Workplace bully is one of the major stressors that affects
people negatively. The bully is the source of the Target's stress. The
pain and suffering inflicted on the Target is the stressor. The response
that your body and mind make to this 'stimulus' determines the extent
of the damage inflicted. Understanding the sequence of biological
stress is well known, having been thoroughly studies and researched. In
fact, Dr Hans Seyle, who specialised in this area, is regarded as the
father of modern stress management. He identified three distinct stages
of this debilitating encroachment.
a. ALARM. This is where the body switches on its entire defence systems, to protect it from harm or damage. This defense system is designed to be brief, enabling, as it does, the "flight or fight" response to perceived danger, be it physical or psychological. This response to the bully's attacks is similar to the "flight" response to the sudden roar of a lion.
b. RESISTANCE. This is where the 'alert stage' is maintained and which usually stops after the alarm has passed. This is a "turned off" mechanism that the body needs, and expects, for it to resume its normal functioning. It is also true that resistance to the bully continues while the perceived threat is present and real, thus depleting the body's defenses. This is necessary, because if the individual stays in resistance too long, the body reacts, or rebounds, and the actual damage occurs even when the stressor is gone.
c. EXHAUSTION. At this stage, the body experiences a complete system breakdown, mentally, emotionally and physically. The unspoken requirement here is that the stressor is removed or it will claim your life. The body can only get to exhaustion by ignoring all the warning signs the body sends out. If persisted in, with the body and mind having to fight for an indefinite period, it can lead to death.
a. ALARM. This is where the body switches on its entire defence systems, to protect it from harm or damage. This defense system is designed to be brief, enabling, as it does, the "flight or fight" response to perceived danger, be it physical or psychological. This response to the bully's attacks is similar to the "flight" response to the sudden roar of a lion.
b. RESISTANCE. This is where the 'alert stage' is maintained and which usually stops after the alarm has passed. This is a "turned off" mechanism that the body needs, and expects, for it to resume its normal functioning. It is also true that resistance to the bully continues while the perceived threat is present and real, thus depleting the body's defenses. This is necessary, because if the individual stays in resistance too long, the body reacts, or rebounds, and the actual damage occurs even when the stressor is gone.
c. EXHAUSTION. At this stage, the body experiences a complete system breakdown, mentally, emotionally and physically. The unspoken requirement here is that the stressor is removed or it will claim your life. The body can only get to exhaustion by ignoring all the warning signs the body sends out. If persisted in, with the body and mind having to fight for an indefinite period, it can lead to death.
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