Stress Overload
Definition: Excessive amounts and types of demands that require action
RELATED FACTORS
Inadequate resources (e.g., financial, social, education/knowledge level) Intense, repeated stressors (e.g., family violence, chronic illness, terminal illness)
Multiple coexisting stressors (e.g., environmental threats/demands; physical threats/demands; social threats/demands)
DEFINING CHARACTERISTICS
Subjective
Expresses difficulty in functioning/problems with decision making
Expresses a feeling of pressure/tension
Expresses increased feelings of impatience/anger
Reports negative impact from stress (e.g., physical symptoms, psychological distress,
feeling of “being sick” or of “going to get sick”)
Reports situational stress as excessive (e.g., rates stress level as a 7 or above on a 10-point scale)
Objective
Demonstrates increased feelings of impatience/anger
Sample Clinical Applications: Chronic illness (e.g., MS, diabetes, Parkinson’s), terminal illness
(e.g., ovarian cancer, ALS), abusive situations, bipolar disorder, depression, social phobia
DESIRED OUTCOMES/EVALUATION CRITERIA
Sample NOC linkages:
Stress Level: Severity of manifested physical or mental tension resulting from factors that alter an existing equilibrium
Anxiety Self-Control: Personal actions to eliminate or reduce feelings of apprehension, tension, or uneasiness from an unidentifiable source
Leisure Participation: Use of relaxing, interesting, and enjoyable activities to promote well-being
Client Will (Include Specific Time Frame)
• Assess current situation accurately.
• Identify ineffective stress-mangagment behaviors and consequences.
• Meet psychological needs as evidenced by appropriate expression of feelings, identification
of options, and use of resources.
• Verbalize or demonstrate reduced stress reaction.
ACTIONS/INTERVENTIONS
Sample NIC linkages:
Emotional Support: Provision of reassurance, acceptance, and encouragement during times of stress
Coping Enhancement: Assisting a patient to adapt to perceived stressors, changes, or threats that interfere with meeting life demands and roles
Resiliency Promotion: Assisting individuals, families, and communities in development, use, and strengthening of protective factors to be used in coping with environmental and societal stressors
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 1 To identify causative/precipitating factors and degree of impairment:
• Ascertain what events have occurred (e.g., family violence, death of loved one; separation from living partner/parent; change in financial status or living conditions; chronic/terminal illness, work place stress, loss of job/retirement; major trauma; catastrophic natural or manmade event) over remote and recent past to assist in determining number, duration, and intensity of events causing perception of overwhelming stress.
• Evaluate client’s report of physical/emotional problems (e.g., fatigue, aches and pains, irritable bowel, skin rashes, frequent colds, sleeplessnes, crying spells, anger, feeling overwhelmed or numb, compulsive behaviors, etc.) that can be representing body’s response
to stress.
• Determine client’s/SO’s understanding of events, noting differences in viewpoints.
• Note client’s gender, age, and developmental level of functioning. Women, children, young
adults, divorced and separated persons tend to have higher stress levels. Multiple stressors can
weaken immune system and tax physical and emotional coping mechanisms of persons of any
age, but particulary the elderly.
• Note cultural values/religious beliefs that may affect client’s expectation for self in dealing with situation, ability to ask for help from others, and expectations placed on client by SO/family.
• Identify client locus of control: internal (expressions of responsibility for self and ability to
control outcomes—“I didn’t quit smoking”) or external (expressions of lack of control overself and environment—“Nothing ever works out”). Knowing client’s locus of control will helping developing a plan of care reflecting client’s ability to realistically make changes that will help
to manage stress better.
• Assess emotional responses and coping mechanisms being used.
• Determine stress feelings and self-talk client is engaging in. Negative self-talk, all or nothing/pessimistic thinking, exaggeration, unrealistic expectations will contribute to stress overload
• Assess degree of mastery client has exhibited in life. Passive individual may have more difficulty being assertive and standing up for rights.
• Determine presence/absence/nature of resources (e.g., whether family/SO are supportive,
lack money, problems with relationship/social functioning).
• Note change in relationships with SO(s). Conflict in the family, loss of a family member,divorce can result in a change in support client is accustomed to and impair ability to manage
situation.
• Evaluate stress level using appropriate tool (e.g., Stress & Depression, Self-Assessment Tool) to help identify areas of most distress. While most stress seems to come from disasterous
events in individual’s life, positive events can also be stressful.
• Review lab results to identify physiological conditions (e.g., thryoid/other hormone imbalance, anemia, unstable glucose levels, kidney/liver disease) that may be causing/exacerbating
stress.
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 2 To assist client to deal with current situation:
• Discuss situation/condition in simple, concise manner. May help client to express emotions, grasp situation, and feel more in control.
• Active-listen to concerns and provide empathetic presence, using talk and silence as needed.
• Deal with the immediate issues first (e.g., treatment of physical injury, meet safety needs, removal from traumatic/violent environment).
