Workplace Stress

26 Mar Workplace Stress

We’ve all encountered workplace stress at some point in our careers. Some stress is positive and some is well…not so good. The positive stress motivates one to complete tasks and increases productivity. That other stuff, the topic for this post, creates all sorts of discomfort. Workplace stress can interfere with multiple aspects of one’s life. If stress is not addressed it can linger and cause major difficulties. Think of the time you’ve encountered workplace stress; the demand of the job and encountering different stressful events throughout the course of completing assignments. You may have been overwhelmed with multiple tasks and responsibilities. You may have felt stress about working to provide for yourself or family. This type of stress eventually leads complications and maladaptive coping behaviors.

Studies have proven over 80% of workers feel stress throughout their careers and approximately 40% need help managing stress. The workforce presents with huge demand, fewer workers and less pay which increases the likelihood of one experiencing stress. The worker is left with little control of the demand and oftentimes very little assistance if any from upper management/immediate supervisors. These actions result in longer hours worked and individuals working harder to meet the demands of the job & management. The average worker is clocking 49+ hours weekly during a 40-hour work week. Due to the demand, employees often skip lunch and neglect themselves to complete assignments. In severe cases the rate of absenteeism. Over time the pressure builds.

Many employees encounter different management styles & personalities that may affect job performance. How you may say? Let’s think about the manager that presents with interpersonal deficits and engages with employees passive aggressively or projects negativity on employees due to their own inadequacies. The employee is forced to deal with a manager who lacks people skills or understanding of what it takes to encourage and provide support to the employee. The employee feels overused and unappreciated meanwhile the job demands are steadily increasing. However, there’s a system in place for these types of complaints…HR right? Oftentimes, HR/Human Resources is just a system that supports the employer and will do anything to keep a neutral tone in cases where grievances and complaints have been filed. In recent months, I have seen an influx of workplace stress cases. In most cases, my clients have endured stress for many years and are unable to cope at this point.

The pressure of meeting the demands of the job and engaging with individuals with attitudes and micro-aggressions have led to psychosomatic complaints. Some of you may ask what is a psychosomatic complaint. It’s a physical symptom that manifested from an emotional issue. Think of the neck & shoulder pain you have experienced that did not come from heavy lifting or aggravating an old sports injury. Neck & shoulder pain is the number one psychosomatic complaint due to tension and pressure felt during stress. Some others include stomachaches, back pain, jaw pain and overall physical discomfort. Lingering stress can lead to major health issues such as hypertension, heart attacks, digestive disorders and other systemic issues.

So how do we decrease workplace stress? We plan out our days, schedule sufficient break periods, rest well at night, develop effective communication skills, ask for assistance and implement effective coping skills. Sounds like a lot but if you actually look at it these are the essentials to improving workplace stress. There may be times where seeking further guidance is needed, the ability to effectively communicate issues will improve the situation. Some may need assistance in managing stress. Seeking professional assistance in the form of therapy or inquiring about the situation to proper individuals in the work space will be beneficial. Let’s all work to decrease workplace stress. Remember our tools and just breathe.

Your Favorite Therapist.