symptoms
recognising the symptoms, spotting the signs
Excessive and prolonged stress can take its toll on our physical and mental well-being resulting in a range of health problems.
Being able to recognise some of the most common causes and symptoms of stress in the workplace is important for employers enabling them to take the right steps to minimise any negative effects.
A recent article in the British Medical Journal, highlighted the following factors that could contribute to stress in the workplace:
Lack of support from others including co-workers
Uncertainty and lack of control
Extreme demands of working environment
Organisational culture
Difficult working relationships
They also state that these factors could manifest themselves in the following ways:
Sleeping patterns may be disturbed, with difficulty in getting off to sleep and early morning waking accompanied by nightmares
Irritability, coldness, and harshness towards others
Impaired performance and judgment as well as a negative attitude towards work and indecisiveness
Loss of confidence and control
It is vital that employers are able to recognise these signs. Early intervention is a key to successfully handling and resolving a stress-related issue.
source British Medical Journal