• Collaborate in treatment of underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, hormone imbalance, depression).1
• Provide/encourage restful environment where possible.
• Assist client in determining whether or not he or she can change stressor or response. May help client to sort out things over which he or she has control and determine responses that can be modified.
• Allow client to react in own way without judgment. Provide support and diversion as indicated.
• Help client to set limits on acting-out behaviors and learn ways to express emotions in an acceptable manner. Promotes internal locus of control, enabling client to maintain self-concept
and feel more positive about self.
• Address use of ineffective/dangerous coping mechanisms (e.g., substance use/abuse, self/other-directed violence) and refer for counseling as indicated.
NURSING PRIORITY NO. 3 To promote wellness (Teaching/Discharge Considerations):
• Use client’s locus of control to develop individual plan of care (e.g., for client with internal
control, encourage client to take control of own care; for those with external control, begin with
small tasks and add as tolerated).
• Incorporate strengths/assets and past coping strategies that were successful for client. Reinforces that client is able to deal with difficult situations.
• Encourage strengthening of positive SO/family routines and interactions that support and provide assistance in managing stress.5
• Provide information about stress and exhaustion phase, which occurs when person is experiencing chronic/unresolved stress. Release of cortisol can contribute to reduction in immune function, resulting in physical illness, mental disability, and life dysfunction.
• Review stress management/coping skills that client can use:1,2,4–6
Practice behaviors that may help reduce negative consequences—change thinking by focusing
on positives, reframing thoughts, changing lifestyle. Learn to read own body signs (e.g., shakiness, irritability, sleep disturbances, fatigue, etc.).
Take a step back, reduce obligations; simplify life; learn to say no to reduce sense of being
overwhelmed.
Practice exchanging stresses (i.e., when a new stress comes into play, eliminate or postpone
another stress) to keep total stress level below overstress level.
Seek help/assistance in meeting obligations, delegate tasks as appropriate.
Learn to control and redirect anger.
Develop and practice positive self-esteem skills.
Rest, sleep, and exercise on regular/set times to recuperate and rejuvenate self.
Postpone changes in living situation (e.g., moving, remodeling) if possible.
Particpate in self-help actions (e.g., deep breathing, find time to be alone, get involved in recreation or desired activity; plan something fun/develop humor) to actively relax.
Eliminate possible food or environmental allergens and toxins.
Eat nutritious meals; avoid junk food/excessive sugars.
Avoid excessive caffeine, alcohol/other drugs, and nicotine to balance body chemicals and support general health.
Take a multivitamin, mineral, trace element preparation.
Develop spiritual self (e.g., meditate/pray; block negative thoughts, learn to give and take, speak and listen, forgive and move on).
Interact socially, reach out, nurture self and others to reduce loneliness/sense of isolation.
• Review proper medication use to manage exacerbating conditions (e.g., depression, mood disorders).
• Identify community resources (e.g., vocational counseling, educational programs, child/elder care, WIC/food stamps, home/respite care) that can help client manage lifestyle/
environmental stress.
• Refer for therapy, as indicated (e.g., medical treatment, psychological counseling; hypnosis,
massage, biofeedback).
DOCUMENTATION FOCUS
Assessment/Reassessment
• Individual findings, noting specific stressors, individual’s perception of the situation, locus
of control.
• Specific cultural/religious factors.
• Availability/use of support systems and resources.
Planning
• Plan of care and who is involved in planning.
• Teaching plan.
Implementation/Evaluation
• Responses to interventions/teaching and actions performed.
• Attainment/progress toward desired outcome(s).
• Modifications to plan of care.
Discharge Planning
• Long-term needs/referrals and who is responsible for actions to be taken.
• Specific referrals made.
References
1. Burns, S. L. (1997). The medical basis of stress, depression, anxiety, sleep problems and drug use. Retrieved
August 2007 at www.teachhealth.com/.
2. Klimes, R. (2007). Managing stress: Living without stress overload. CE offering for Learn.Well.org Web site.
Retrieved April 2007 at www.learnwell.org/stress.htm.
3.Woolston, C. (2006). Stress and aging. Retrieved July 2007 at www.yourhealthconnection.com/topic/stressaging.
4. Cummings, B. (2003). Managing stress: Coping with life’s challenges. In Health: The Basics. 5th ed. Pearson
Education, Inc.
5. Beckett, C. (2000). Family Theory as a Framework for Assessment. Retrieved August 2007 at http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/
~nur350-c/class/2_family/theory/lesson2-1-3.html.
6. No author listed. (2007). Taking Control of Stress. Harvard Health Publications: Big Sandy, TX, 1, Special
Supplement.
7. Lipson, J. G., Dibble. S. L., Minarik, P. A. (1996). Culture & Nursing Care: A Pocket Guide. San Francisco:
School of Nursing, UCSF Nursing Press.