Workplace anxiety – can result from stressful working conditions, interacting with colleagues and supervisors, and fears of inadequacy or judgement.
Workplace anxiety is a response to stress and can be triggered from a range of factors. While most people experience some levels of stress in the workplace, workplace anxiety differs in that it goes beyond the body’s natural response to fear.
It’s important to distinguish between healthy, productive levels of stress and that of anxiety, which impacts an individual’s mental focus, satisfaction, motivation, and ability to carry out their work duties. Common work anxieties include:
- Fear of public speaking/ speaking up in meetings
- Fear of working in groups
- Fear of not meeting deadlines
- Fear of being judged
- Fear of humiliation
- Fear of interacting with authority figures
- Avoidance of committing to new tasks
- Fear associated with a promotion
When these anxieties are not addressed, they can worsen and cause serious implications to both emotional wellbeing and workplace performance. Ignoring the warning signs can lead to bigger problems.
Recognizing the signs of workplace anxiety is the first step in making improvements to your mental health.
Signs and symptoms to look for include:
- Feeling irritable or depressed
- Disappointment with yourself even when you haven’t made mistakes
- Increased emotional reactions
- Loss of interest in work
- Loss of confidence in your abilities
- Changes in eating habits
- Problems sleeping
- Fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Stomach problems
- Social withdrawal
- Changes in work attendance
- Loss of libido
- Using alcohol or drugs to cope
Should you recognize any of these symptoms, take steps to reduce job stress. When stress interferes with your ability to perform in your job, manage your personal life or adversely impacts your health, it’s time to take action. By protecting your physical and emotional health, you’ll become stronger and more resilient to stress. Essentially, the better you feel, the better equipped you are to manage workplace anxiety.
The good news is that even minor changes can make a difference. Managing stress doesn’t mean a total lifestyle overhaul. A range of positive changes will greatly impact your stress levels over time.
Reach out to me if you have any questions or would like help with work stress.
Phone: 484-876-1842. Email: lipcounseling@gmail.com
