Are you aware that at least one million individuals in the United Kingdom were left struggling to manage work related stress in the last year alone? Did you know that increased bouts of work related stress can see an individual become addicted to substances, including drugs and alcohol?
In 2020, 79% of employees in the United Kingdom were reported to experience high levels of work related stress on a frequent basis. Regrettably, this continues to rise due to soaring work related expectations.
As many individuals argue that workplace stress is never-ending, health professionals are becoming increasingly concerned that drug and alcohol addictions fueled by chronic stress show no sign of slowing. Dealing with an addiction is bad for health.
How Does Work Related Stress Arise?
Research conducted by health professionals, rehab clinics and institutions have revealed that various factors induce work related stress. Below, we have outlined the leading causes;
- Long working hours
- Increasingly heavy workloads
- A lack of available resources
- Lack of time away from work
- Increasing employer expectations
- Increasing amount of responsibilities
- Conflict among employees and employers
- Poor management
In addition to the above, a reduced work-life balance also contributes to work related stress. As 43% of employees feel pressured to check and respond to emails outside of working hours, many individuals find it hard to switch off from work as they return home. Unfortunately, this leaves many individuals experiencing chronic stress and burnouts. Sadly, chronic stress and burnout can lead to the development of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Work Related Stress?
With an understanding of how work related stress arises, it is imperative to gauge the signs and symptoms that work related stress presents. Typically, work related stress will cause an individual to experience the following short-term symptoms;
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Muscle tension
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing
- Increased blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Skin problems such as eczema, acne and psoriasis
While the short-term symptoms of work related stress will pass within a short period of time, ignored, they have the potential to lead to a wealth of long-term symptoms and side-effects.
Below, we have highlighted just a handful of the long-term symptoms and side-effects that work related stress can have on individuals;
- Stress can cause an individual to experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder can arise.
- Chronic stress will eventually impact how the heart functions. Over time, stress can induce heart diseases and cause an individual to suffer from a heart attack.
- Chronic stress can cause women to experience menstrual problems.
- Stress can cause individuals to under and over-eat, increasing the number of people battling eating disorders and obesity.
- Chronic stress can impair relationships with friends and family.
- Chronic stress can leave an individual suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
How Work Related Stress Fuels Addiction
As touched on above, chronic stress has the potential to see an individual suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. This is because stress and mental health disorders often leave an individual with no way to alleviate the ever-increasing bouts of stress they experience. As a result, they turn to drugs and alcohol to help mitigate the repercussions.
Used as a form of self-medication, as drugs and alcohol enter the bloodstream, individuals are left feeling a sense of euphoria. Although short-lived, this sensation helps many to relax and feel somewhat back to their old self.
However, as the effects of drugs and alcohol wear off, individuals once again find themselves battling work related stress. Unfortunately, research indicates that as the side effects of drugs and alcohol wear off, stress, and mental health disorders heighten.
As an individual comes to realise that the side effects of drugs and alcohol enhances their mood for a short period of time, they are likely to administer substances regularly. As an individual increases their substance consumption in a bid to mitigate work related stress, the brain and body will eventually become reliant on the toxins administered. This causes intense cravings to arise. As cravings become unbearable, individuals will once again turn to a substance.
Eventually, the cycle of consuming drugs or alcohol to alleviate work related stress will see an individual suffering from an addiction.
Can Addictions Be Avoided?
Having read the above information, you may be left wondering if addictions that arise from work related stress can be avoided. The simple answer is yes. There are various ways to mitigate the risk of an addiction stemming.
If you are struggling to cope with work related stress, we would advise you to consider doing the following;
- As your stress levels increase, talk to your employer about how you feel.
- If you are feeling increasingly stressed at work, it may be worth taking advantage of the holiday time you are entitled to. Although you may fear asking for time off of work, doing so can help mitigate stress.
- Consider taking up a new hobby to reduce the likelihood of working after hours. Taking up a new hobby will also give you something to look forward to after a stressful day at work.
- Work related stress is often encountered when an individual does not have a balanced work-life routine. With this in mind, it may be beneficial to implement a daily schedule. Factor in when you are due to start work when you are contracted to finish and time for yourself.
- Participate in a form of exercise, such as going for a daily walk or visiting the gym. Exercise will increase the number of endorphins released, which will, in turn, enhance your mood and reduce your stress levels.
Seek Help for Your Addiction Today
If increased bouts of stress have caused you to turn to a substance, please seek help through private alcohol rehab today. Failure to do so could see an addiction impair your health now, and in the future.
