When Work Stress Becomes Unsustainable

Work is a place of resource for many people. It gives us a sense of purpose, much needed structure, brain stimulation, contact with others, and income for our needs and wants.

Work can also be stressful. That's ok too. Our systems can handle temporary stress, whether it is meeting a deadline or giving a scary presentation. It’s like running a 10km race. We’ll be fine as long as we recover the next week. This kind of stress of challenge and then recovery is healthy.

There are two situations where work stress can become unhealthy. 

(1) The first is when work is relentlessly under-staffed and over-demanding. Turnover is frequent, cutting breaks and working late is common and staff are stressed and unhealthy. The expected productivity is not realistic. The stress of overwork spills over into homelife: how could it not with the increase in irritability combined with fewer hours in the day for family. Marriages get impacted, parenting is not at its best. 

(2) Even worse than chronic overwork is a workplace that is abusive. That is the second work situation that is unhealthy. Some managers target certain people. They systemically leave certain people out or give different work to those people. They subject the targeted employee to lengthy performance monitoring procedures with ever-changing goals. The employee digs deep and works extra hard to meet the goals because that is what worked at other work places. But here that isn’t working. They aren’t any closer to pleasing the abusive manager. 

Targeted employees over time start to feel unwell from the unfair treatment. I often see them develop symptoms similar to victims of an abusive relationship. They develop low self-esteem, even if they were previously confident. They question themselves and their own brain. They wonder if they are crazy or making up the targeting behaviour. They start making mistakes at work because they lack confidence to work the way they know they need to. 

Work shouldn’t be impacting your personal life and health in such a negative way. Come in and learn the difference between a work environment that has a healthy dose of stress and one that is unhealthy. Learn to tune into your gut and trust your brain again. Learn how to say no to work situations that no longer serve you. Learn how to manage overwhelm. Learn to say both yes and no at work. Manage your imposter syndrome.  Figure out what you really want to do for work and get the first steps going to achieve the work you want.

Warmly,

Natalie Hansen, M.A., R.C.C.

NatalieHansenCounselling@gmail.com

(604) 816-6532