Stress,

A Human Concern

I. Read the text and say whether the following statements are true or false.

1. Stress is more common in this century than in previous centuries.

2 Stress can cause illness and illness can cause stress.            •   .   -—

3. Some people still think that stress is unnatural.
4. We should stop feeling stress.                     ;

Stress is a disease of the XXI century, Life has never been faster and jobs have never been more stressful than they are today. People have to perform more and more work under difficult and more stressful conditions. Many people suffer from stress and the illnesses it can cause. But as this situation «s becoming recognised, people shouldn't have to fear comments such as. 'He's had a nervous breakdown. Can't take the pressure» you know.' This is because more people are recognising that stress is a natural reaction - it is a reaction of a person's body to pressure, either from the outside world or from the inner world of emotions and physical organs. We can't avoid stress. And we can't help ourselves, or others, until we know more about it, Not. all stress is bad and perhaps if we understood it better we could make the most of it.

Answer the questions:

1. Why is stress a disease of the twentieth century?
2. Why are attitudes to stress changing?
3. Why should we be concerned about stress?
4. What kind of stress do you think can be good, and when?

II. SCAN THE FOLLOWING TEXT:

We know that a number of illnesses including heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, ulcers and dieting depression can be caused by stress. And there are several others, including cancer, where stress may be part of the cause. Stress can happen to anyone, not only a business executive or salesperson, but housewives, students, even the unemployed Stress-based illness doesn't happen all at once. It builds up, and there are warning signs. But often we don't know what to look for.

The text above says that stress-based illness builds up, but often we don't

know what to do. Ask for advice by making statements from the words below:

1. boss who treats me badly / do
2. offer you a promotion to a difficult job / say
3. important job interview / wear
4. long business trip / take with me
5. problems with getting all my work done / do
6. the sack / do

Here are nine of the most common warning symptoms of stress, First decide if you have ever experienced the symptom. Then try to remember when and why, and make notes.

1.Feel constant irritability

1. Have difficulty in making decisions                                               _t
2. Experience a feeling of having failed

4. Have difficulty in concentrating
5. Suffer from aches and pains

6. Suffer from lack of appetite
7. Have frequent indigestion or heartburn
8. Suffer from insomnia
9. Feel constant tiredness

III. SCAN THE FOLLOWING TEXT:

The Scapegoat

Sally Jones lived in a state of constant upset, feeling she was always the scapegoat when things went wrong One day she returned to her office after a solitary lunch. People always pick on me, so it's easier to be by myself and the business manager yelled-at her. 'You left the xerox room in an awful mess.' He accused her unfairly, misled by wrong information.

Sally was about to answer defensively with 'I wasn't in the xerox room today," but just in time remembered her AT She told her boss. ^“Now you just apologise.” Startled by her change in manner, the boss shot back. 'Apologise for what?" said Sally firmly, “For yelling at me for something I didn't do.”

She got her apology and realised that, having answered one accusation assertively» She could do this on other occasions - and did As a result of being assertive, not only did she find that her relations on the job changed, but she began lunching with people and making friends

Answer the questions:

1. Why did Sally always have lunch on her own?
2. What did the manager accuse Sally of doing?
3. Why was this unfair?
4. What was wrong with the response that Sally started to make – “I wasn't, in the Xerox room”?
5. What would have been a better response?

IV. FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES:

1. List all the problems touched upon in the texts:

2. Write a paragraph on the topic. Use the texts and extra materials