Work Stress
Most of us have experienced some sort of work stress: an overbearing boss, fears of being downsized, or an ever-increasing workload that becomes harder and harder to manage.
“Many people suffer the effects of work-related stress, and a lot of research shows that workplaces can sometimes exert powerful stress on individuals,” says Dr. Dan Bilsker, a psychologist at Vancouver General Hospital and a consultant to a mental health services research group (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University. “Whether it's through difficulties with workload management, or lack of perceived support in the workplace, or difficult supervisory styles and so forth, these kind of factors increasingly are recognized as very important in terms of what affects an individual's psychological health.”
A little stress can go a long way in helping to motivate us to work hard to achieve our goals. However, when work stress becomes overwhelming, it's an entirely negative experience. Everyone manages stress differently: a situation that causes you extreme distress may not bother someone else in the same situation, or vice versa.
Some of the symptoms of work stress include:
- Anxiety or depression
- Loss of interest in work or other activities
- Trouble concentrating
- Insomnia and fatigue
- Stomachaches
- Headaches
- Increase in alcohol or drug use
Fortunately, there is a lot that you can do to manage and reduce work stress. You may be able to minimize the effects of work stress by keeping active, allowing yourself time to rest, and learning how stress works with your personality type.
Time management is also essential, which can be difficult when it seems like there just aren't enough hours in the day. However, it's important to:
- Balance your schedule to allow time for both family and work life.
- Learn to prioritize. Don't take on too much, and be able to let go of tasks that aren't necessary, or put them at the bottom of your to-do list.
- Delegate. Don't be afraid to ask other people for help. Too often, we get caught in the cycle of wanting to control projects and do everything ourselves.
You also need to recognize when it's time to seek mental health counselling for work stress. “Those who feel that they might be dealing with very difficult workplace stress situations might be able to use their employee assistance program to get some problem-solving ideas,” says Dr. Bilsker. “But, they also might want referral to a psychologist who specifically works on this kind of issue, so they can deal more effectively with workplace stress situations.”
