Job stress might be killing you and what you can do about it…
Many times stress can be a motivator however frequently it serves more of a negative function in our lives. When stress occurs in the workplace, know as job stress or career stress, intensity can increase because our performance is likely tied to our financial security.
According to a 2014 Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association work is the second most common source of stress among US adults ranking only behind financial stress. In addition, 60% of adults described their jobs as a somewhat significant or very significant source of stress. Experts suggest that workplace stress affects us differently than other forms of stress.
Since performing well at work can be correlated with making enough money we are more susceptible to agreeing to things we would not otherwise agree to the work environment. Another way of saying this is that it is easier to say no to a spouse or a child than to your boss. However, if we wind up saying yes when we “should” be saying no or if our saying no is not respected the impact on her health can be hazardous.
Another powerful exercise can be making an inventory of what we spent most of our day doing and comparing it to an inventory of what we love most. This exercise is simple but can be powerful in assessing opportunities to make change in our life.
Dr. Charles R Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who provides services through Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. with offices in Sarasota and Venice, Florida. One of his areas of clinical focus is working with professionals in high stress careers to thrive and best cope with job stress.
For more information on stress and its impact on our health check out Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. fact sheet on stress.
