suggestions for preventive management of stress from societal and organizational point of view | 189 |
Chapter VIII | |
Summary | 199 |
Appendix: | |
Exercise on stress management | 213 |
References | 215 |
Twentieth century has been labeled as an age of anxiety. Today, at the beginning of the twenty first century, stress as a condition of life has taken the form of a threat. In this context, this book is a meaningful effort in suggesting ways for coping with stress. The focus is on making life easier to live.
The author has analyzed the anatomy of stress and dealt with various stressors from cognitive as well as behavioral perspective. At the same time the author has made an attempt to synthesize Cognitive and Behavioral approaches to stress management with priceless Indian spiritual heritage. The work by the author is holistic and rooted in nativity.
The book echoes around the theme: people are slaves of their beliefs, attitudes and values rather than the real situations. The author has proposed certain practical and simple mechanisms to do away with these negative and destructive thoughts/beliefs. These are also supplemented by the behavioral measures to be adopted.
This book is recommended strongly for managers, trainers, counselors, various professional, students, youth, couples and educated housewives.
Prof M.C. Kapilashrami
Former Director
National Institute of Health and Family Welfare,
New Delhi
About the Author:
Dr. Neera Dhar is presently working as an Associate Professor at the National Institute Of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi. Her specialization and experience is in the area of Behavioural science, Psychotherapy / Counselling and Training Methodology. She did her doctorate on "Anxiety Proneness, Interpersonal perception and Personality profiles of the rejected". By virtue of her academic brilliance she was chosen and sponsored by the "Rotary International" to pursue her post doctoral studies in USA and also to work as an "Ambassador of Goodwill" from India in the year 1988. Dr. Dhar has been involved in conducting training programmes of executives from Education, Public Sector Undertakings and Health since 1990. A major focus of her training for last couple of years has been on "Stress Management" for doctors, with an innovative perspective. The distinctive and popular features of her creative approach in the training are the messages from Indian spiritual thought, Indian/weeping, catharsis, love and empathy used towards emotional realization of intellectual and scientific process of stress management. Her training efforts orient around the theme: "Keep it simple and beautiful".
PAGE: | |
Chapter I | |
Nature and process of stress | 24 |
Manifestations of stress: physiological and psychological | 26 |
Threat-an antecedent factor of stress | 29 |
Relation between stress and anxiety | 30 |
Chapter II | |
Myths about Stress | 35 |
Functional and dysfunctional aspects of stress | 38 |
Ailments caused due to non-stop stress | 41 |
Chapter III | |
Types of stressors: | 47 |
Stressors related to personality | |
Personal stressors | 48 |
Environmental stressors | 48 |
Stressors related to job functioning | 49 |
Stressors related to natural calamities disasters/other traumatic events | 49 |
Chapter IV | |
How to manage Stress? | |
Approachs and Coping Mechanisms | 51 |
A Cognitive Approach: Coping Mechanisms | 58 |
Accepting death as a basic existential condition, treating death as an opportunity for growth | 59 |
Carving out a meaning for your life | 62 |
Realizing that stress is in-built in life | 64 |
Stress Inoculation | 68 |
Cognitive Restructuring | 72 |
Disputing irrational beliefs | 78 |
A-B-C model of stress management: | |
Role of attitudes and beliefs | 81 |
Positive Imagery | 85 |
Listening to your feelings/needs | 88 |
Accepting responsibility for yourself | 91 |
Realizing you do not control world | 93 |
Stopping perfectionist attitude and setting limits to material desires | 95 |
Chapter V | |
Behavioral Approach - Coping Mechanisms: | 99 |
Planning and organizing your life and work: setting goals/objectives and making decisions | 103 |
Habit Management | 110 |
Time Management | 113 |
Acting as a problem solver/choice maker | 120 |
Assertive behavior management | 127 |
Music therapy | 138 |
Laughter therapy and humour | 148 |
Developing interpersonal skills | 153 |
Dress management | 157 |
Engaging in leisure/physical activities and Sublimating energies | 159 |
Diet and sleep management | 162 |
Generating support system | 165 |
Building up spiritual strength | 168 |
Chapter VI | |
Seeking help from professional Yoga/Meditation Centers: Some Cases | 177 |
Chapter VII | |
Suggestions for preventive management of stress from societal and organizational point of view | 189 |
Chapter VIII | |
Summary | 199 |
Appendix: | |
Exercise on stress management | 213 |
References | 215 |