Yerkes-Dodson stress curve
Explains the relationship of stress at peak performance and the length of time in a stressful situation leading to poor mental health.
- Stress is NOT a mental health condition
- NOT ENOUGH stress, PROLONGED stress or SEVERE stress can lead to mental health conditions
- Recognise the IMPACT OF LONG TERM PRESSURE on mental health
Reflect on your stress levels and where your team members might be on the stress curve.
Stress can be defined as a state we experience when there is a mismatch between perceived demands and our perceived ability to cope. When perceived demands and perceived coping ability are balanced, we experience no stress.
Distress arises when faced with an increase in demand, the mind perceives that the resources available (both internally and externally) are insufficient to meet these. A series of nervous and hormonal processes are set into action, resulting in what is typically described as ‘fight or flight’ responses.
People continuing to try to achieve as much as they did when they were working in a normal work environment = not sharing broadband, not looking after children, not working alongside a partner, impact on women – taking the lion’s share of household responsibility as well as working at home, expected to keep the children quiet. Missing the commute for head space, using usual commute time to work. Story of man shouting at wife to keep kids out of hallway in their flat while he is on Zoom. He misses his daily commute as that is ‘his time’ How much ‘me time’ has she ever had?
Distress arises when faced with a specific type of demand that is associated with a conditioned response linked with old distress, the fight or flight response is activated
Lack of certainty may be a trigger for some
Watching too much news/information about the virus a trigger for others
Distress arises when faced with a decrease in demands, the mind perceives an insufficient number of new challenges. The nervous and hormonal processes set into action result in feelings of boredom and frustration which when strong enough tip over into anger and aggression.
Furlough
Missing the social aspects of work.
