Work related stress counselling

If you are currently suffering from high levels of work-related stress then you are not alone. About 1/2 million people in the UK describe feeling so stressed they believe it is making them ill. Stress is also linked to 6 million days of sick leave a year and is a contributory factor in other illnesses.

The word 'stress' is often confused with 'pressure' even though they are very different. A certain amount of pressure can be good for us in that it motivates us to be productive and to stay focussed. Stress, on the other hand, is described by the HSE as 'the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them.' Over time, stress can become debilitating and can produce a range of physical and emotional health problems.

Physical symptoms include - headaches, raised heart rate, increased sweating, excessive tiredness, difficulty sleeping, loss of libido, muscular tension, menstrual problems in women, asthma attacks in asthma sufferers, back pain and gastrointestinal problems.

Emotional symptoms include - feeling tearful, feeling irritable and short-tempered, comfort eating, feeling you can't cope, anxiety, panic attacks, loss of appetite, depression and poor relationships with those around you.

There is no single cause of stress and how it is experienced varies from person-to-person. However, 'excessive' pressure is often an accumulation of smaller pressures that may be linked to all areas of your life.

Lifestyle changes can have a significant impact on reducing your levels of stress. Taking up regular exercise, eating more healthily, reducing your intake of caffeine and alcohol can all have a positive effect on the way you feel. However, for some people these steps aren't enough to bring about the changes they desire and so they decide to come for counselling.

If you feel you would like to talk to someone who is not directly involved in your workplace and who is trained to listen then you may wish to arrange an initial consultation with Jo Fitzgerald Counselling. If you then decide to proceed, we can explore whatever issues you choose to bring. This may include work-life balance, prioritising your workload, your relationships with other employees, maybe even how to be assertive and say 'no' to excessive demands on your time.

In the course of therapy, you may find yourself exploring other personal issues that may have been weighing heavily on you and may or may not have contributed to your overall feelings of stress. By increasing your awareness of how you think, feel and behave at work and at home, you should gain new insights that change the way you approach your work-life in the future and significantly reduce your levels of stress.