[i] “Mental stress is costing Australian businesses over $10 billion dollars per year.”
Stress is not a disease or injury in itself, but chronic stress can cause serious mental and physical health problems for employees, which have contributed to workplace accidents, including deaths.
Some work-related stress can be good because as humans we often perform at a higher level and achieve superior outcomes when we’re under some duress. However, as a large portion of our lives is spent at work, being exposed and or experiencing too many stressful days can ultimately cause us to become unhappy. Prolonged stress can lead to other mental and physical ill-health such as anxiety and depression, poor motivation and physical fatigue, headaches and backaches.
Our professional psychologists in Melbourne, find the common causes of stress in the workplace include being overworked, management’s poor communication and consultation skills with their staff, workplace organisational change or restructuring, being unappreciated, long working hours, difficult co-workers and bullying.
Stress counselling with a good psychologist can help identify the emotional triggers that are affecting you. Many people do not even know why they are stressed – which only makes the problem worse. Listen to your mind and body and take a break if necessary.
Don’t ignore the symptoms – your mental and physical health are important
Stress Affects Everyone Differently
Some people are affected physically by stress – constant flu’s and colds and other health problems may arise. Many people suffer from emotional reactions such as becoming anxious and depressed, or developing low self-worth or can often become unnecessarily overwhelmed when asked to complete tasks.
Stress symptoms are usually felt in your body. Listen for physical clues – tight shoulders, upset stomach, colds and flu’s can all be signs of work-related stress. Being unable to sleep is common – your mind can be still busy at work well after you have finished for the day.
Stress Counselling Melbourne
However, if you are consistently exposed to a stressful situation or work in a prolonged stressful environment, can create impulse decisions that can have long-term consequences. Stress causes the level of hormones in the body to increase, which mobilises your energy resources in preparation for ‘fight or flee’ situation… Survival thinking will normally ‘kick in’ such as having thoughts. For example; “do I stay or do I quit”… Decisions that can have a long-lasting impact on you and possibly your family and friends.
When under stress – never make a rash decision!
Stress counselling for work-related issues can really help. The benefits of stress counselling include creating a greater degree of self-awareness and understanding of yourself and others.
Our stress counselling psychologists provide an independent and confidential approach to help you resolve work-related stress across all industry segments and in all working environments. Counselling sessions are held in a non-judgemental space where you’re able to express your work-related concerns such as reviewing your working conditions, doing the actual job you’re employed to do, and how you manage relationships with managers and colleagues.
By approaching counselling with an open mind, enables your stress counselling psychologist to better understand your current coping skills when dealing with work-related problems, deadlines and conflicts and then they can provide you with the best strategies and relaxing techniques to overcome the stresses you’re experiencing.
Stress-related symptoms are highly treatable
Dealing with Work-Related Stress
Some methods for dealing with work-related stress – even chronic stress – include:
- Begin stress counselling
- Spending more quality time with friends and family
- Introduction exercising
- Writing a journal when stressed as a way of relieving pent-up emotions
- Learn to express your feelings to a trusted friend
- Meditation
- Listening to music
- Making time for yourself
Stress can be very isolating and by creating some downtime with friends and family is one of the best things you can do to deal with stress. Stress counselling with a neutral third party is also extremely therapeutic so you become more relaxed, have time for yourself, and feel healthier and more energetic. For expert advice, Counselling in Melbourne CBD psychologists are here to help you. You can schedule an appointment online or call us – 1300 967 734.
[1] https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/work-related-mental-disorders-profile-2015
