Work Related Stress

What is Work Related Stress?

One definition of work-related stress is: “The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressures or other types of demand placed on them at work.“

When pressure and demands at work become too much, this can lead to work-related stress. It can have a negative impact on your physical and mental health and make it harder to do your job effectively. Work related stress often impacts your relationships too, which can in turn, impact your mood creating a vicious cycle.

Things that typically contribute to work related stress include: demands of your job – for instance, feeling like you have an excessive workload or unrealistic targets or deadlines, feeling that you lack of control over the way you do your job, not having enough support or information from managers or colleagues, difficult relationships with colleagues or bullying at work, being unclear about your job role and what you’re meant to do and a change in your workplace – whether that’s a change in your job role, team structure, management or something else.

In 2020 to 2021, around one in 40 workers were thought to be affected by work-related stress, anxiety or depression. Recognising the signs of work-related stress and dealing with it quickly can mean it will have less negative impact.

Am I suffering from work related stress?

Symptoms of work related stress:

• Fatigue
• Muscular tension
• Headaches
• Heart palpitations
• Sleeping difficulties, such as insomnia.
• Gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhoea or constipation
• Dermatological disorders.
• Anxiety about going to work
• Feeling depressed about your perceived lack of accomplishments at work
• Agitation
• Inability to focus or concentrate
• Low self-esteem and self-worth
• Feelings of hopelessness
• Exacerbation of any existing mental health conditions

Online therapy and treatment for work related stress

There are many effective ways to overcome word related stress, including: CBT, compassion- focused therapy (CFT), PCT, and IPT. Several of our online therapists are trained in these approaches and highly experienced in helping people overcome work related stress. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to arrange an initial assessment session.

You may also wish to look at our resources page for further ideas of getting help to manage symptoms that may be driving your work related stress, such as low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.