Identifying stress and the typical symptoms
Identifying stress and the typical symptoms
5 minutes
Do you feel anxious because you’re not performing enough at work or because you have too much to do? For example, when an organisation goes through change, emotions can run high and stress levels can shoot up the roof because of uncertainty and fear of the unknown.
Stress is a physical, mental, and/or emotional response to events that cause bodily or mental tension. It arises when a person perceives that they cannot adequately cope with demands being placed on them or threats facing them.
Hence, as a leader, it is important to recognise the symptoms of stress. But how do you spot stress in yourself and your team?
Identifying stress and the typical symptoms
When you or your team members experience stress, it can ripple throughout your greater team and even your workplace. To support your team effectively, you need to be able to recognise the typical symptoms of stress in them, as well as yourself. It’s important to manage your own symptoms so that you can support others effectively. Common signs of stress include:
- Irritability, sudden and intense mood changes, becoming easily frustrated or angry
- Persistent worry, fear, and feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- A constant feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks and responsibilities, leading to burnout
- Difficulty concentrating, making it challenging to complete tasks and make decisions effectively
- Becoming flustered, forgetful and distracted
- Poor decision-making or making impulsive choices
- Pervasive negative thoughts and self-doubt
- Becoming less communicative and more isolated, avoiding interactions
- Loss of focus, energy, sense of humour and/or sense of proportion
- Unexplained changes in work patterns, performance, quality of work
- Increased use of alcohol or other substances as a coping mechanism to manage stress
- Changes in sleep patterns causing insomnia or excessive sleep
- Hyperactivity and not being able to rest or slow down
- Persistent fatigue or tiredness and a lack of energy, even after adequate rest
- Weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to illnesses
- Physical tension manifesting as headaches, muscle pain, and other tension-related symptoms
Understanding these symptoms is the first step in addressing stress. If you do notice these symptoms in your team, the first step is to talk about your concerns with the individual so that you can take the right actions to support them. You might be able to refer them to an Employee Assistance Program, take some workload from them, help them manage priorities or give them some time out of the office to recover.
If you are experiencing these symptoms yourself, then it’s equally important that you reach out for help and support.
