We read articles in the newspapers about stress on a regular basis. Numerous books and magazines on the market tell of the importance of avoiding stress as well as ways of coping with it. Stress is a killer they say, so it is important to stay calm, slow down, relax, and try not to work so much. However, people in the modern world often have financial problems: bills to pay and tuition for school. Sometimes, they have problems at home which add to stress and worries. In addition, cities are congested and noisy. Heavy traffic and pollution make just getting to work or school a chore. Stress costs American companies over 300 billion dollars a year in lost productivity, sick leave and medical expenses. It is difficult to tell how a person under stress will react to it. When one kind of person gets tense, s/he may find it difficult to relax. This person may suffer from a lack of concentration on the job and get annoyed at having to wait for something more than a few minutes; let us say a hamburger at the local fast food restaurant or on line to pay for a pack of cigarettes -- which incidentally, they believe will calm them down. Noises can irritate them too; especially the honking of horns while sitting in traffic. People like this can become moody; fine one minute, then gloomy the next. They can even blow up and become furious, shout at other people and perhaps even strike them. There are people, on the other hand, who never seem to get annoyed or upset. They appear to be calm all the time and do not get angry easily. They are patient while standing in line or in heavy traffic; and 22
do not get frustrated by setbacks. These people remain under control and tell themselves things will get better. They are less likely to make a bad situation worse by showing their irritation, shouting, saying something they will be sorry for later and hurting the feelings of other people. The personality types mentioned above have been given names by some researchers: Type A and Type B. Type A people work hard, have very little free-time and may appear to be ill-tempered and impatient. It could be quite difficult to have a conversation with Type A people; because they tend to speak quickly, change the topic a lot, and keep interrupting the other person. The reason for this could be they lose interest in what the other person is saying quickly or are overly anxious to express their own ideas. Type B personalities are quite the opposite. Work is not the most important thing to them and they do not get angry as much as Type A people. Life-style is very important and they enjoy relaxing and having fun. As a consequence of their work attitudes and habits, Type A people may suffer from a wide variety of stress-related ailments; not the least of which is heart trouble. Doctors say it is better for your health to be a Type B person, but in the fast-paced, competitive, materialistic world of today, Type B people may find themselves unhappy in other ways. What do you think the people in these pictures need to do about stress? 23
Nervous or Relaxed? 1) Describe the man in the picture with the words below. overworked exhausted nervous overwhelmed frustrated easy-going relaxed organized ambitious other What do you think he is saying? 2) Write A for Type A or B for Type B next to each description. Someone who... a) gets upset easily. f) takes long vacations. b) is patient. c) works very hard. d) speaks slowly and calmly. e) feels the need for wealth, power, status. g) is moody. h) shouts and gets angry easily. i) speaks very quickly. j) listens to you carefully. 3) Look at the words in bold type in the reading passage. Find a word that means... a condition in which the mind, body and emotions are upset because of pressure. troubled, disturbed. excited in a bad way that makes one feel anger. going from happy to sad easily. extremely anger. feeling empty or defeated after trying something and failing. 4) Do you suffer from stress? How do you cope with it? 24
PERSONALITY QUESTIONNAIRE Which kind of person are you, Type A or Type B? Answer the questions and then evaluate yourself at the end. 1. Do you always seem to be busy? 2. Is your desk or workplace usually a mess? 3. Do you frequently work during your vacation time? 4. Do you get annoyed when you have to wait for something more than a few minutes? 5. Do you often interrupt people when they are speaking? 6. Are you ambitious, that is, want status, wealth or power? 7. Do you think, the best way to get a job done is to do it yourself? 8. Is being the best at everything important to you? 9. Do you find it difficult to sleep? 10. Do you frequently find yourself doing two things at the same time such as eating and working on the computer? 11. Do you frequently pass stop signs without stopping or run through red lights? 12. At a restaurant, do you usually eat fast, and leave quickly? Yes No Score yourself. More than 6 Yes answers means you could be a Type A personality. More than 6 No answers means you could be a Type B personality. Which type is good for each occupation? Write A for Type A or B for Type B next to each of the occupations listed below. Discuss your answers with a partner. airline pilot teacher taxi driver electrical engineer journalist scientist computer programmer soldier stockbroker auto mechanic tour guide detective librarian secretary orchestra conductor PIECE OF THE ACTION 1, Created by Joseph T. Rodolico Joseph T. Rodolico 25
WHAT IT DOES TO YOUR BODY AND HOW TO COPE! Would you believe, I am only 42 years old? Match the warning sign of stress with possible ways to cope. More than one answer is possible. You could be suffering from stress when you... If you are suffering from stress you could... 1. get upset easily. a eat more nutritious food. 2. bite your nails. b get a massage. 3. have gas. c cut alcohol and tobacco. 4. want to eat lots of candy. d maintain a good sense of humor. 5. become sick very often. e spend more time with family. 6. have stomach problems. f say No to the boss. 7. cannot concentrate on work. g meditate. 8. have a fast heart beat. h quit your job. 9. want to smoke and drink. i not work on weekends. 10. always feel tired. j exercise regularly. 26
Conversation Practice When you feel stress, how do you cope with it? Write your answers below. My sign of stress Example: I do not want to talk to anyone. How I cope with it I walk home instead of riding the bus. Dialogue Substitution: Use the information above and practice this conversation with your partner. Student A should change the underlined words for other signs of stress. Student B should recommend ways to cope. Repeat this until you have used all the words. A: Oh, somebody help me. B: What s wrong? A: I must be working/studying too hard. I don t feel well. I cannot concentrate on my work. What should I do? B: That s too bad. Why don t you spend more time with your family. A: Do you think that will work? B: It did for me. Role play: 1. Worker: You sell cars. You are feeling sick, because your boss has set a very high sales target. Explain your symptoms of stress, then ask him/her to lower the target. Boss: Business has been slow. You need your staff to work more, not less. 2. Student: Your teacher has been giving you a lot of reports to write lately. You feel it is too much. Explain how your mind and body feel. Then, ask your teacher to go easy on you. Teacher: The principal of the school is worried that the students are getting lazy. She/he told you that your students must get higher scores or you will not get a pay raise. 3. Singer: You are very popular and have to appear in so many shows that you feel it is killing you. You are beginning to lose your voice! Tell your manager what is wrong with you. Ask for a month off to rest. Manager: Your singer is at the height of his/her popularity. You must make money now, before the public loses interest in your star! 27
STRESS CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Across 2. Feeling upset at delays. 5. To be at peace. 7. Not angered easily. 8. To calm your mind. 9. To feel success is impossible. 12. Makes you drunk. 14. Troubled or disturbed. Down 1. To rub someone's muscles in a relaxing way. 3. Excited to impatience or anger. 4. Feeling depressed, down or dejected. 6. Violently angry. 10. The leaf used in cigarettes and cigars. 11. Capable of quickly changing from gloomy to happy. 13. To deal with difficulties or setbacks. 28