Currently, one of the main problems we deal with in our practice is the so-called burnout . Therefore, we will try to reflect on what it consists of, what consequences it usually entails and how we can address it.

Job stress: what it is, and possible causes

We tend to think that stress equals workload and that it always means discomfort, but this is not exactly the case. What we understand by stress doesn’t have to be something negative , in a certain amount, it can activate us and make us perform better.

On the other hand, what we usually understand by stress with negative connotations usually occurs when there is an imbalance between the tasks we must do or that are demanded of us and our possibilities, that is, we do not feel capable of responding to certain demands. Therefore, in the work environment, it is very common that this type of discomfort arises.

Furthermore, occupational stress is usually associated with other factors that in turn cause it indirectly , such as the following.

  • Bad work environment or any social relationship at work that is emotionally charged.
  • Feeling lonely at work or not having any social relationship at all
  • Lack of control in your own work, that is, if the tasks you perform depend on other people, if you have no power of decision in schedules, tasks, etc.
  • Overloading tasks for the time available, and even more so if this requires “taking work home”. The fact that work takes up too much time in your life is often the factor most associated with job stress.
  • Fuzzy tasks and poorly defined objectives.
  • Differences between own values and those of the company
  • Little reinforcement from peers and/or superiors.
  • Competitive environment.
  • Dysfunctional leadership style on the part of superiors (they may either be very authoritarian or, on the contrary, very passive and without imposing any obligation, generating ambivalence etc.).
  • Suffering threats of dismissal or similar.
  • Working in precarious conditions and/or out of economic necessity.
  • Performing a job that is too difficult without prior training or, on the contrary, too easy for the person, or too monotonous.
  • Continuous complaints or demands from colleagues and/or superiors.
  • Not feeling professionally developed, which is often accompanied by the development of tasks that are not the person’s own.

There may be additional causes depending on the context in which you are working.

What does a person suffering from work stress feel?

Job stress usually manifests itself with some or all of the following symptoms .

  • Increased irritability
  • Insomnia or other sleep disorders
  • Gastrointestinal complaints
  • De-motivation towards employment or even leisure activities
  • Physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that can lead to apathy and even a depressed mood
  • Lowering of defenses and, as a possible consequence, propensity to acquire various diseases.
  • Learned helplessness (learning that what happens to us cannot be changed, that we cannot do anything).
  • Feeling of blinding and/or depersonalization
  • Anxiety, which can express itself in a continuous nervousness and be accompanied by occasional anxiety attacks.
  • Family and social problems, which are usually linked to the change in the person’s state of mind and the lack of time spent with the closest circle.

How can we get rid of this problem?

If you have detected that you are suffering from work stress, it is very important and necessary to ask for psychological help because, although wanting to stop this stress is a big step, wanting to do it alone and not knowing how it can generate more frustration and be another added burden.

In addition, deciding, for example, to give up certain tasks or change jobs is often difficult to do without further stress. For this and other reasons, it is essential that a psychologist accompanies you on this journey .

In psychological therapy, we assess exactly what the reasons for this stress are, since it is not the same to manage a bad work environment or an inadequate leadership style on the part of the superior, as not having free time.

Once what the patient feels and why has been detected and evaluated, we proceed to equip him/her with tools to

  • Eliminate symptoms of stress
  • Adopting behaviors that may be beneficial such as considering eliminating certain tasks, changing jobs, talking to your superior, getting more rest, etc.
  • Change irrational thoughts about the situation you are experiencing, for example, those of guilt, anger and frustration etc.

In other words, we work on a triple plane, on a physiological level (reducing anxiety, irritability, depression…), on a cognitive level, and on a behavioural level (what can I do to change what is happening to me?).

If you would like more information about work stress or would like to share your experience, please write to [email protected].