Stress on the Job and at Work
Work stress is the long-term impact of stress. Any job can be stressful in the short-term, like when meeting a big project deadline or nearing the end of a financial year. If this feeling lasts for many months and begins to affect your job performance, it turns into something called work stress. If your stress is uncontrolled, it can become an adjustment disorder, which happens when the amount of stress changes and causes emotional and behavioral symptoms in your everyday life. Adjustment disorder is a very common diagnosis. Some other common symptoms of work stress and adjustment disorder are anxiety, burnout, and depression. While there are other types of stress that can happen in your life, this type of stress is specific to the workplace.
Common Signs of Uncontrolled Work Stress
Work stress can create problems in your home life because it affects your sleep and may shorten your temper. It is hard to shut off your mind from what happened at work, which is why you bring that home in the form of headaches or stomachaches, as well. Additional signs of ongoing stress can be a weakened immune system and high blood pressure (hypertension). Work stress can combine with other unhealthy habits like overeating and smoking, which can spiral into other harmful routines.
Tips to Manage Work Stress
- Track your stressors. Keep a journal of your stressors and write about how you responded to them.
- Establish boundaries. In today’s digital world, it may be difficult, but do your best to keep work at work and home at home.
- Develop healthy responses. Find healthy ways that work for you to reduce the work stress you are experiencing. Try going for a short walk to get away from your computer, or try reading a new book.
Reference
Sources American Psychological Association. (2024, October 22). Coping with stress at work. https://www.apa.org/topics/healthy-workplaces/work-stress
Chirico, F. (2015). Adjustment disorders in DSM-5: Implications for occupational health surveillance. Acta Psychopathologica. https://www.primescholars.com/articles/adjustment-disorders-in-dsm5-implications-for-occupationalhealth-surveillance-104163.html
Frequently Asked Questions
How is work stress different than regular stress at work?
Work stress is the long-term impact of stress. If this feeling lasts for many months and begins to affect your job performance, then it turns into work stress. Regular job stress is something that will eventually end.
What are the physical effects of work stress?
You are able to have more frequent headaches and stomachaches. You also may experience insomnia and a shortened temper.
What happens when my long-term work stress goes unmanaged?
It can become an adjustment disorder, which happens when the amount of stress causes emotional and behavioral symptoms in your everyday life.