Is Workplace Anxiety Common?

If you’re feeling a high level of stress at work continually, it could be more than just an everyday experience—it may mean that you have symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder. Consider seeking help if your daily trial becomes too difficult to handle alone.

Workplace anxiety can take a heavy toll on individuals and their professional lives, often causing them to make decisions that are not in line with their career goals. The fear of managing others, speaking publicly or venturing into the unknown may prevent people from accepting promotions – but it shouldn’t have to be this way!

Examples of common indicators of workplace anxiety may include:

• Steering clear of friends and family
• Non-stop worrying
• Shedding tears
• Experiencing irritability, fatigue, or tension
• Experiencing the need to be perfect
• Struggling with sleep
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
• Feeling disinterested in your job
• Eating too much or not enough

What Are the Causes of Workplace Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are a far too common mental health condition in Australia, causing immense amounts of worry and apprehension that many struggle to cope with. Whereas normal worries may come before big presentations or meetings, an anxiety disorder takes this tension to the extreme – making it all but unbearable for those affected by it.

Without proper recognition, those living with an anxiety disorder might not get the support they need at work. To help managers and co-workers identify when someone may be struggling due to this condition, we suggest being aware of indicators like:

• A decrease in performance
• Too many absences from work
• Lacking enthusiasm for work
• Physical complaints such as sweating, stomach pains, and sleeping difficulties (where no other factors are present)
• Low job efficiency

From boosting productivity to improving psychological wellbeing, Debra Kissen PhD–a renowned clinical psychologist–emphasises the importance of connecting with your emotions during work hours.

Anxiety can range in intensity and effect, with some people still able to maintain a good level of performance under its influence while others experience significant disruption. According to Kissen, measuring your anxiety on this spectrum will allow you to realistically assess how it’s impacting daily life.

Anxiety at work can be a daunting issue, plaguing many employees. Unquestionably, long work hours and high stress levels play an important role; yet they don’t exhaust the list of factors that bring it on either – support from co-workers and managers makes its presence felt too.

Situations that may provoke anxiety include:

• Managing conflicts in the workplace
• Making presentations
• Maintaining personal relationships
• Gatherings like meetings, staff lunches and office parties
• Adhering to timeframes and schedules
• Expressing yourself in meetings

How to Handle Anxiety in the Workplace

Overwhelmed by stress and anxiety in the workplace? Take heart – there are plenty of strategies to help you make it through! Using these tools can be an empowering way to regain control, so take advantage today.

Monitoring your anxious feelings is a great way to gain insight into your triggers. Consider keeping an anxiety log and record moments of discomfort throughout the day – what you were doing, feeling and thinking at that time.

Confronting the anxieties that arise due to looming deadlines and commitments can be paralyzing, especially at the beginning or end of a long day. It’s important to recognise these feelings and listen to yourself in order for true relaxation – which will ultimately lead toward better focus on your tasks!

Kissen suggests avoiding jumping to conclusions and instead seriously considering alternative explanations. We don’t want to be unrealistic in our thinking, but rather strive for a non-catastrophic view of the situation.

Here are some extra tips:

• Develop healthy habits. Proper self-care is essential for maintaining a healthy state of mind and body. Get enough rest, refuel with nutritious meals, make time to exercise regularly, and keep your alcohol/caffeine intake moderate. Additionally, staying organised will help you get the most out of each day – take some extra moments to clear off your desk or organise files on your computer; it’ll certainly pay dividends later!
• Be improvest with yourself. If there isn’t enough time, don’t take on tasks, projects and assignments that you can’t handle.
• Convey your thoughts. Don’t let yourself be bogged down – if you need help, reach out right away. Keep your manager in the loop and apprise them of any workload that’s becoming too much to handle, as they may not realise your difficulty without being informed.
• Take a moment to celebrate your accomplishments and thank those who have helped you before moving on to the next task or project.
• Become informed. Combat anxiety in the workplace and take control of your mental health. Identify signs, understand causes, and discover strategies to manage stress levels before it gets out of hand.
• Do it correctly on the first attempt. Take a few extra minutes and ensure you achieve accuracy on the first attempt – this small investment in time will save an abundance of effort down the road.
• Make a plan and set goals. To tackle large-scale projects successfully, start early and break the work into manageable chunks. Be proactive in looking for potential pitfalls – it’s better to be prepared than surprised!
• Establish boundaries; don’t bring work home. Step away from the stress of office life by setting a rule that you won’t check voicemails or emails after-hours. Let yourself focus on one day at a time and enjoy some well earned rest!
• Avoid toxic co-workers, and don’t participate in gossip or negative talk in the workplace.
• Rest when you have to. Take a break and explore new ways to clear your mind – deep breathing, taking leisurely walks or even travelling. Recharging your batteries in this way will leave you feeling revitalized and ready for the next challenge!
• Speak to a colleague who you trust. Making your co-workers aware of how anxiety can affect you may be key to creating a comfortable workplace. Openly discussing internal anxieties allows for them to better understand and support you, reducing the fear or distress that comes with feeling overwhelmed at work.
• Exercise your time organisation capabilities. Time management is the key to reducing stress! Using to-do lists can help you stay organised and make sure all tasks are completed in a timely manner. So, build those habits now for less hassle down the line.
• Getting yourself busy with work can boost your self-esteem, add to your social identity and financial security.

Dealing with anxiety in the workplace can have a major impact on performance and wellbeing. Our team of professional facilitators are here to help you take control, providing tailored sessions that identify ways for better emotional awareness so as to manage your inner stressors more effectively. Don’t wait any longer – reach out today!