STRESS AND COMMUNICATION (I.E. ON STRESS IN COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNICATION UNDER STRESS)

Abstract

The main goal of this research is to determine effective methods for coping with distress and moderating its symptoms. My research was carried out in two directions: it is research penetrating stress theories and relating to famous researchers of the phenomenon in question, such as: Hans H. Selye, Alexander Lowen, Arnie Cann, Alix Kirsta, Henri Rubinstein, Jan F. Terelak and others. Also, it refers to own research and individual ideas originating from respondents' experiences in the scope of dealing with stress. They present their own, often unique methods for dealing with distress. It is to be noted that the methods are usually strongly connected with their personal sensitivity, preferences, temperament as well as the "imprinted habits" ordering them to react and behave in a specific way in a crisis 'situation'. It is to be emphasised that it is not easy to universalise strategies for dealing with stress since different people will react differently to a given strategy. It is worth noticing that the problem of coping (fighting) with stress raised in this work does not mean the attempt to fully eliminate stress from our life. This is especially due to the fact that a certain level of stress, called eustress, is necessary, and even indispensable for correct functioning of human. Such a stress stimulates to action, reinforces necessary existential reactions and increases the threshold of their reactivity. Eustress is also responsible for stimulating human activity, gives life energy and vital force, facilitates carrying out various undertakings and, at the same time, lets human react adequately to a given situation (also in situations of interpersonal communication). It is, then, necessary for activeness, motivation, undertakings as well as good physical and mental state. It turns out, also, that the process of mutual communication is more effective when the communication persons are capable of managing stress and their emotions. What is more, the mood accompanies stress vary often (similarly to the feeling of relax, joy and laugh itself) the feelings tend to be contagious, which means they are transferred onto the participants of interaction-communication, since the mood is often transferred from one person onto another. Hence, it is assumed that it is worth to maintain a proper, life-giving, and effective level of stress. In everyday life, we do it by taking care of ourselves, our bodies and skilful dealing with its high level. What is incredibly significant is self-awareness, awareness of one's emotions and the ability to express emotions effectively (ability to free from the burden, i.e. to relieve stress). In my work I raise the subject of animating laugh and good physical and mental state in the fight with stress, and present various examples of effective expression of emotions. I also present many ideas strategies for dealing with distress in order to establish effective mutual communication, which were taken from own experiences of respondents.