In a groundbreaking study out of New Zealand, is was found that, out of nearly 900 people with no previous mental health difficulties, 1 in 7 women – and 1 in 10 men – in high pressure jobs reported clinical levels of work-related anxiety and/or depression by the time they had turned 32 years old.
If left untreated, as two-thirds of anxiety disorders are, an individual can find their work becoming much harder and far less productive. Employees who experience anxiety-related symptoms on the job often report problems concentrating, excessive fatigue, irritability, and less productivity as a result of having to repeat work or correct mistakes.
Needless to say, this can have a profound effect on other team members, who may feel the need to frequently “help out” or become discouraged by the poor performance of an associate who is struggling with such anxiety.
Excessive hours, demanding supervisors, high workloads, and a lack of clear direction are rather obvious causes of stress and anxiety in the workplace. This is especially true when they occur together. In particular, jobs with high demands, combined with a lack of control and low to modest rewards (e.g., money, esteem, career opportunities) increase stress, putting employees at risk for work-related anxiety and general ill health.
There is a difference between a healthy stress response that occurs when the environment changes and we need to adapt – this is a well-tested evolutionary mechanism that helps us to survive and, if we choose to, grow as human beings. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a state where excessive worry is not related to a certain and recent event. Anxiety can be triggered by both external factors – the ones that are future-related, for example – and the internal factors, such as certain thought patterns that bring us again and again through exhausting circles of restlessness.
Unlike the stress response, anxiety does not disappear when the situation is resolved, appropriate actions have been taken, etc. It continues to build in the form of tension, irritability, and fears, resulting in poor work performance, health problems, and overall decrease in the quality of life.
Signs of Anxiety Disorder
According to the American Psychiatric Association, when people suffering from anxiety disorders talk about their condition, they often include these descriptions:
- Unrealistic or excessive worry
- Exaggerated startled reactions
- Sleep disturbances
- Jitteriness
- Fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Lump in throat
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Racing or pounding heart
In the workplace, these symptoms could translate into difficulty working with colleagues and clients, trouble concentrating, preoccupation over their fears instead of focusing on work, and turning down assignments because of fear of failure, fear of flying, riding an elevator, or public speaking. (WebMD)
Perceptions of fairness – or the lack of fairness at work – have also been linked to mental health in the workplace. For example, when managers are inclusive and transparent in their decision-making, employees are likely to feel more secure and less anxious – even if the actual decisions are unpopular.
By working to improve emotional intelligence in the workplace, work-related anxiety can be reduced for everyone, from leaders to every member of every team.
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