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Work-related stress is on the rise and can include these 5 signs: a sense of dread; a lack of motivation which can affect performance; increased physical and mental sensitivity including sensitivity to pain; feelings of self-doubt or paranoia; and lastly, relationships with work colleagues being affected.
Incidents of workplace stress have been rising exponentially.
The HSC (using data from the UK Labour Force Survey) has estimated that half the work-related health cases in 2020/21 were connected with stress. To clarify, that was approximately 822,000 people in recent times reporting feelings of anxiety, or depression, because of work. (1)
I am immediately reminded of a particularly manky job I had many years ago, for one day only) in a smelly glue factory. It felt as if I was living an eternity of never-ending misery. This is a particularly melodramatic example - everyone will have days of intense pressure or boring, glum afternoons when the job seems to go on forever. Usually, the next day (or even the following hour) can feel more manageable. The solution may be as simple as a bit of distraction - sharing a joke with a colleague. That rotten day (all those years ago), I flounced out of the glue factory and found another job. It may be a different scenario and more challenging to find a resolution when people experience workplace stress that becomes chronic (long-term) and more serious. This can result in much unhappiness, poor timekeeping, missed days and underperformance at work.
What are 5 signs of work-related stress?
1. A sense of dread.
Heading into work with a dreadful, sinking feeling is a pretty good indicator of work dissatisfaction, and it may be more difficult to face the workload at the start of the week, especially in a stressful environment.(2) Statistics show that the chances of having a heart attack increase on a Monday.(3) A sense of dread can present as low mood or anxiousness, and it may trigger weird physical symptoms and cause sweating, trembling or queasiness.
2. A lack of motivation.
Any lack of motivation and not being able to make yourself perform at work can make the day feel long, hopeless and pointless. It can be driven by work stressors that cause feelings of powerlessness or frustration. Without incentives or positive feedback, a job can feel meaningless; while a workload that is too chaotic or demanding can make people feel overwhelmed and inadequate.
3. Self-doubt or paranoia
Stress and anxiety can eat away at self-confidence and make people question their judgements, ability and likeability. Job security may be a worry. In the work environment, this can affect their relationships with others and their ability to do their job well, thereby feeding their fears that they are inferior or that people are judging them harshly.
4. Increased physical and mental sensitivity
Stress and anxiety increase pain sensitivity.(4) We react to stress with a fight or flight response in a very physical way, whereby we get a red face and our heart races during a confrontation with a colleague or when we have to work hard to make a deadline. These are normal responses to a drama; however, if this is experienced frequently the nervous system goes into high alert mode. Muscles become stiff and tense, making pain, injuries such as back pain, and inflammation more likely. Sleep can be affected as the nervous system becomes frazzled and easily triggered by workplace stressors such as deadlines or routine changes.
5. Poor relationships with others
Stress at work may cause tiredness, irritability, anger or low mood. Full-time workers spend much of their waking life at work, so any chronic mood changes or unhappiness can impact their relationships with work colleagues, friends and family. Poor relationships at work may also be the cause of workplace stress if a fellow employee or manager is behaving in a bullying or disrespectful manner.
Tips for tackling workplace stress
Take note
Log your symptoms of stress, your feelings, and any triggers at work that make you miserable. This will highlight the most glaring issues, whether it's the bullying behaviour of a boss, feelings of frustration when you are not being listened to, or maybe just boredom when your work is unchallenging or unrewarding. Having it down on paper or screen will help you to communicate the problems you are experiencing and ultimately find solutions that will work for you.
Talk to someone
It may help to talk to a friend, colleague, GP or professional talk therapist about the stress you are feeling. Sometimes, unloading your thoughts can help you see your troubles more clearly and help you find helpful solutions. A private word with your boss or HR representative, whether to express dissatisfaction or seek support, may result in lasting positive action.
Take self-care actions to reduce the effects workplace stress is having on you
- Get enough sleep, go to bed on time, practice good sleep hygiene, and take a sleep remedy such as Dormeasan Sleep if can't get to sleep or if you wake in the night.
- Make sure that you are drinking enough water. Our brains are big bags of water, and even 2% dehydration can result in reduced cognitive function and increased feelings of anxiety.(5)
- Don't work through your breaks: they are there for a good reason - use them to recharge and revitalise your mind and body. Eat well, rest and move about (especially if you are mostly stuck behind a desk or counter).
- Take a few deep breaths to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and shut down panicky feelings. Use some nervous system support such as a magnesium supplement and Passiflora Complex tablets.
- Seek more information on the dos and don'ts of tackling work-related stress. You may find useful tips on the HSA (Health and Safety Authority) website.
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