Top Ten Surprising Facts about Workplace Anxiety

workplace anxiety It’s no secret that work creates stress. Deadlines, conflicts with co-workers, unclear expectations from superiors, and long hours away from family are hard for many people to deal with. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) says that 72% of Americans say that workplace stress and anxiety interfere with their lives. Job-related stress causes problems that affect work performance, relationships, and quality of life. Maybe it’s time to get these facts out in the open at your workplace and find some real solutions.

10 Facts About Workplace Anxiety

  1. 40% of employees experience persistent stress or excessive anxiety in their daily lives. Only 9% have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
  2. 75% of these employees say that workplace stress affects their personal lives, this is more apparent with men (83%) than women (72%).
  3. Seven in 10 of these adults report that workplace stress affects their personal relationships, mainly with their spouses.
  4. The main reasons for work-related stress are:
    1. deadlines (55%)
    2. interpersonal relationships (53%)
    3. staff management (50%)
    4. dealing with issues/problems that arise (49%)
  5. The top method people use to manage stress at work is to sleep more (44% total). Other ways to manage stress include:
    1. consuming more caffeine (31%)
    2. smoking (27%)
    3. exercising more frequently (25%)
    4. taking over-the-counter or prescription medication (23%)
    5. consuming more alcoholic beverages (20%)
  6. Men and women manage stress differently:
    1. Women are significantly more likely than men to eat more (46% vs. 27%) and talk to family and friends (44% vs. 21%) to manage job stress.
    2. Men are significantly more likely than women to have sex more frequently (19% vs. 10%) and use illegal drugs (12% vs. 2%) to manage job stress.
  7. When it comes to talking to employers & stress, fewer than half of employees have talked to their employer. Here’s why:
    1. fear their boss would interpret it as lack of interest or unwillingness to do the activity (34%)
    2. scared of being labeled “weak” (31%)
    3. fear it would affect promotion opportunities (22%)
    4. thinking it would go in their file (22%)
    5. fear being laughed at or not taken seriously (20%)
  8. Only one-fourth of those with an anxiety disorder have told their employers. The three-fourths who have not feared…
    1. their boss would interpret it as a lack of interest of unwillingness to do the activity (38%).
    2. it would affect promotion opportunities (34%).
    3. it would go in their file (31%).
  9. Employees with anxiety disorders ease their symptoms in a variety of ways, primarily…
    1. taking over-the-counter or prescription medication (52%)
    2. sleeping more (50%)
    3. eating more (39%)
    4. talking to family or friends (38%)
    5. talking to a medical or mental health professional (37%)
  10. It’s important to find help for anxiety, stress, and related disorders. With treatment, most people with anxiety disorders find significant improvement. Several standard approaches have proved effective. Your health care professional will use one or a combination of these treatments:
    1. Therapy
    2. Medication
    3. Complementary and alternative treatment
    4. Relaxation techniques
    5. Regular exercise

Source: Anxiety and Depression Association of America (http://www.adaa.org/managing-stress-anxiety-in-workplace/anxiety-disorders-in-workplace)

anxiety

Workplace Anxiety-relieving Techniques

Anxiety is different for everyone. Here are some techniques can potentially help mitigate symptoms:

  1. Move around: Taking a brief walk or finding a quiet area in the workplace to perform a quick exercise can help alleviate feelings of anxiety. Moving around releases endorphins that can have a calming effect on individuals.
  2. Break-up large tasks: Large projects can sometimes seem overwhelming. By breaking them down into smaller tasks, they may be easier to complete. Keep in mind that breaks are essential, it can help you reflect on what you have accomplished.
  3. Reassure yourself: Anxiety is often a temporary feeling that becomes an obsessive thought. Make sure to reassure yourself that you will be OK and that the negative feelings will pass. Taking the time to do something for yourself where you can clear your mind can be helpful.
  4. Talk with someone: Friends and loved ones can offer words of reassurance, and even writing an unrelated email to someone you know can help to slow or stop feelings of anxiety.

 

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