It is especially important to tackle stress effectively in the workplace. Each year several million working days are lost as a result of stress, in the UK, 30 working days are lost because of stress or mental illness for every one day lost to industrial disputes.  Two out of three medical consultations concern stress‑related conditions.  According to the CBI, illness caused by stress in the workplace has increased by 500% since the mid 1950’s and 60% of all visits to healthcare professionals are for stress‑related illnesses.

Stress is not only caused by a high‑pressure job; anyone can succumb: from the Managing Director, to the office cleaner.  We spend a major part of our lives at work, or looking for it.  Thus, what happens at work is vitally important to our health and well-being.  Stress can occur if you are working in an environment or a job that is not really right for you, or if you feet that your abilities are being over or under stretched. Your section leader or your boss may not appreciate your personal attributes or strained.  Personal relationships may begin to have an extremely negative effect on you.  Your physical working conditions can also cause stress: a noisy office, working in a factory all day, sitting at a screen, bad lighting and insufficient working space can all take their toll on your health and well‑being.

 Examples of occupational stress:

• Change in work practice requiring new skills
• Trapped in unsatisfying job
• Numerous deadlines
• Geographic relocation
• Lack of feedback on performance
• Lack of stimulation at work
• Responsibility without adequate authority
• Unsympathetic boss
• Unclear goals
• Lack of clarity about job
• Inadequate rewards ‑ low salary, poor prospects
• Hostile customers
• Threat of redundancy
• Frequent night shifts

What are the symptoms of stress?

 Mental, emotional or physical strain or tension.  The non‑specific response of the body to any demand made upon it (this can be good or bad).  The psychological and physical effects this pressure has on us if it is very severe or lasts too long.  Emotional or mental pressure from life’s demands. Stressors (causes of undue stress) tend to be threats, change or extreme demands. However, they may not always appear unpleasant e.g. holidays, marriage or celebrations.

Physical symptoms of stress:

• Headache or migraine
• Neck or backache
• Indigestion
• Raised blood pressure
• Nausea or vomiting
• Muscle tension ‑ forehead, jaw, neck, shoulders
• Dizziness
• Sleep disturbance
• Asthma
• Breathlessness
• Need for alcohol
• Excess sweating
• Excessive smoking
• Loss of appetite
• Addiction to medication or drugs
• Becoming accident‑prone
• Ulcers
• Constant tiredness
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Onset of allergies
• Pancreatic disease
• Craving for food
• Impotence
• PMT
• Strokes
• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Hair loss

 Psychological symptoms of stress:

•  Tiredness
•  Poor concentration/forgetfulness
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Excessive tearfulness
•  Loss sense of humour
• Feeling overwhelmed/flooded
• Anxiety
• Nightmares
• Anger or violence
• Depression
• Phobias
• Low self esteem
• Memory lapses
• Feelings of hopelessness

Stress at work can lead to:

• Reduced productivity
• Poor interpersonal relationships
• High staff turnover
• Poor concentration and judgement

Stress itself is not always a bad thing ‑ it is only a problem if taken to excess over a period of time; a certain amount of pressure can lead to greater achievements resulting in more self‑confidence.  For example, if one wants to excel in sport, a certain amount of stress is necessary to provide the motivation to perform and compete.  What determines whether a particular situation is stressful or not will be determined by the balance of the following: – external demands, internal needs and values, personal coping resources and external resources of support.

The body’s response to stress prepares us for ‘fight or flight’ but our modem way of living does not usually allow us to do either, so the body is left in a tense and alert state.  Positive stress prepares you for action and provides motivation to cope with everyday life and it creates a sense of well‑being and anticipation.

Over the last few hundred years, ever increasing technological changes have caused large shifts in patterns of social and work organisation, leading to a faster pace of life.  Combined with a general lack of awareness within society of how to cope with increased stress levels, the effects of stress go untreated over time, often resulting in illness, which affects individuals and organisations.  Excessive stress is very harmful, leading to heart, respiratory and digestive disorders, muscle tension, allergies, accidents and mental disorders.  Stress can also be disastrous for organisations where the levels can be very high.  Stress that carries on for a long time can lead to more serious and long‑term mental illness.

Harmful stress is often caused by problems in one or more of 7 main areas:

• Bereavement (e.g. loss of spouse, family member, friend)
• Relationships (e.g. divorce, marriage)
• Family (e.g. addition to family
• Health (e.g. personal injury or illness)
• Housing (e.g. moving house)
• Money (e.g. taking out a loan/mortgage)
• Work (e.g. changing job)

Managing Stress in the Workplace

Stress in the workplace can be transformed from a negative to positive situation whereby stress can be re‑experienced as a motivator to challenge people to reach higher.  Champissage is well suited to the corporate environment because of its portable nature, and the fact that the treatment is quick and does not require any undressing.

If stress is properly managed it can be re‑experienced as a motivator.  Champissage is well suited to the corporate environment because of its flexible and portable nature and the fact that the treatment is quick and the recipient does not need to undress.  No creams, oils or special equipment are used.  It is a time‑saving therapy when time is of the essence because the therapist can come to you, the treatment is quick (just 15 to 20 minutes) and easy to perform.  It is therefore perfect for the office where time is precious.

Head Massage a counterbalance to stress

 Head massage is a touch therapy which in itself creates a bond and a comfort for the client.  Most people are starved of physical touch and may simply find the human contact very therapeutic.  There are no language or intellectual barriers, and the contact can be very valuable for people, especially those experiencing isolation or loneliness.  Head Massage, brings about feelings of inner peace.  It releases muscular tension and stimulates the flow of blood which causes a sense of well‑being in the body, allowing the mind to slow down and relax.

One of the most common stress‑related complaints is headache.  One in three individuals consults their doctor with this symptom every year, and 95% of the population suffers from them at some time.  Massaging the scalp, face, neck and shoulders relieves headaches, eyestrain, improves concentration, eliminates muscles tension and restores joint movement.

Massaging the head encourages the supply of oxygen to the brain, which is one of the best ways of reducing stress.  Oxygen helps you think clearly and creatively ‑ the same effect is brought about through exercising.

Head Massage attacks stress in an immediate way by accessing the physical effects.  It also aids better relaxation and sleep, the lack of which is often a strong component in stress‑related illnesses, which can lead to more serious mental breakdown.  The relaxation opposes the stress response and helps the re‑balancing process.

By working on stress, Head Massage has the effect of slowing down behaviour.  Time becomes less important for the duration of the massage as sensual awareness takes over.  Afterwards, the feeling of being less hurried allows you to be less compulsive and more considered in your outlook.  Thoughts quieten and awareness is brought to the here and now.

Working in a more deeply therapeutic way, the Head Massage can locate tension that is being held in the body, for instance in the jaw, or neck, and work to release it, sometimes, easing away years of pent up feelings.  Often you are unaware of where you are holding tension ‑ the massage can draw this out and bring life back to those parts.

The treatment is quick (up to half an hour).  It is done in a chair with the client fully clothed, and therefore avoids any embarrassment or anxiety.  It is perfect for the person with a busy life, and can easily be performed in the office, where stress levels are often very high and time is precious.