On Wednesday, 23^rd July, 2025, Prof. Dr. Syeda Salma Hasan, Professor of Psychology also chair at the Department of Psychology Government College University Lahore, delivered a talk on “Stress Management (Part-III)” to the participants of the 38^th SMC.

The distinguished guest speaker started her talk by defining stress as a nonspecific response of the body to a demand made on it. She explained that stress is experienced by the individuals when they experience pressure due to excessive demands placed on them. Stress can be good or bad for us, some amount of stress is essential for us to excel in life. She further explained that there are two types of stress acute and chronic. Acute Stress is intense stress and disappears quickly. For instance, stress felt by a driver who is chased by a police car experiences elevated heartbeat, hypertension, sweating etc. whereas chronic stress is moderately intense but longer in duration e.g., struggling with financial issues, dealing with unpleasant colleagues, being a misfit among people or places.

In the end, worthy speaker said that it is necessary to tackle stress otherwise stress can cause great damages to health. For instance, we should understand how are we dealing with our work stress and what are the causes behind our stress. She emphasized that understanding the personality types in a better way was acknowledged as a pre-requisite for handling stress in an effective manner. Once the stressors are identified, one should focus on measures to cope with them. Positive frame of mind avoiding unnecessary expectations is very important to address the stress. Speaker also introduced practical techniques such as mindfulness, time management, and cognitive behavioral strategies, to manage stress effectively. The session also emphasized the importance of fostering a supportive organizational culture, based on empathy, to enhance productivity and well-being within organizations.