In spite of its name, this cruel form of punishment doesn't originate from China. It is likely that its origins go back to the 1400's when an Italian lawyer and doctor called Hippolytus de Marsiliis, created this form of punishment. He believed that, in the same way drops of water can wear down a stone over time, they can have the same destructive effect on a person's brain. It works like this: Victims are strapped down to a chair and either cold or warm water is then dripped slowly on to their foreheads. The mental anguish is caused by three factors: Firstly, the victim can see the drops as they fall; secondly, the few seconds anticipating each drop increases the pain; and thirdly, the victim becomes more and more frantic and paranoid by imagining that a hollow is forming on the front of their head.
Stress and anxiety operate in the same kind of way.
You start off not feeling very much pain. Little things begin to irritate and apply pressure in different places. Drip... Nothing significant, nothing too painful, but persistent, nonetheless. Drip... drip... Soldier on, this will pass. Pressure builds, bit by bit. Drip... drip... drip... Things become more and more uncomfortable. You now feel trapped and slightly claustrophobic. Drip... drip... drip... drip... More pressure. Is it imagined or is it real? Doesn't matter, either way you still feel trapped. Then one day, without warning, the flood gates open.
Game over.
From my experience, there are four things that you can do to reduce stress and anxiety in the workplace.
1. Fish in the right ponds
- Stick to your core strengths: Work out what you are good at, what you enjoy doing and try to understand the core essence of your personality. Find a career and a company that match. This is by far the most effective way of remaining on the mental straight and narrow and avoiding excess stress at work.
- Raise your hand: Insist on getting support from the beginning if you start to feel yourself drowning. You might well be in the right job but you may simply be experiencing teething problems. Don't wait until it is too late.
- Ask to be excused: Once you had sufficient experience of your new responsibilities put your hand up quickly if the job is not for you. Cut your losses before the pain sets in.
2. Run on a full tank
- Refill the tank: Take time off before starting any new job. The previous few months are often quite stressful and you may be running on empty and in need of rest and recuperation.
- Keep the batteries charged: Be disciplined about exercising daily. Physical and mental fitness go hand in hand.
- Turn off your brain: Evenings and weekends should be strictly off limits as far as work is concerned. Give your brain the time off it needs and deserves
3. Mark Simmonds [1] is a creativity, insight and innovation expert and the founder of GENIUS YOU [2] - a company which helps teams develop winning ideas by strengthening creative musclesÂ