STRESS ALMOST RUINED MY LIFE:
Poppy Castle had a secure job and what she thought was a happy home life. Her husband then
suddenly divorced her and moved to Australia, leaving Poppy with a young child and a house
with a large mortgage. When John (my husband) left me with a child and the house to pay for,
my first thought was to give up work. How could I cope with the stress of childcare and all the
household expenses by myself? I had a relatively secure job, and some good prospects, but the
wage wasn’t that great. My friends at work, though, told me to hang in there. They felt that
because I was good at my work, I should stay put and apply for whatever help I could in the way
of benefits, and so on. I took my friends’ advice, but I began to feel stressed at both home and in
the workplace. The financial pressure was getting me down. “A chance for promotion then came
up, so I applied for it. Everyone said I should get it, but because of the stress I was under, I didn’t
prepare properly. I also didn’t pay enough attention to the questions at the interview. So, of
course, I failed. Failure of this sort doesn’t do your self-esteem any good. Still, I had to get on
with things. My friends were a great help, and so was my manager. She told me that there’d be
other chances for promotion and I’d get there in the end. “Then another problem arose in the
form of redundancy. The redundancy was a rumour, but the company was going through a rough
patch, and job losses were all that people could talk about. This upset me, because despite the
promotion knock-back, I was coming to terms with my life. The redundancy talk turned out to be
just that - talk - but I could have done without the rumours. I knew all this stress was beginning
to affect the quality of my work. I then handed in a letter of resignation to spare myself the
embarrassment of being fired. My manager advised me to take a day off and think carefully
about what I was doing. She didn’t want me to leave, and she knew that there was going to be
another opportunity for promotion within the next few weeks. After several chats with my
manager I stayed. The promotion opportunity did come again, and I did succeed the second time
round. Things are still tough financially, but with the support of workplace friends and my
manager, I’m much happier.
a. From the case above identify four stressors that apply to Poppy Castle and explain how each
cause stress to her.
Four stressors that apply to Poppy Castle are:
1. Divorce and Single Parenthood: The sudden divorce and her husband moving to Australia put Poppy in a difficult position of being a single parent responsible for their child and the house with a large mortgage. The stress of managing both the emotional and financial aspects of being a single parent can be overwhelming.
2. Financial Pressure: Poppy mentions that her wage wasn't great and the expenses of childcare and the mortgage were a lot to handle on her own. This financial pressure adds to her stress levels as she worries about making ends meet and providing for her child.
3. Missed Promotion Opportunity: Poppy applied for a promotion but failed to prepare properly and pay enough attention during the interview due to the stress she was under. This failure affects her self-esteem and adds stress as she worries about career growth and stability.
4. Rumors of Redundancy: The uncertainty of job losses and rumors of redundancy at her workplace add to Poppy's stress levels. She had just started coming to terms with her life after the promotion setback when this new stressor arises. The fear of losing her job and the potential impact on her financial situation adds to the overall stress she experiences.
Each of these stressors causes stress to Poppy by creating uncertainty, financial burdens, affecting her self-esteem, and adding pressure to manage both her personal and professional life effectively.
The four stressors that apply to Poppy Castle are:
1. Divorce and single parenthood: Poppy's husband suddenly divorces her and moves to another country, leaving her to raise their child alone. This causes stress as she has to adjust to being a single parent and take on the responsibility of childcare on her own.
2. Financial pressure: Poppy is left with a large mortgage to pay for on her own, in addition to other household expenses. The financial strain of managing these expenses with a relatively low wage adds to her stress levels.
3. Work-related stress: Poppy's desire to give up work initially stems from the stress of balancing childcare and household expenses by herself. However, she decides to stay in her job, which leads to additional stress at the workplace. The pressure of performing well, the fear of failure, and the missed opportunity for promotion contribute to her stress.
4. Job insecurity and rumors of redundancy: The uncertainty surrounding her job due to rumors of potential redundancy causes stress for Poppy. She had just come to terms with her life and was coping with her responsibilities. The possibility of losing her job adds to her doubts and anxiety about her future.
Each of these stressors contributes to Poppy's overall stress levels, impacting her well-being and affecting the quality of her work.
Four stressors that apply to Poppy Castle are as follows:
1. Divorce and single parenting: Poppy's husband suddenly divorces her and moves to Australia, leaving her with a young child and a house with a large mortgage. This situation causes immense stress as Poppy has to navigate the challenges of single parenting, financial responsibilities, and coping with the emotional impact of the divorce.
2. Financial pressure: Poppy's reduced income and the burden of paying for the house and childcare expenses on her own create financial stress. She feels overwhelmed by the financial pressure and the fear of not being able to provide for herself and her child.
3. Job-related stress: Poppy faces stress at her workplace, where she initially considers quitting due to the challenges of juggling work, childcare, and expenses alone. She also experiences stress due to a missed promotion opportunity, which affects her self-esteem and confidence. The uncertainty of potential job loss due to rumors of redundancy adds to her stress.
4. Emotional support and uncertainty: Poppy experiences emotional stress from the changes in her personal life and the uncertainty surrounding her financial and job situation. The pressure to make correct decisions while managing her responsibilities weighs heavily on her. However, the support from her friends and manager acts as a buffer against stress and provides her with the encouragement and motivation to persevere.
Each of these stressors contributes to Poppy's overall stress levels, affecting her well-being, emotions, and performance in various aspects of her life.