We’ve all experienced stress within our lives and a little stress in our work life can actually do us some good, as it helps prepare and focus the mind and some studies have even suggested that it can help to improve your memory. However, dealing with prolonged stress can lead to mental and physical symptoms which can cause long-term issues if not dealt with. This is when it tends to become an issue for both the employer and employee, as it can affect your day to day work life.
Recognising and understanding how you can tackle workplace stress is something that every company, big or small, will need to be prepared for. But, employees also need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stress as often they can present themselves in ways which may not be anticipated
Affected Pressure Points
Even short-lived stress can have a huge impact on your body. Many people find that before they are set to give a presentation or take a test at work, they suffer from stomach ache, which is a very common symptom of stress.
There have been multiple studies which have shown that emotional stresses, particularly anger, can be known to trigger arrhythmias and heart attacks and, although this mostly only happens to people who already have heart disease, some people aren’t aware that there is an issue until stress causes their body to react. When we are stressed, our bodies release cortisol, as well as other stress hormones, as part of our fight or flight instinct. This can cause an increase in heart rate and blood pressure levels and can even cause chest discomfort and, over time, this can cause serious strain on your heart.
Acne Outbreaks
Acne is one of the most common ways for stress to manifest itself. When you are feeling stressed out, you unknowingly touch your face more often, which then spreads bacteria and develops into acne. As well as acne breakouts, stress can also show as a rash or red, warm patch of skin. This is because anxiety, which is a symptom of stress, causes havoc on your immune system and can make skin conditions flare up. If your acne is getting you down or causing you more stress, then visit an aesthetic clinic for a skincare consultation or much-needed relaxing facial.
Waves of Nausea
Whether you often feel like you have a knot in your stomach at work or have very clear nausea, stress can have a whole host of different stomach issues. Your digestion is often disrupted when you are stressed and everything tends to slow down as your nervous system focuses on coping with it. Longer lasting conditions, such as IBS, are also linked to stress as the colon is partly controlled by your nervous system. Those who suffer from IBS tend to have colons which are much more sensitive to stress, thus making them suffer more.
Feeling Fatigued
If you are feeling stressed most days at work, then it is likely that you take this home with you. Many people who are stressed at work tend to have trouble sleeping and, if you’re not sleeping well, then you will feel extremely tired the next day. But, when your body is working overtime to handle the stress, it does take a lot out of you and you may find that you are more irritable than usual, which is your body’s way of dealing with the stress. Try some stress relievers, such as exercise or yoga and try to calm and relieve your mind.
Foggy Headaches
Stress is the most common cause of tension headache and can often trigger more troublesome types of headaches, such as migraines. Major life events don’t tend to cause stress-related headaches, it is more often irritants you encounter every day, which is why they are often found at the root of workplace stress. You respond to these stresses by tensing your muscles, stiffening your muscles or grinding your teeth, which is where the headaches stem from. Whilst you can’t avoid daily stressors, you can keep them under control by taking regular breaks, going for walks on your dinner hour or even just interacting with your pet when you get home.
