How Can Workplace Stress Effect Your Health?

It seems that everyone these days is stressed. We’ve all had days where we feel flustered, angry and anxious and nights where it’s too difficult to fall asleep – where all you do is worry about what you have on your plate. The reality is many people can pinpoint their stress to the workplace and now workplace stress is quickly growing into a major health epidemic, with serious consequences for both employers and employees. In the short term, long hours or unmanageable workloads can lead to unhealthful lifestyle habits such as skipping lunch or sacrificing sleep, but such stress can give you more than tension headaches or sleepless nights, it can cause far worse health issues that can affect your whole body.

What are the Signs You’re Suffering Workplace Stress?

For some people, the signs of workplace stress can be immediate and obvious. However, for others the signs might not be as clear as heart palpitations or a constant feeling of all-time high adrenaline. What are some other, less-obvious signs of workplace stress?

• Constant feelings of anxiety or depression
• Irritability
• Feelings of fatigue, but difficulty sleeping
• ‍Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
• ‍Getting sick, such as with a cold, much more often
• ‍A sudden dip in your sex drive
• Turning to alcohol or drugs to deal with the stress
• Chest pain or a pounding heart
• Nausea, diarrhoea or constipation
• Muscle tension, pains and headaches
• Loss or change of appetite
• Feeling overwhelmed or frustrated
• Loss of confidence
• Thinking negatively

What are the Long Term Health Effects of Stress?

When we’re stressed, the hormone cortisol is released, this can trigger changes in the nervous, cardiovascular, and immune systems. The body then diverts energy to where it’s needed most, while it down-regulates less critical activities such as digestion. In the short term, it’s not a bad strategy, but long term, chronic stress can cause many serious health problems including:

• Mental health problems – depression, anxiety and personality disorders
• Cardiovascular disease – heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks and stroke
• Obesity and other eating disorders
• Menstrual problems
• Skin and hair problems – acne, psoriasis, and eczema, and permanent hair loss
• Gastrointestinal problems – GERD, gastritis, ulcerative colitis and irritable colon

Ways to Combat Workplace Stress

There’s no doubting stress in the office can be detrimental to your health, so what steps can you take to prevent your stress from growing out of control? ‍

Invest in positive relationships – Studies have shown that people who enjoy positive workplace relationships and friendships are less likely to suffer from stress. Invest in the people that you enjoy spending time with, having a friend in the office can make it easier to deal with tough days and situations.

Get active – Spending too much time at your desk is sure to make you feel stressed out and tired and will enhance any negative emotions. Get up and stretch your legs every hour and take a brief walk around the office. Use your lunch break to get away from your desk and go for a walk or practice yoga or meditation.

Think about your diet – Consuming a nutritious and balanced diet including fish, spinach, nuts, and other healthy fats will help keep you mind in a more balanced state. Avoid high sugar foods and also try to get enough sleep. When you’re tired, you’re more likely to give in to the temptations of junk food.

Get organised – Make a to-do list and prioritize the most important tasks. If your to-do list is simply too long and overwhelming, speak to your supervisor and see if any deadlines can be rescheduled to give you more time or see if some of your work can be handed to a co-worker. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed. By prioritising and organising your day, you will feel in control and this should help keep your stress levels manageable.

‍Move on – If you have tried numerous techniques but you’re still suffering enormous stress caused by your workplace then it might be time to consider a new job opportunity or even career change. This is especially true if the stress is damaging your health. Some workplaces are simply too toxic to overcome and walking away may be the best option for your overall wellbeing.

Some level of stress and pressure in the workplace is unavoidable, and sometimes it can actually be motivating, but it should not become chronic and unmanageable. If you are suffering unmanageable workplace stress, then a consultation with one of the experts at Psylegal might be just what you need. Conveniently located in Melbourne’s CBD, you can visit us before or after work. We will guide you through understanding your stress triggers, effective coping strategies and developing life balance. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.