Are you aware that at least one million individuals in the United Kingdom were left struggling to manage work related stress in the last year alone? Did you know that increased bouts of work related stress can see an individual become addicted to substances, including drugs and alcohol?
In 2020, 79% of employees in the United Kingdom were reported to experience high levels of work related stress on a frequent basis. Regrettably, this continues to rise due to soaring work related expectations.
As many individuals argue that workplace stress is never-ending, health professionals are becoming increasingly concerned that drug and alcohol addictions fueled by chronic stress show no sign of slowing.
How Does Work Related Stress Arise?
Research conducted by health professionals, rehab clinics and institutions have revealed that various factors induce work related stress. Below, we have outlined the leading causes;
- Long working hours
- Increasingly heavy workloads
- A lack of available resources
- Lack of time away from work
- Increasing employer expectations
- Increasing amount of responsibilities
- Conflict among employees and employers
- Poor management
In addition to the above, a reduced work-life balance also contributes to work related stress. As 43% of employees feel pressured to check and respond to emails outside of working hours, many individuals find it hard to switch off from work as they return home. Unfortunately, this leaves many individuals experiencing chronic stress and burnouts. Sadly, chronic stress and burnout can lead to the development of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Work Related Stress?
With an understanding of how work related stress arises, it is imperative to gauge the signs and symptoms that work related stress presents. Typically, work related stress will cause an individual to experience the following short-term symptoms;
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Muscle tension
- Increased heart rate
- Fatigue
- Rapid breathing
- Increased blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Skin problems such as eczema, acne and psoriasis
While the short-term symptoms of work related stress will pass within a short period of time, ignored, they have the potential to lead to a wealth of long-term symptoms and side-effects.
Below, we have highlighted just a handful of the long-term symptoms and side-effects that work related stress can have on individuals;
- Stress can cause an individual to experience mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder can arise.
- Chronic stress will eventually impact how the heart functions. Over time, stress can induce heart diseases and cause an individual to suffer from a heart attack.
- Chronic stress can cause women to experience menstrual problems.
- Stress can cause individuals to under and over-eat, increasing the number of people battling eating disorders and obesity.
- Chronic stress can impair relationships with friends and family.
- Chronic stress can leave an individual suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction.
How Work Related Stress Fuels Addiction
As touched on above, chronic stress has the potential to see an individual suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction. This is because stress and mental health disorders often leave an individual with no way to alleviate the ever-increasing bouts of stress they experience. As a result, they turn to drugs and alcohol to help mitigate the repercussions.
Used as a form of self-medication, as drugs and alcohol enter the bloodstream, individuals are left feeling a sense of euphoria. Although short-lived, this sensation helps many to relax and feel somewhat back to their old self.
However, as the effects of drugs and alcohol wear off, individuals once again find themselves battling work related stress. Unfortunately, research indicates that as the side effects of drugs and alcohol wear off, stress, and mental health disorders heighten.
As an individual comes to realise that the side effects of drugs and alcohol enhances their mood for a short period of time, they are likely to administer substances regularly. As an individual increases their substance consumption in a bid to mitigate work related stress, the brain and body will eventually become reliant on the toxins administered. This causes intense cravings to arise. As cravings become unbearable, individuals will once again turn to a substance.
Eventually, the cycle of consuming drugs or alcohol to alleviate work related stress will see an individual suffering from an addiction.
Can Addictions Be Avoided?
Having read the above information, you may be left wondering if addictions that arise from work related stress can be avoided. The simple answer is yes. There are various ways to mitigate the risk of an addiction stemming.
If you are struggling to cope with work related stress, we would advise you to consider doing the following;
- As your stress levels increase, talk to your employer about how you feel.
- If you are feeling increasingly stressed at work, it may be worth taking advantage of the holiday time you are entitled to. Although you may fear asking for time off of work, doing so can help mitigate stress.
- Consider taking up a new hobby to reduce the likelihood of working after hours. Taking up a new hobby will also give you something to look forward to after a stressful day at work.
- Work related stress is often encountered when an individual does not have a balanced work-life routine. With this in mind, it may be beneficial to implement a daily schedule. Factor in when you are due to start work when you are contracted to finish and time for yourself.
- Participate in a form of exercise, such as going for a daily walk or visiting the gym. Exercise will increase the number of endorphins released, which will, in turn, enhance your mood and reduce your stress levels.
Seek Help for Your Addiction Today
If increased bouts of stress have caused you to turn to a substance, please seek help through private alcohol rehab today. Failure to do so could see an addiction impair your health now, and in the future.
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