5 signs your workplace stress may be a problem

We all become stressed at work at some point. Maybe you experience workplace stress on a daily basis or just every so often. While stress is completely normal, it can easily become dangerous to your mental, emotional and physical well-being. Here are some signs your workplace stress may be a problem:

1. When it becomes long-term

Stress is easier to handle in short increments of time. Right before an important deadline, you might get stressed trying to finish a deliverable. Once the deadline passes, your stress level should go down. However, if you are constantly up against deadline after deadline, you don’t have the opportunity to breathe in between and give yourself a break. This can make it so you are in a constant state of stress, making it difficult to ever come up for air and recover. If you find yourself in this never-ending stress cycle, I encourage you to talk to your manager about what you can handle to figure out a healthy solution that works for you and the business.

2. When it affects your physical health

One of the biggest indicators that your stress is becoming problematic is when it affects your physical health. Stress can manifest itself in physical ways, such as neck and back pain, migraines, lack of sleep, not eating, etc. During one of the worst periods of my workplace stress, I was hardly eating and in constant physical pain from being tense and hunched over my computer. If your stress starts affecting your physical health, I encourage you to practice self-care, even if that means forcing yourself to eat and get enough sleep. It’s amazing how putting a reminder on your calendar to eat lunch makes such a huge difference!

3. When it follows you home

A stressful day at work isn’t so bad when we can come home to decompress and enjoy our personal lives. When your workplace stress invades your personal life, though, it can start to become a problem. When my workplace stress was at its worst, I would come home after work and not be able to do anything. I wasn’t doing the things I enjoyed because I was so mentally, emotionally and physically worn out from my workday. If this sounds familiar to you, I encourage you to identify the source of your workplace stress to try to remedy it. Also, try reaching out to your friends, so they can encourage you to still do the things you love, even when work is stressing you out.

4. When there is no end in sight

Workplace stress can be so debilitating when there is no end in sight. If you look at your work calendar and there is no “breathing room” coming up anytime soon, it can be really discouraging. We have a lot of work to do, and we work hard to satisfy our clients. But that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your mental health in the process. If you don’t see any hope of reduced stress in the near future, I encourage you to reach out to your manager or Human Resources to discuss your situation.

5. When it leads to anxiety or depression

Workplace stress is a serious problem when it leads to anxiety or depression. Stress often directly contributes to these serious mental health conditions. I know my anxiety is significantly worse when my stress level is higher. If you think your workplace stress is leading to anxiety, depression or any other mental health disorder, I encourage you to talk to your friends, family and doctor about the best treatment path for you, whether that includes counseling and/or medication.

I’m sure all of us have said before “It’s just stress.” And that may be the case. But if you experience one or multiple of the above signs, your workplace stress may be a problem. It can be scary to address workplace stress because you don’t want to seem weak or incompetent for “not being able to handle everything.” But you are not weak or incompetent for prioritizing your mental health. You are brave. Make YOURSELF and YOUR mental health a priority today.