Crisis managers and others affected by disasters experience various physiological and psychological reactions, including the Acute Stress Response (ASR). This article is part 3 of an 8-part series. Research in cognitive psychology shows that both acute and chronic stress affect human performance, particularly in demanding situations.

Impact of Elevated Stress Levels

Elevated stress levels can hinder attention, working memory, information retrieval, and decision-making.

1. Psychological Effects of Stress:  Increased Anxiety, Irritability, and Feeling Overwhelmed: Acute stress can lead to heightened emotional distress and difficulty coping.

2. Heightened Fear or Anger: Stress can make individuals more prone to experiencing intense negative emotions, impacting their ability to manage daily life challenges.

3. Negative Mood and Behavioral Changes:  Unmanaged stress can lead to irritability, impatience, isolation, withdrawal, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns.

Every Part of Life Can Be Challenged

• Cognitive Effects of Stress: Impaired Attention and Concentration: Acute stress can make it difficult to focus and sustain attention.
• Difficulty with Memory Recall: Retrieving information from memory can be hindered by cognitive overload. Acute stress can impair memory retrieval, possibly distorting recollections. Stress experienced during encoding (memory formation) can enhance memory, but stress immediately before retrieval can impair it.
• Impaired Decision-Making: Stress can lead to narrow focus, rigidity, and impulsive choices, making it challenging to make effective decisions. Decision-making can be hindered by cognitive overload. Stress can prompt a shift from analytical reasoning to intuitive processing, potentially exacerbating behavioral biases.
• Reduced Cognitive Flexibility: Chronic stress can negatively impact cognitive flexibility, hindering the ability to adapt to changing situations.
• Decision Fatigue: Prolonged decision-making under stress can lead to decision fatigue, diminishing clear thinking.
• Sleep Disruption: Stress can disrupt sleep patterns, further impacting cognitive performance and emotional well-being.

Stress Management for Crisis Managers

Effective stress management is crucial for managers to minimize negative psychological and cognitive effects. Crisis management professionals can experience secondary traumatic stress, which affects their leadership and decision-making capabilities.

1. Mental Resilience: Essential for leaders during crises, as it helps them navigate challenges and maintain their well-being.

2. Self-Care: Prioritizing self-care activities like exercise, breaks, and sleep is crucial for long-term effectiveness.

3. Social Support: Helps buffer the effects of stress and enhance resilience. Leaders may want to invest in counseling or therapy to address emotional tolls.

4. Training and Preparation: Equips personnel with strategies to manage stress and respond effectively in critical situations.

5. Performance Over Extended Periods: Managers often need to operate effectively over prolonged periods, requiring strategies to manage stress and fatigue.

The Bottom Line

While some studies indicate potential positive effects of stress on certain cognitive functions, particularly under controlled conditions, the overall research suggests that prolonged and unmanaged stress negatively impacts psychological and cognitive performance, especially for those in crisis management roles.

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References

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