Stress in the Workplace

Stress in the Workplace Related Information:

Work related stress is becoming more and more common, and many doctors now find themselves facing patients who are suffering with stress that stems from work. There are so many work related situations that can cause stress that it’s no wonder that work is one of the biggest stressors around. Most people spend a great deal of their time at their work places, and their jobs are what provide them with financial security, so any imbalance or change can cause major upheaval which then leads to stress.

Some of the things that can be a cause of work related stress include:

Mergers: When a company decides to merge, many employees immediately start to worry about the security of their jobs, whether there will be new management, whether there will be redundancies and how the merger will affect their jobs.

Security: Job security is important to all of us, as it is this that gives us the comfort of financial security and enables us to pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads. As soon as any doubt creeps in with regards to job security, the stress is never far behind. It could be that you are having a restructure of department, perhaps a merger or maybe there have been some redundancies recently. Anything can set off doubts with regards to job security, and this is a major cause of stress.

Relationships: Because people spend an average of eight hours a day at their workplaces, they naturally spend a lot of time with colleagues. Therefore, it can become quite difficult if there is an employee that you really don’t get on with, or maybe you don’t feel as thought you fit in with your team of colleagues. Perhaps you don’t get on with your manager, and find that he or she has favorites, of which you are not one. Bad relations at work can really make working difficult and can cause high stress levels.

Job Loss: This is one of the worst work related stressors, and can lead to not only chronic stress but severe depression. The loss of your job can result in not only the loss of financial security and related risks, but can also lead to a sense of worthlessness and futility. If you have been working five days a week, eight hours a day for many years, the sudden change can be bewildering.

Pressure: Many people find themselves under pressure every day, Some people thrive on pressure and deadlines, and this is fine, However, others can crumble under pressure, particularly long term pressure where there are deadlines to be met every day, demands to be complied with every day, and bosses breathing down your neck every day.

Lack of Job Satisfaction: Some people become stressed simply because they hate their jobs. Okay, most of us would give up work like a shot of we won the lottery, however, many of us still enjoy work and interacting with our colleagues and friends at work each day. Then there are those who despise their jobs, don’t really get on with anyone, and feel as though they are getting nowhere. This feeling can make you feel both worthless and stressed.

Trauma: This depends on the type of job you have, but those with jobs such as police officer of fire fighter may have experienced this type of stress. This is where a bad event or experience leaves a lasting mark, causing traumatic stress which can linger and fester unless dealt with.

There are a variety of things at work that can contribute towards stress. Some people suffer from none of these, some suffer from one, and other may suffer from several. But with work being such a major part of our lives, it is important that any work related stress is talked through or dealt with as soon as possible to prevent it from getting out of hand.