Combat job stress: does work make you sick?

Health News,  August, 1994  

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* Role, responsibilities, and amount of control/influence over the job in hand is a key factor -- lack of control produces stress.

* Change -- even if it's meant to "democratize" conditions and increase worker participation -- can cause distress especially if employees are not prepared for and trained to deal with it. (People may feel "out of their depth.")

* Family roles and competing responsibilities -- such as homemaking, childcare, eldercare -- often cause stress, particularly in women.

* Role ambiguity -- fuzzy job delineation, uncertainty about lines of authority to those "above" and "below" is very stressful.

* Troubled social relationships with colleagues, supervisors and subordinates are frequent stressors -- for instance fellow workers with whom one "doesn't get along," sexual harassment, bullying, not daring to voice personal problems (for fear of dismissal).

* Shiftwork, especially rotating shifts and permanent night work that disturb the body's circadian rhythm (biological clock) and interfere with social life can be stressful to some.

* Job insecurity, fear of job loss, obsolescence and unemployment lower self-esteem, erode health and threaten financial security.

* Personality traits. "Type-A" personalities (typified by competitiveness, time-urgency and over-commitment) are extra prone to stress and may even be stress-transmitters who pressure others. (Type-A, driven personalities might "self-select" demanding jobs.)

Some signs of stress-linked distress

* Memory lapses, distracted, "daydreaming"

* Diminished concentration, wandering attention

* Withdrawal, avoidance of peers, supervisors

* Inability to do job, declining performance, tasks undone

* Unexplained lateness, long lunch hours, absences, quitting work early, frequent sick-leave

* Sloppy appearance, change in attire

* Borrowing money from colleagues

* Waning interest in workmates, family, friends

* Perpetual fatigue

* Agitated, nervously restless, emotional outbursts

* Thought preoccupation (over-riding usual interests, sociability)

* Unexplained anxiety, "jitters," irrational fears

* Unusual sensitivity to criticism, expressed sense of helplessness

* Complaints of "heart pounding," sweating, dizziness

* Sleep disturbances, insomnia

* Dismal outlook, negative thoughts -- nothing working out "as it should," expressions of "unworthiness," guilts

* Increased accidents, injuries, illness, absenteeism

* Disciplinary/corrective action

* Disturbing to colleagues

* Medical attention needed for stress-related symptoms

Stress-management courses can offer:

* Strategies to bolster the sense of control;

* Relaxation techniques, which can include special tricks such as "power-naps," taking 10 minutes off for an exercise bout or visualizing a soothing activity to attain tranquility;

* Deep-breathing to improve muscle relaxation;