Wouldn’t it be good if we knew what to look for when we’re looking for signs of stress in the workplace?
In my Mental Health and Resilience training we have an activity called “Detective for the Day.” I designed it to share some of the signs and symptoms when our mental health is impacted. Today I thought I’d look at some of the signs of stress and how it manifests in the body. Not surprisingly there are a lot of symptoms. I’ll stick with a few of the main ones:
Stress eating
We’ve all heard the phrase “stress eating” and it’s all down to the hormones we release when stressed. One of these is Cortisol which is released by the Adrenal glands during stressful periods. It increases appetite and researchers believe that it also increases motivation generally, including the motivation to eat.
The stress response is a design feature which is meant to both respond and decline quickly meaning that we deal with the immediate threat and our Cortisol levels quickly drop back to normal. If the stress doesn’t go away or if a person’s stress response gets stuck in the “on” position then their Cortisol may stay elevated, and they can continue to both overeat and eat the “comfort foods” the body craves which are usually high in fat and sugar.
Now I’m not suggesting that you speak to a colleague about their weight, but this is about noticing changes in their behaviours. We’re noticing clues looking for clues. It’s all very Peter Falk and Columbo!
bsences from work due to stomach problems are often a sign that a colleague is struggling. I believe that more and more we will be talking about the gut biome when we talk about mental health. We used to believe that most of the serotonin we produced was in our brains but now we know it is made in the gut. Can you see how what we eat, and drink might impact our mental health? The modern diet is not conducive to good health. I always like the very simple explanation, “If your grandmother wouldn’t recognise it don’t eat it.” Easier said than done I know, but it is food for thought.
Absences from work due to stomach problems
These are often a sign that a colleague is struggling. I believe that more and more we will be talking about the gut biome when we talk about mental health. We used to believe that most of the serotonin we produced was in our brains but now we know it is made in the gut. Can you see how what we eat, and drink might impact our mental health? The modern diet is not conducive to good health. I always like the very simple explanation, “If your grandmother wouldn’t recognise it don’t eat it.” Easier said than done I know, but it is food for thought.
Signs in the body, our moods and our behaviour…
We get signs in the body including headaches, back pain, muscle tension, stomach issues and the list goes on. Is a colleague regularly off work with any of these conditions? If they are it might be a sign that they are experiencing stress?
We get changes in mood. Is a colleague exhibiting mood swings? Are they up one minute and down the next? Are they angry or in tears? Do they seem unable to regulate their feelings? If so, they might be experiencing stress.
Our behaviour changes. We might start avoiding people, turning the camera off on calls, becoming reactive and argumentative. If you spot these signs in a colleague, it might be a sign that they are under a lot of stress.
Once you’ve noticed, what can you do? Speak to them in a quiet moment. Don’t rush in, you may make things worse. Say “I’ve noticed that you ….. is there something wrong?” Be prepared for them to say no. Don’t take it personally, they may not have even realised themselves. Give them time to process. Keep the door open.
The best way to support a stressed colleague at work is to stay kind and make it about them and not you or the job.
If a colleague asks for support, take them seriously. As a rule, people aren’t good at expressing need. It makes us vulnerable and nobody in the tribe wants to be seen as that. So, we tend to power on even when we’re struggling. If people tell you that they’re struggling then they likely are. They need help.
Even if someone doesn’t tell you, there are signs if you are prepared to look for them:
Are they sending emails regularly into the evening?
Are they working away in the background whilst on calls?
Are they regularly off camera on work calls?
Do they get fixated on issues that have happened at work which to the rest of you are done and dusted?
These can all be signs of stress. Remember you will probably see what’s happening before they do. When we are stressed, we can lose up to 80% of our cognitive ability. Our reasoning flies out of the window.
If you notice a colleague struggling gently check in and keep on checking in. Stress is cumulative so if not attended to it’s only likely to get worse.
Like a chat?
Sharing understanding of mental health, and resilience, in the workplace is vital. It makes employers stand out from their competitors and it helps individuals take responsibility for their own well-being.
If you would like to know more about how I provide workplace mental health and resilience support, or MHFA training, please drop me a line at carol@carolhickson.co.uk or call me on 07899806494.
Cheers everybody, and thank you for your time
Carol Hickson