I'm a 31 year old male. I have been feeling stressed at work for several months, due to high workload and not being trained properly (I am paid accordingly to my skillset). I've been putting on a brave face and fighting it off all this time, but it has just drained me completely.
I now find myself going backwards as a result. I feel stressed most of the time (some days I'm ok), get mild headaches (1 or 2 a week), sometimes feel my head is spinning, I feel tired, get forgetful and stuggle to take in new information in order to progress myself to the next level.
I really don't know what to do. I am certain that if I raised this issue with the boss, I'll be sacked (they happily get rid of people there). Likewise, I reckon if the doc signed me off, I'd be sacked on my return to work. I could look for another job, but I am not in the frame of mind for that due to the stress.
What can I do?
DRJ.
Hiya drj and welcome to Healthypages
Sorry to hear you are stressed out and drained because of your workplace. Firstly I was wondering if you had a trade union there because a good one could provide you with the necessary support to help you to overcome this.
Secondly, it may not be such a bad idea to see your GP. He/she may not necessarily put you off work but may provide you with some sort of coping mechanism. Once you feel a bit better, then it sounds like you might well be better off looking for a new job.
Thirdly, be sure to look after YOU. Your health is the most important thing. I too suffered from stress at work but left because it was impossible to overcome the bad mangement there. My colleague was also in the same situation and he eventually also left the ghastly place. I suppose we could have gone for constructive dismissal, but unfortunately neither of us was well enough to cope with that at the time. Once I had left, then my health gradually returned, thank goodness.
I do hope you resolve this matter soon. Please keep in touch and let us know how things go.
best wishes
Moonfairy
x
Hi DRJ
Welcome to HP - do read through some of the past threads here - (forums, mental and emotional) for info that has already been posted on this subject.
Over and above what Moonfairy has said, I have a couple of suggestions. From the sound of it your problem is a bit more than a good weekend's sleeping it off will cope with.
May I suggest you find a qualified Nutritional Therapist who will have been holistically trained and will be able to guide you through a programme to help restore your resilience and health - [url]click here[/url] to find one near you.
The other thing that helped me enormously was a tapping technique called Emotional Freedom Technique - seeherefor an overview of what its about, and [DLMURL="http://www.emofree.com/searchresult.htm?cx=018421620257423462741%3Anj2wowtiiqw&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=stress%2C+mentally+drained&siteurl=www.emofree.com%2F&submitbtn.x=38&submitbtn.y=11#966"]here[/DLMURL] and [DLMURL="http://www.emofree.com/searchresult.htm?cx=018421620257423462741%3Anj2wowtiiqw&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=stress+relief&sa=Search#913"]here [/DLMURL]for some reports on how it has helped people in similar situations and [DLMURL="http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp"]here[/DLMURL] for the downloadable free basic manual. You may find it helpful to have a practitioner to help you with this process (and then you can do much for yourself at home) and you'll find one near you [DLMURL="http://www.aamet..org"]here,[/DLMURL] or above on the directory tab.
Hope you get ssorted soon
May I recommend you look into coping mechanisms for stress (quite a few good books out there), and have a look at meditation, exercise, bach flowers, crystals, healing all as possible aids to help you.
I have suffered from work related stress (to the point of being forced to be off sick and look for a new job) before, and its far better to address the cause now, rather than let it build up any further. Your health is more important than the job.
Why are you certain you'd be sacked? Most people and their bosses would say asking for some more training to help you to perform your job better isn't a sackable offence. You're not saying you can't do it - just that in order for the company to get more out of you, some training , support and/or advice in this or that area could help you to deliver more to them.
Keep in touch
Thanks for your replies. I'm still not sure where to start, think the stress is affecting me that badly, I'm finding it difficult to get anything done. My performance at work has been poor lately, I'm going backwards not forwards. Can't concentrate very well and get easily flustered with the high workload (I've always coped in previous jobs, even where the management has been worse). I'm having to learn new things under pressure, which is where I struggle, and it's been taking it's toll.
I don't know how I still get to work on time each day. I certainly haven't wanted to go there this week. I'd love to just walk out of the job, but then what could I do with no money in the bank?
