What is work stress?

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

Our days fly by. Between the alarm clock that doesn't let us sleep the hours we should, the traffic to get to work, deadlines, meetings, presentations, children, household chores, the phone always ringing... there is little time left to take care of ourselves. Many people cannot organize themselves to manage their time well, and others simply cannot keep up with everything they have to do.

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

Work-related stress, in turn, is harmful to the health of workers and ultimately affects the productivity of the company.

According to the APSEI (Portuguese Association of Safety), "the individual feels stress at work when they perceive that there is an imbalance between the demands placed on them and the physical and mental resources they have to respond to them."

This phenomenon is positive up to a point. In the initial phase, stress is not harmful as it is a response of our body to a stimulus. It is our way of dealing with new situations and telling us that we need to act. We all have occasional moments of stress at work - a job interview or an important presentation. The danger begins when these moments cease to be occasional and become very frequent and prolonged over time.

Data from the European Union indicates that about 50% of the population suffers from stress in the workplace. With the covid-19 pandemic and the consequent requirement for remote work, LinkedIn conducted a study that concluded this arrangement left workers 62% more stressed and anxious. But how to recognize the causes? Here are some examples:

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

Work stress 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;
• Decrease in immunity;
• Excessive fatigue;
• Chest pain;

Emotionally, the symptoms are:

• Mood swings;
• Irritability;
• Anxiety;
• Difficulty in relaxing and concentrating;
• Social isolation;
• Feeling of overload;

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

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