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The symptoms of work stress are unique for each one of us. Some may feel restless and unable to sleep, while others feel lethargic and depressed, but all of these symptoms can result from too much work stress. It might be helpful though to list the myriad of symptoms that can result from too much work stress. This way, you can begin to understand how deeply work stress can affect you, as well as how important and beneficial it is to make changes that address the feelings of stress resulting from your work.
Stress can have cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms. You may have symptoms in all 4 areas, or maybe just 1 or 2. Some of the cognitive symptoms include things like memory problems and an inability to concentrate. You may begin to feel you need to write everything down, or you miss important instructions that before would have been perfectly clear. You may also begin to experience poor judgment, trouble thinking clearly, or anxious and racing thoughts. Symptoms like these may become especially difficult if you are in a supervisory position and can thereby create even more work stress for you.
The emotional effects of stress are things like moodiness and agitation, irritability and a short temper. These symptoms especially may follow you home. If you are yelling at your kids more, or becoming upset with your friends for no real reason, work stress could easily be the culprit. Work stress can also cause a general feeling of depression or loneliness. You may even begin to isolate yourself as a result of all the stress you are experiencing at work, and then you may feel even more lonely and depressed. You are caught in the vicious cycle work stress can sometimes create.
The physical symptoms of work stress can often become very serious health concerns. Nausea, chest pains, headaches and frequent colds can all be linked to stress at work. And if the work stress continues, you may even end up with chronic physical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity or ulcers. The physical symptoms and chronic conditions often created by workplace stress account for an increase in health care costs for employers and employees as well as many missed days of work and lost productivity each year.
Work Stress can also create behavioral symptoms for many sufferers. Alcohol and drug abuse, Aggression and over eating/under eating, often result from work stress. Or you may develop nervous habits like nail biting or pacing. Many behavioral symptoms of work stress, if left untreated, can have great affects on your personal as well as your professional life.
As you can see by this list of symptoms, there really is no part of you that is protected from possible symptoms resulting from too much workplace stress. And, if left untreated, these symptoms of work stress can spiral out of control to the point where they permanently affect your professional and/or personal life. If you seem to have symptoms resulting from too much stress at work, don't hesitate to talk with your supervisor or physician to find ways to help decrease the stress in your life.
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