August 8, 2022
Let’s face it – work can be inherently stressful. But that’s not always a bad thing. When stress acts as it should, it gives us the energy and focus we need on a short-term basis to overcome challenges. However, when stress becomes a long-term way of life, that’s when it begins to have a negative impact on us. Even worse, stress not only affects us as individuals, but its side effects can also impact those who we live and work with.
As a leader, you’re constantly looking out for the health and well-being of your employees. Taking care of their mental health is a key component of that. It starts by understanding the difference between stress and anxiety and being able to recognize it amongst your employees. Then, you can help your workforce learn how to better manage their stress and get the help they need to stay happy, healthy and productive.
The Difference Between Stress and Anxiety
Stress is defined as how we physically or mentally respond to an external event, such as completing a challenging task. Anxiety is slightly different: It’s the body's reaction to stress and may even occur with no external reason.1
If not properly addressed, stress and anxiety can both lead to2:
- Incessant worry and unease
- Tension, body pain and headaches
- High blood pressure
- Difficulty sleeping
So what’s the difference between the two? Stress tends to go away once that event that triggered it is over. Anxiety, however, can be triggered even without an external event and tends to feel like it will never go away.
What Are the Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety?
There’s not a one-size-fits-all list of the symptoms, as everyone experiences stress and anxiety differently. However, if your employees have one of the following physical symptoms – or several – they may be dealing with a high level of stress and anxiety3:
- General aches and pains
- Pains in the chest or the feeling of a racing heart
- Exhaustion
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches, dizziness or shaking
- High blood pressure
- Muscle tension or jaw clenching
- Stomach or digestive problems
- Weakened immune system
Please note: While these symptoms may be the result of a response to stress or anxiety, the potential for underlying medical causes should always be considered and evaluated by a health care provider. In case of a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
Additionally, stress and anxiety can also present these emotional symptoms3:
- Feeling irritated or angry
- Experiencing moments of nervousness, uncertainness or anxiety
- Having a lack of motivation
- Feeling tired, overwhelmed or burned out
- Being sad or depressed
- Having trouble concentrating
What Can Stress and Anxiety Do to Our Bodies?
Our nervous systems have a “fight-or-flight” response, the very same one that protected our ancestors from danger. Today, however, the same increase in heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure that once aided them in moments of extreme stress – such as running from wild animals – can happen to us when we’re doing something like taking a nerve-wracking phone call.
When the “fight-or-flight” is engaged repeatedly throughout our lives, we refer to it as chronic stress. If left unchecked, this chronic stress may lead to a variety of health issues, including sleep issues, headaches and poor digestion. Stress has also been linked to mental illness and depression.4
Can Stress and Anxiety Lead to Increased Illness and Injuries?
While stress may be used in a positive way by our bodies in the short term, over the long term stress and anxiety may negatively impact your employees in several ways:
Muscles: During moments of stress, our muscles tend to tense up as a way of protecting our bodies against injury and pain. Chronic stress and anxiety can cause muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head which may lead to tension and migraine headaches.5
Breathing: Stress may also affect your respiratory system, leading to rapid breathing and shortness of breath. This could also seriously impact those with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Heart: Long-term stress and anxiety may increase hypertension, affect your cholesterol and add to the risk of heart attack or stroke.5
Gastrointestinal: Stress and anxiety can really do a number on your stomach and esophagus. If your team member is already dealing with heartburn or acid reflux, it can increase their symptoms and even cause spasms in the esophagus that mimic heart attack symptoms. High levels of stress can also cause nausea, as well as pain, bloating and discomfort in the stomach and bowels.
Long-term Stress and Our Bodies
Prolonged stress and anxiety places our bodies in a constant state of readiness. Without the proper time for rest and relaxation, the immune system may weaken. Overly stressed people may be more susceptible to illnesses and conditions such as:6
- Depression
- Skin conditions like eczema
- Memory impairment
- High blood sugar and potentially type-2 diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Digestive issues
- Autoimmune diseases
- Fertility problems
When it comes to the workplace, excessive levels of stress and anxiety may lead to employees becoming fatigued or losing focus, both of which are common causes of workplace incidents.
Keep in mind that the connection between stress and illness can be quite complex and varies from person to person. Stress and anxiety will impact each individual differently based on their genetics, coping style, personality type and their level of social support.7
Speaking of social support, that’s where you come in as a leader.
How Can You Help Your Team Limit Stress?
The first step toward helping your employees is to offer them an opportunity to talk about their stress and anxiety openly and honestly. Help them to identify the things that are causing them worry, then work collaboratively to find solutions. If you have a mental health or Employee Assistance Program (EAP), this would be the time to communicate how your employees can best take advantage of it.
Here are some tips you can share with your workforce to help manage their stress levels:
- A consistent daily routine can help increase a sense of control. This includes making a regular sleep and waking schedule.
- Take regular breaks from work to stretch, exercise and connect with others.
- If working from home, consider creating a regular start and end time for the workday.
- Physical activity may help reduce stress. Start by getting 20 to 30 minutes a day of exercise*.
- Meditation, yoga and breathing exercises may also help.
- Connecting with others may improve self-esteem.
- Remind them that misusing alcohol and drugs as a self-coping mechanism will not solve the inherent issues of stress and anxiety.
When and How Should You Step In?
As a leader, you may see stress and anxiety impacting your employee’s job performance and productivity, as well as the way they communicate with others. Yet, how do you bring it up to them?
Keep in mind that respectful communication is important when people feel stressed. Whether you reach out personally or suggest that they turn to your company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or seek help from a mental health professional, it’s important to let them know that you care.
Employers can take the following action steps to help their employees8:
- Offer mental health self-assessment tools as well free or subsidized depression screenings from a mental health professional.
- Host meetings that discuss depression and stress management techniques such as mindfulness, breathing exercise and meditation.
- Create and maintain dedicated areas for quiet relaxation within the workspace (if possible).
- Train managers to recognize the signs and symptoms of stress and depression in team members and how they can best direct them to help.
For those who are feeling overwhelmed or thinking about harming themselves, they may dial or text 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. This will connect them to a trained mental health professional at a local or regional crisis center. There’s also the Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) or the Lifeline Chat on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline web site.
Stress and anxiety are issues that we all deal with in our lives. By recognizing their symptoms in others and knowing some tools to help, you can be open to ways of helping your employees to deal with it or get the assistance that they need.
* Remind your employees to speak with their provider before beginning any new exercise regime.
References:
1 National Institute of Mental Health: I’m So Stressed Out! Fact Sheet. Accessed May 16, 2022.
2 Mayo Clinic: Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior. Accessed July 7, 2022.
3 Cleveland Clinic: Stress. Accessed May 17, 2022.
4 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Stress. Accessed May 16, 2022.
5 American Psychological Association: Stress effects on the body. Accessed May 18, 2022.
6 Healthline: What Is Stress-Related Illness? Accessed May 18, 2022.
7 National Library of Medicine: Life Event, Stress and Illness. Accessed May 18, 2022.
8 CDC: Mental Health In the Workplace. Accessed May 17, 2022.