Question

Case study (questions 1–4) Imogen has just secured a new job supporting people with complex non-compliant behaviours. You have been acting as a mentor to Imogen, and warn Imogen that it can be incredibly frustrating at times, and that she will need to learn how to handle her stress. Imogen really wants the job to work but she doesn’t want to feel stressed all the time, so she decides to investigate ways to prevent this from happening. Imogen learns that by eating and sleeping well plus doing regular exercise, she will be in the best frame of mind to deal with any stressful situation. At the end of her first month, Imogen is feeling good – she is making her own lunches, going for a walk each night after work and keeping regular sleeping hours. However, as she is required to work more and more independently, the additional responsibility is beginning to affect her stress levels. Jack, one of the people she supports, is very uncooperative and it can take her more than double the allocated time to assist him. She is then behind for the rest of the day and tries to catch up, all the while feeling hurried and annoyed that Jack has caused her to be running late again. Imogen calls you and asks for help. Over a cup of tea, Imogen explains her feelings. You suggest that before dealing with Jack, Imogen reminds herself that it is not his fault. You say, ‘Take a few deep breaths before you go into his room and put a smile on your face. And if you start to feel stressed while you are with him, just excuse yourself and go outside for a minute, and focus on breathing slowly and deeply until you feel calm again. It really works for me when I am frustrated’. A few weeks later, you call Imogen to check how she is going. Imogen thanks you for her advice and says your strategies work quite well. You suggest she talk to her supervisor to review her schedule and see if it can be adjusted to cater for the extra support needed for Jack. You suggest that in the meantime she could consider an exercise relaxation class such as yoga. Imogen gratefully takes your advice and speaks to her supervisor who suggests some additional training to give Imogen more strategies for assisting and supporting Jack. They also discuss how this may help Imogen manage her stress levels.

CS Question 1
Describe the strategy that Imogen used to prevent stress in this situation.

CS Question 2
Describe the strategy that Imogen used to reduce stress in this situation.

CS Question 3
Describe the strategy that Imogen used to manage stress in this situation.

CS Question 4
List the internal and external options and resources Imogen referred to for additional support to manage her stress.

Answer 1

Question 1

Imogen prevented stress by investigating on the factors that caused and reduced stress and found out that eating good food, a good sleep and exercising regularly would help her.

Question 2

To reduce stress Imogen used deep breathing exercises and shared the matter with some one who could help her

Question 3

To manage stress she did breathing exercises and catharsis. She needed a break from the current situation and focussed on her breathing. She talked to her superior and her mentor and seeked more strategies to manage her stress

Question 4

Internal sources

• Skills
• Identifying and investigating factors that caused stress
• Will power
• Good sleep
• Good food
• Breathing exercise

External resources

• Catharsis letting out feelings to her mentor and superior
• Relaxation and yoga
• Exercise