How to carry yourself under high stress?

[winter_green]

I am realizing that I am the kind of person who does not deal with stress well. When under stress, I find myself, really serious, forget to have humor or smile, and sometimes feel the pressure and perhaps can be a little hesistant to help others or take on other things if needed. I don't mean to be like that, but the feeling of stress can be overwhelming and it can over take me.

My question is, how can I still carry myself well with a good personality even with high stress??? I don't want to look overwhelmed all the time, or frazzled. How do you deal with stress?? How do you still maintain yourself and openess?

[shoegalRN, RN]

I'm only stressed at work when I am overwhelmed. I have learned in nursing to just expect the unexpected when I come to work. Unlike my previous career, there is no "routine" in nursing. I never know what I'm gonna walk into when I get there. So, this helps me to handle the stress when I become overwhelmed.

I work in ER, so traumas are always overwhelming to me. I tend to become very focused on the tasks at hand, ask for help, and count to 10 in my head. I get what I need done and try to do it as smoothly as possible. I try to remain calm and wear a poker face. But in the inside I'm shaking like a leaf.

I am the same way during codes.

[MzMouse]

Your post could have been written about me. I did not realize I was vulnerable to such feelings of stress until I became a nurse. What's worse, my face apparently betrays every little feeling that crosses my mind, leading everyone to think I'm mad, about to cry, or worse.

This was my biggest problem with my stress level. Every emotion was betrayed on my face and suddenly my coworkers think I am mad at them. No, just stressed. I don't readily ask for help either.

I agree with keeping things light and fake it until you feel it. Honestly I decided one day to plaster a smile on face whether I felt it or not. The unexpected benefit was not having to fake it after a while.

I have also gotten better about asking for help.