Our occupations have a significant impact on not just our professional identities but also our mental health in the fast-paced world of careers and obligations. However, a hidden tale often emerges beneath the surface of meetings and deadlines, one that raises concerns about the possible negative impact our occupations may be having on our mental health. The purpose of this article is to shed light on the frequently hidden symptoms that indicate when working has become more of a barrier to your mental health than a benefit.
Table Of Contents
SIGN # 1: You Feel Worse When Working There
SIGN # 2: You Are Constantly Looking Forward to Vacations or Retirement
SIGN # 3: You Don’t Like Associating with Your Colleagues
SIGN # 4: You Don’t Talk About Your Job with Others
SIGN # 5: Your Boss Reminds You of a Toxic Person from Your Past
The Bottom Line
SIGN # 1: You Feel Worse When Working There
An ongoing sense of dread or gloom when you consider coming to work is one of the most striking indicators that your job may be negatively impacting your mental health. Even while everyone gets stressed out at work sometimes, a persistently bad emotional reaction could be a warning sign.
A survey by the American Institute of Stress found that almost half of workers said they needed assistance in learning how to manage stress, and eighty percent of workers reported feeling stressed out at work (The American Institute of Stress, n.d.).
When your work starts to bring you ongoing stress or despair, it’s critical to step back and consider whether the financial cost is worth the damage to your psychological well-being. Anxiety disorders, despair, and even physical illnesses can be brought on by prolonged stress. Reevaluating your career choice or thinking about getting help from mental health professionals may be necessary if the bad feelings you connect with your work don’t go away.
Photo by Yan Krukau
SIGN # 2: You Are Constantly Looking Forward to Vacations or Retirement
One frequent approach that people deal with stress related to their jobs is to dream about their next vacation or count down the days until they retire. But if your daydreaming turns into a crippling escape strategy, it can be a sign that your work is having a detrimental effect on your mental health.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, burnout and stress-related disorders are becoming more common in the workplace (World Health Organization, 2022). Indeed, depression affects an estimated 264 million individuals globally, accounting for a significant portion of the global disease burden (GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, 2016).
If your job makes you want to take a vacation all the time, you should think about whether the bad things about your workplace can be tolerated over time and whether it’s worth losing your mental well-being.
SIGN # 3: You Don’t Like Associating with Your Colleagues
Good relationships with coworkers are an integral part of a healthy work environment. Your job may be negatively impacting your mental health if you find yourself dodging socializing with your coworkers or, worse, hating their presence. Stress at work affects employees’ personal lives, including strained connections with friends and family, according to a Mental Health America poll that found 54% of workers claim this (Heckman, 2019).
A hostile work culture that fosters bullying, lack of support, and competitiveness may be the cause of you distancing yourself from your coworkers. Your general satisfaction with your job and performance may suffer in such an environment, in addition to your mental health. Creating a happy work environment requires healthy connections, so if your job is getting in the way of this, it might be time to address the underlying problems.
SIGN # 4: You Don’t Talk About Your Job with Others
Effective communication is essential for maintaining mental health, thus it may be an indication of something more serious if you find it difficult or unwilling to discuss your work with others. The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology has published a study suggesting that employees who engaged in open communication with their peers despite experiencing high levels of job stress reported better mental health outcomes.
Your professional challenges may become more stressful and isolate you if you find yourself holding them inside. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with friends, family, or even a mental health professional can be quite beneficial. In the event that talking about your work becomes frowned upon, you should think about whether your tendency toward secrecy is a coping strategy or an indication that your work is having a detrimental effect on your mental health.
SIGN # 5: Your Boss Reminds You of a Toxic Person from Your Past
Your mental health and level of job satisfaction might be greatly impacted by your connection with your boss. Workplace hostility may arise if your supervisor’s behavior or management style reminds you of a toxic individual from your past. A Gallup poll revealed that 75% of employees who quit their employment on their own accord had problems with their immediate managers (Gallup Inc., 2008).
Micromanaging, showing little empathy, or fostering a culture of fear are just a few ways that a toxic boss could manifest themselves. Your boss’s interactions with you are clearly having a detrimental effect on your mental health if you are experiencing frequent anxiety or demoralization as a result. Under such circumstances, it might be worthwhile to look at channels for productive communication or to look for chances in a healthier workplace.
The Bottom Line
Making positive adjustments in your professional life begins with identifying the warning indications that your employment is negatively affecting your mental health. The ubiquity of stress and discontent at work is demonstrated by the figures presented throughout this article, underscoring the significance of resolving these problems.
Setting mental health first is essential to a successful and long-lasting occupation, so don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, make the adjustments you need to, or look into new options. You should take good care of your mental health in all facets of your life, including your work, since it is an invaluable asset.
References
Gallup Inc. (2008, May 8). Turning Around Employee Turnover. Gallup.Com. https://news.gallup.com/businessjournal/106912/Turning-Around-Your-Turnover-Problem.aspx
GBD 2015 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators. (2016). Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990-2015: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet (London, England), 388(10053), 1545–1602. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31678-6
Heckman, W. (2019, September 25). 42 Worrying Workplace Stress Statistics. The American Institute of Stress. https://www.stress.org/42-worrying-workplace-stress-statistics
The American Institute of Stress. (n.d.). Workplace Stress. The American Institute of Stress. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress
World Health Organization. (2022, September 28). Mental health at work. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work
Written By: Dr. Wasif MD
Edited by: Madison Vargas, BS
Medically Reviewed By: Dr. Kyle Zrenchik, PhD, LMFT
Published : 02/05/2024
Disclaimer: ALL IN Therapy Clinic aims to improve people’s lives. We do this through providing effective mental health counseling by passionate professionals. Inspired by this, we write content for your own education. Also, our content is researched, cited, reviewed, and edited by licensed mental health professionals. However, the information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Additionally, it should not be used in place of the advice of a qualified healthcare provider.
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