What are the signs and symptoms of stress?
Objective
After this unit you will be able to:
- Identify the signs and symptoms of burnout and stress.
- Deepening the understanding of the importance of self-care.
You will use a journal prompt to elaborate on their your real-life experience of burn out, possible triggers and early signs.
Story
Sarah had always dreamed of becoming a teacher. She loved working with children and was passionate about helping them learn and grow. When she landed her first job as a fourth-grade teacher, she was thrilled. However, as the school year progressed, Sarah found herself struggling to keep up with the demands of her job. She spent long hours preparing lesson plans, grading papers, and responding to emails from parents. She frequently stayed late at school and brought work home with her, often working late into the night.
As the workload piled up, Sarah started to feel overwhelmed and stressed. She struggled to find time for herself and her family, and often felt guilty when she did take time for herself. She began to feel exhausted all the time, even after a full night's sleep. Her mood became irritable and she lost her enthusiasm for teaching. She knew something wasn't right.
What do you as the early signs for Sarah?
Discovery
It is important to discover the early signs and symptoms of stress. So that we could take action proactively before it becomes more difficult to address.
Discover: What are some early signs and symptoms of YOU being stressed?
- Are you feeling more irritable or easily agitated than usual?
- Do you find yourself worrying or feeling anxious?
- Have you noticed changes in your sleeping habits, such as difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep?
- Are you experiencing physical symptoms like headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension?
- Are you having difficulty concentrating or remembering things?
- Have you lost interest in things that you normally enjoy?
- Are you more prone to getting sick or experiencing minor illnesses?
- Do you find yourself turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking or overeating?
What could be the impact if we are not addressing the early signs? May be...
- Increase risk for chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension
- Negative impact on mental health, including increased risk of depression and anxiety
- Decreased job satisfaction and performance
- Strained relationships with coworkers and loved ones
- Decreased overall quality of life
- Increased risk for substance abuse or other unhealthy coping mechanisms
- Greater difficulty in managing stress and burnout in the long run.
Investigation
As you read the articles and watch the videos, think about the following questions: What are my early signs of being stressed or anxious?
- Read- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/burnout/art-20046642
- Watch (5mins)-
Reflection
Draw or write on your work sheet.
Extended Resources
Roh, J. (2017, November 28). Teacher burnout: Causes, symptoms, and prevention. Hey Teach! WGU. Retrieved from https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/teacher-burnout-causes-symptoms-and-prevention1711.html Hart Research Associates. (2022, July 16). Under siege: Survey of teachers finds 34-point increase in job dissatisfaction, union as solution. American Federation of Teachers.