What is stress at work?

Stress is a physiological and psychological response of our body in relation to something that has happened, or that will happen, that makes us feel anxious, threatened, worried or frustrated and that, in some way, disturbs the our balance.

Our days go by. Between the alarm clock that doesn't let us sleep as much as we should, the traffic to get to work, delivery deadlines, meetings, presentations, children, household chores, the cell phone always ringing... there's little time left to take care of ourselves. Many people are unable to organize themselves in order to manage their time well and others simply cannot manage everything they have to do.

The importance of stress management in everyday life is a topic that has been increasingly addressed. It has been proven that constant stress reduces quality of life and increases the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases, among many others.

Stress at work, in turn, is harmful to workers' health and ends up affecting the company's productivity.

According to APSEI (Portuguese Security Association), “individuals feel stress at work when they realize that there is an imbalance between the demands imposed on them and the physical and mental resources they have available to them. respond.”

This phenomenon is positive to a certain extent. At an initial stage, stress is not harmful because it is our body's response to a stimulus. It's our way of dealing with new situations and telling ourselves that we need to act. We all have occasional stressful moments at work – a job interview or an important presentation. The danger begins when these moments stop being occasional and become very frequent and prolonged over time.

Data from the European Union says that around 50% of the population suffers from stress in the workplace. With the covid-19 pandemic and the consequent obligation to telework, Linkedin carried out a study that concludes that this regime has left workers 62% more stressed and anxious. But how to recognize the causes? We give some examples:

 

• Authoritarian and unclear leadership regarding responsibilities;
• Low salary;
• Overwork;
• Unattainable goals;
• Career stagnation;
• Lack of collaboration and coordination;
• Constant changes in the company structure;
• Harassment, intimidation or discrimination;
• Transfer of workplace;
• Bad atmosphere within the team;
• Lack of communication;
• Constant pressure from superiors;
• Excessive competitiveness;

Stress at work can have very different symptoms, varying from person to person. It is important to know what they are so we can identify them. Some of the physical symptoms are:

• Headaches;
• Muscle pain;
• High tension;
• Changes in the digestive system;
• Dizziness;
• Decreased immunity;
• Excessive fatigue;
• Chest pain;

On an emotional level, the symptoms are:

• Mood swings;
• Irritability;
• Anxiety;
• Difficulty relaxing and concentrating;
• Social isolation;
• Feeling of being overwhelmed;

 

 

If you have any of the problems discussed above, try to find out what their causes are. This is an important step towards resolution. In the next article we will give suggestions for dealing with and combating stress at work. Stay tuned!

 

 

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