feature
The Statistics
The main work factors cited by respondents as
causing work related stress, depression or anxiety
were workload pressures, including tight deadlines
and too much responsibility and a lack of
managerial support.
The total number of working days lost due to this
condition in 2014/15 was 9.9 million days. This equated
to an average of 23 days lost per case.
In 2014/15 stress accounted for 35% of all work
related ill health cases and 43% of all working days lost
due to ill health.
The main reasons for stress at work?
Stress affects us all, and no more so than in
the workplace. The chemicals, adrenaline and
hormones which build up in our systems in
response to the pressures of everyday life have
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no way to dissipate in our modern lives, and the
effects of this can be serious enough to cause
significant physical and psychological damage.
Do you know the main reasons for stress at work?
There are increasing redundancies taking place in our
current climate for one thing. Inevitably this leads to a
lot of worries arising where people might wonder how
they’ll get by or provide for their families.
Relationship conflicts between colleagues, a build up
of accidents caused by a worker and problems linked
with the overall upkeep of the organisation’s image could
also contribute to elevated stress levels. Depression and
issues from work are one of the main causes of stress
reported by patients in the doctor’s surgery.
How to Identify Stress
Stress is an adverse reaction(s) experienced to too
much (or too little) pressure. n
What to look for
These are some of the symptoms that are indicators of too much pressure that can come from
yourself, work, home, any combination of, or maybe even all three.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNS
• Inability to concentrate or make
simple decisions
• Memory lapses
• Becoming rather vague
• Easily distracted
• Less intuitive & creative
• Worrying
• Negative thinking
• Depression & anxiety
EMOTIONAL SIGNS
• Tearful
• Irritable
• Mood swings
• Extra sensitive to criticism
• Defensive
• Feeling out of control
• Lack of motivation
• Angry
• Frustrated
• Lack of confidence
• Lack of self-esteem
PHYSICAL SIGNS
• Aches/pains & muscle tension/grinding teeth
• Frequent colds/infections
• Allergies/rashes/skin irritations
• Constipation/diarrhoea/ IBS
• Weight loss or gain
• Indigestion/heartburn/ulcers
• Hyperventilating/lump in the throat/pins & needles
• Dizziness/palpitations
• Panic attacks/nausea
• Physical tiredness
• Menstrual changes/loss of libido/sexual problems
• Heart problems/high blood pressure
BEHAVIOURAL SIGNS
• No time for relaxation or pleasurable activities
• Prone to accidents, forgetfulness
• Increased reliance on alcohol, smoking, caffeine,
recreational or illegal drugs
• Becoming a workaholic
• Poor time management and/or poor standards of
work
• Absenteeism
• Self neglect/change in appearance
• Social withdrawal
• Relationship problems
• Insomnia or waking tired
• Reckless
• Aggressive/anger outbursts
• Nervous
• Uncharacteristically lying
The symptoms that affect you will often accumulate until you are forced to take notice of them.
Don’t rationalise the symptoms away, if you are not sure – ask your GP, speak to your direct line
manager or someone in HR, but don’t ignore how you are feeling, tackle the situation before it
spirals out of control.