Office of Human Resources Management about | FAQs | site index | contact
Part Two
Print this page
Download PDF

stress management

In order to assist you in obtaining all the necessary information and making the best possible informed decisions regarding your living and working environment, you should complete an induction/orientation programme within the first two weeks of your arrival at the duty station.

C

hanging jobs or offices is stressful even if you remain within your own cultural context. Moving to a new duty station such as a Peacekeeping Field Mission often involves conditions such as a new language, new climate, new culture, and working with new organizations / governments, which can multiply by many times the stress you might normally feel. It is important that you learn to identify your own reactions to stressful situations and how to manage the stress to make the new assignment as productive and enjoyable as possible for yourself and for your family if they are accompanying you.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT STRESS?

Before reading further, find out how much you know about stress with the short quiz below. Also review the CD-ROM “Stress Management” (answers to the quiz may be found on pages 76-77 in part 4).

TRUE FALSE STRESS STATEMENT
Indicate whether the following statements are right or wrong by putting a check under True or False in the columns below.
True False
1. Stress is always negative.
2. Loneliness over a prolonged, unrelieved period can cause burnout.
3. Being required to move to a new job is a psychosocial stressor.
4. The stress reaction is triggered by our perception of something as dangerous.
5. Having a pet can help reduce medical problems associated with stress.
6. Drinking wine or spirits can help reduce stress by helping the individual relax.
7. To be effective, critical incident defusing has to be done within 48 hours of the incident.
8. Stress research tells us that the death of a loved one is the most stressful experience a person can have.
9. Age, education, gender and fitness are all factors which determine how you manage stress.
10. Carrying on with your daily activities as normal is a good coping mechanism after a critical incident.
11. When you are under stress, your breathing becomes shallow and rapid.
previous   next