01/10/2005 - Stress … causes, symptoms and how to handle it

Stress continues to be a hot topic for many people in both the public and private sectors … and for good reason. The consequences of ignoring it can be fatal.  In the UK as many as one in five people suffer from high levels of work related stress.

Steve Barnett, director of NHS Employers, said at a conference held earlier in the year 

“The impact of stress on employees who work in the NHS is vastly underestimated.  Work-related stress is responsible for 30% of sickness absence in the NHS, costing the service £300-400 million per year.  

“When you extrapolate that across the 600 trusts in the country and take into account that the greatest impact of stress is in the hospital sector, that’s a significant financial burden for each trust.  That’s money that could be much better invested in patient care.”

Research carried out among people in the NHS workplace identified some specific causes. These included:

• erosion of autonomy/lack of control over work 
• work/life balance 
• rigidity of the hierarchy 
• doing tasks below grade  
• increase in administrative duties 
• organisational confusion/”right” and “wrong” channels 
• colleagues not understanding each others roles and competencies
• and lack of management support.

There are a range of symptoms to watch out for both in yourself, members of your team or those you manage. These could include:

• finding it hard to make decisions and to concentrate
• feeling tired, anxious or sleeping badly
• drinking, smoking more or using drugs in order to get through the day
• being short tempered or argumentative
• feeling stretched beyond your limits and unable to cope
• suffering from non-specific illnesses
• and feeling that you’ve achieved nothing at the end of the day

If that goes on for too long it can lead to significant health problems including heart attacks, poor mental health and high blood pressure - to name but a few. 

The following advice will not prevent work-related stress, but may help you take care of yourself and ensure that the problem doesn’t become worse:

• eat healthily
• don’t take on more than you can handle - if unrealistic demands are made on your time, be prepared to say no
• watch your caffeine intake – tea, coffee and some soft drinks (e.g. cola drinks) may contribute to making you feel more anxious
• contact your employer’s counselling or employee assistance service to seek support
• stop smoking – you may feel that smoking relaxes you, but the effect on your health can add to problems
• try to keep within Government recommendations for alcohol consumption – alcohol acts as a depressant and will not help you tackle problems
• take some physical exercise – it stimulates you and gives you more energy  
• learn relaxation techniques – some people find it helps them cope with pressures in the short term
• talk to family or friends about what you’re feeling – they may be able to help you and provide the support you need to raise your concerns at work
• and speak to your GP if you are worried about your health.

Finally, employers have a duty to protect your health and safety at work, and a good employer will appreciate any suggestions you have for reducing stress in the workplace. 

Work-related stress is not an individual weakness. It is usually a symptom of an organisational problem.