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.
d. State support structures that helped Poppy through her stress
Some state support structures that helped Poppy through her stress include:
- Benefits: Poppy applied for whatever help she could in terms of benefits, which likely provided her with financial assistance to help with childcare and household expenses.
- Job security: Despite rumors of redundancy, Poppy's manager assured her that there would be another opportunity for promotion. This likely provided a sense of stability and reassurance during a difficult time.
- Workplace support: Poppy's friends at work and her manager were a great help to her. They provided emotional support, advice, and reassurance during her difficult period.
The state support structures that helped Poppy through her stress include:
1. Benefits: Poppy's friends at work advised her to apply for whatever help she could in the form of benefits. These benefits could have included financial assistance, housing support, and childcare subsidies.
2. Manager's Support: Poppy's manager played a significant role in supporting her during her stressful period. She advised Poppy to take a day off and think carefully about her decision to resign. The manager also reassured Poppy that there would be other promotion opportunities in the future.
3. Workplace Friends: Poppy's friends at work provided emotional support and encouragement, urging her to hang in there and not give up. Their support helped her cope with the stress both at home and in the workplace.
These support structures, along with Poppy's perseverance, helped her navigate the difficult circumstances and find a better outcome in the end.
There are several state support structures that helped Poppy through her stress:
1. Benefits: Poppy's friends advised her to apply for whatever help she could in the form of benefits. This could include financial assistance such as welfare or housing benefits, which can help alleviate some of the financial pressure she was experiencing.
2. Manager support: Poppy's manager played a crucial role in supporting her through her difficult times. She advised Poppy to take a day off and carefully consider her options before making any decisions. Her manager reassured her that there would be other opportunities for promotion and encouraged her to stay. This support from her manager helped boost Poppy's morale and gave her hope for the future.
3. Workplace friends: Poppy's colleagues at work were also a great source of support for her. They encouraged her to hang in there and provided emotional support during her stressful times. Having a strong support network at work can be instrumental in helping individuals cope with stress and navigate challenging situations.
It is important to note that the specific state support structures available to Poppy may vary depending on her location and the specific social welfare system in place. Therefore, it is recommended for individuals to research and inquire about the available assistance programs and resources in their respective areas.