I'm not involved with any union (and won't do).
Should I just go to the doctor? I see myself as a bit of a failure if I have to go to the doctors for something like this. I just worry that if this stress drags on for too much longer, it'll get worse and I'll end up doing something stupid like completely cracking up when on the phone to a customer.
Dear DrJ
You start exactly where you are. Stressed! What is 'dis-ease' is also the way to ease. You probably have alot of work load but you are making it bigger in your head as well.
Going backward or forward is not true. Following steps should give you instant relief
1. take a moment to scan your body feel where the stress is- Is it stomach, arms, legs, chest Throat etc
2. Understand That this is just pure vibration. Your body cells vibrating at a certain frequency. No more no less.
3.Now drop all the story line around that. (I am so unskilled, stressed, going backward, I will be sacked, no one understands etc etc)
4. Now breath into this vibration and dive into it as would in a swimming pool. Relax into it completely.
5. Stay with it until you feel relief, boredom, joy or sleep
If you feel the emotion as pure vibration the relief will happen instantly.
Please do let me know how you got on. While I am typing I sense a shift happening
you 'll come good.
ruby
Hi DRJ
Spending 40 hours a week in a stressful environment, week in, month out - is not doing your longterm healthy any good. In the short-term there are lots of things you can do. Caroline made a good suggestion regarding seeing a nutritionist to get some advice on how to help your body cope with the stress. If you can't afford this, then there are three things I'd suggest which should help.
[Oh, I just found this [DLMURL="http://www.menshealth.co.uk/Health/stress-management-stress-relief-stress-reduction/cat"]Men's Health Magazine's tips on how to Smash Stress[/DLMURL]]
1. reduce your caffeine intake drastically - cut it out completely if you can. This includes coffee, tea, Coke/Pepsi, chocolate. Caffeine plus stress is a nasty overload of your adrenal glands... which help you keep calm. Learn to enjoy herbal teas (peppermint, ginger + lemon, etc.). Put a bit of honey in it, if you must. Drink bottled water too. Have a 1.5 litre bottle on your desk and try and drink most of it.
2. eat protein with every meal and snack. This will help your body build neurochemicals (brain hormones) which will help keep you calm and alert. Lean healthy protein is the ideal. However for the moment any protein would do i.e. breakfast - boiled egg and wholemeal toast, mid-morning snack - small yoghurt or handful of raw nuts, lunch - tuna baked potato and 1/2 a punnet cherry tomatoes, afternoon snack - a stick of cheese and a couple of oatcakes, dinner - chicken/fish/prawns/egg and vegetables.
3. buy a multivitamin - for the moment a regular one from the supermarket would be fine - something like Centrum or Multibionta. And take one with breakfast, and one with lunch. When you are stressed you need more nutrients.
Please have faith in yourself, and trust that the future will be brighter. In the meantime do what you can to get a strong stress-busting body!
Ava x
Hi drj,
we seem to be in a similar boat! I'm stuck in a full time job (a contact centre) which is doing nothing for my mental, emotional or physical health either. I have bipolar disorder and I have recently had a lot of time off work resulting in disciplnary procedures, my absences were due to depression and stress.
I've been doing all the regular things of eating healthily, exercising, sleeping properly, meditating (making sure I have a good daily routine). I've also been bombarding myself with self-help books (in particular Susan Jeffers, some buddhist books and CBT books), self-help cd's, practising CBT and positive thinking and it has made some difference. It takes time. I'm trying to be mindful and living in each moment 100%. I've also bought a small 'laughing buddha' for my desk at home and one for work too to remind myself to lighten up and not take myself, or life, too seriously and to enjoy the things I'm already blessed with. I'm trying to learn to let go out things and remember that some things are out of my control and just learn to accept them and go with the flow a bit.
I've made the decision, as a last resort, to have anti-depressants on top of my mood stabilisers, as my mood and stress levels were becoming detrimental to my health, i'm just dealing with the last of a depressive cycle I have experienced (with more time off work!).
I'm not sure if my sharing this with you is any help, but I hope you start to feel better soon.
Lisa