Is work getting to you?
The word stress has come to mean many things in our society. The emotional effects may include:
  • being anxious or irritable,
  • having frequent mood changes,
  • responding to life's problems by abuse of alcohol or other drugs,
  • or even the development of serious anxiety disorders or depression.


Work related stress occurs when we recognise our own inability to cope with daily work demands and experience significant emotional discomfort. It may affect our thinking, our susceptibility to accidents and physical illness as well as our mental health. Significant workplace stressors include:
  • organisational change and restructuring,
  • job insecurity,
  • increased workload,
  • and poor communication between different levels of staff and managers.


At an individual level lack of control over workplace processes and decisions, role ambiguity, overwork and a sense of being ‘just a cog in the machine’ have seen a significant rise in recent years of sick leave, stress related compensation claims and financial insecurity.

What can you do about work stress?


For many people acknowledgement that mood swings, irritability, sleeplessness, uncharacteristic changes in behaviour, or a preoccupation with work issues may be signs of stress is a starting point. Deciding to change behaviours may be difficult. Financial commitments, uncertainty about alternative employment and fear of change contribute to some people’s decision to stay in unrewarding jobs and unhealthy work environments.

Alternatively, reviewing the balance between work, family and personal commitments in order to create time away from ‘workthink’ helps reduce stress.

Useful strategies:
  • Decide to work less,
  • Learn relaxation techniques,
  • Choose to create time for activities totally unrelated to work.


Reviewing job descriptions, clarifying roles and changing communication systems are often necessary in larger organisations.

Finally, successfully managing stress depends on how well we adapt to life events and our ability to identify those things we can change and those we cannot.