Corporate Stress Solutions: Case Studies: Frank's Ulcer

Corporate Stress Solutions: Case Studies: Frank's Ulcer

VP of Finance accepts promotion after reducing "success stress" on corporate intranet

As corporate comptroller for American operations, Frank was in line for a promotion to vice president of finance. Two of his long-time colleagues were also under consideration, but Frank was the front runner.

He tried to play down the competition, although he admitted to his doctor that it was "pretty fierce."
He felt ambivalent about the position. The money and status were nice, but every promotion he had received in the past had been traumatic. He wasn’t sure he was willing or able to go through it one more time.

When Frank appeared for the umpteenth time at the company medical department for "something for my upset stomach," the medical director, who was also his personal physician, suggested he run through Stress Direction’s site on the corporate intranet and take the Navigator. Frank thought he had an ulcer; his doctor thought he was "stressed out of his gourd" and that his stomach complaints were symptoms of how stress was "chewing him up."

The Stress Navigator gave Frank some insight into his problems with stress. He had started out as a low-level bookkeeper and moved up the ladder in a mid-size multinational corporation by diligence and hard work. By going to night school, he earned his CPA and was elevated to manager of his department with a big raise in pay.

The raise meant a new house in a new neighborhood. Frank was nervous about maintaining the mortgage, but his wife, Dorothea, insisted that it was best for them and their three children. She also insisted on remodeling and refurnishing their home.

Frank started keeping a bottle of "pink stuff" in his desk drawer at work and frequently took antacid tablets to relieve his "stomach trouble." Three promotions later, he was receiving prescription medications for his "stomach trouble." He was advised to watch his alcohol and coffee consumption and to quit smoking. He did and his symptoms went away. That is, until the next promotion.

To his wife Dorothea, each promotion meant a bigger house, an expensive car, a nicer neighborhood, better schools, and more powerful friends. Frank liked life to roll along smoothly. He didn’t like change. He wanted to be friends with people and "get along," but colleagues were resentful when he moved ahead of them. Frank was constantly placating someone about something.

In talking over his results with his physician, Frank was able to establish a connection between his physical symptoms and his acute stress episodes. He also explored his need to "get along" with everyone, and attended an assertiveness training workshop. He and Dorothea realized that while she thought he "deserved" his promotions and the moves were "fun," he had never expressed his mixed feelings about the promotions. Getting things in perspective enabled Frank to take that new job without losing his friends or aggravating his ulcer.

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