Managing stress at the workplace: the application of Wan Hussin 3-dimensional stress management model

As employees, we need to consider stress as an inescapable part of modern life. Day after day, we are faced with a continuous barrage of stressors. We get some relief at night when we sleep, but even in our sleep we might dream about our stressors, again triggering the physiological mechanism ‘fight-or-flight’ response. Managing stress requires an adaptive response, so all changes (even positive ones) are stressful. The more changes in life, the more vulnerable we are to illnesses, bodily system breakdown or emotional difficulties. Stress negatively affects the body in three dimensions namely the physical, psychological, and occupational functioning in a variety of ways. But as technology and way of life change, most of the stressors we face in modern world are not physical; thus neither fighting nor fleeing is an adaptive response. To understand stress and manage it better, a 3-D model of stress management is developed. The model outlines a stress management strategy that can be explained in 3 stages. Stage I is the Unexpected Stage whereby the surveying is done to determine the exact situation. Stage 2 is the Stress Projection Stage whereby various stress tests are carried out to determine the exact level of stress. Stage 3 is the Expected Stage whereby the mapping of the stress findings is formulated based on a thorough understanding of the physical, physiological and occupational consequences, stress management strategy and mastery techniques.