- MedPsych Integrated
Raleigh Psychiatrist Warns that Job Stress Could Be Affecting Your Mental Health

Today's work environments are often fraught with unrealistic work goals, short deadlines, too many responsibilities and a ruthless competitiveness between co-workers that is often cutthroat, backstabbing and otherwise negative and unhealthy. A Raleigh psychiatrist warns that this kind of job stress could be affecting your mental health and should be explored through professional psychotherapy if symptoms arise that impact your daily life and threaten your well-being.
Job Stress Can Undermine Your Physical Health Too
Many people are unaware of how a negative work environment full of unrelenting job stress can undermine your physical health as well as negatively influence someone's mental and emotional health and well-being if left unchecked.
Common signs of toxic work environments and job stress include:
Long work hours
Constantly working short staffed
Changing work rules & requirements
Decreased pay for amount and quality of work expected
Little time for shift breaks
Unapproachable boss or supervisors
Unfair work policies & career ladder advancements
Little or no positive feedback regarding your work duties
Unsafe work environment
Unrealistic workload expectations
Mandatory overtime on a regular or lengthy basis
Pressure to return to work before ready if out sick or on medical leave
Childcare worries
Little or no vacation time and other job perks
Negative & rude co-workers clamoring for boss recognition and advancement on the career ladder over workers with more experience
Job insecurities
Sent home with no pay after working overtime hours to bypass overtime pay requirements on employee paychecks
Little or ineffective job training options
Workplace discrimination for minority, female, disabled or older employees
Signs that Work Stress Is Impacting Overall Health
Working in a fast-placed and dynamic work environment is not always a bad thing. When employees can balance their work and family lifestyles, they can feel motivated, accomplished and future oriented when on the job. However, it is important to watch for signs that work stress could be impacting your overall health and balance.
Some common signs of work-related stress include:
Insomnia or difficulties falling asleep
Daytime fatigue
Loss of interest in relationships and activities normally enjoyed
Irritability towards spouse, children, friends and others for no cause
Depression or feelings of hopelessness
Overwhelming anxieties or panic attacks without a known cause
Body aches, frequent stress-related headaches and other physical problems
Turning to alcohol or drugs to escape job stress
Emotional mood swings
Loss of appetite or overeating to deal with stressful events and thoughts
Lack of joy in work accomplishments
Decline in work production or quality of work
Fear of reprisals at work
Feelings of little or no control over work duties and deadlines
Inefficient working layout that wastes time & energy
Withdrawal or fear of being assertive at work
Work duties invading personal time
Dreading going to work everyday
Lack of focus when on the job
Making frequent mistakes or having accidents while at work
How Psychotherapy Can Benefit Those with Job Stress
Although the trend towards greater job stress and toxic work environments shows no sign of slowing down, there are practical and highly-effective steps that employees suffering from job-related stress can take to get clarity over the situation. Having a professional and compassionate psychologist and/or psychiatrist to talk to can be an enormous relief.
Some things that psychotherapy can help with regards to job frustrations include:
Safe place to talk about difficult situations without fear of being shut-down, ignored, ridiculed or judged
Concrete steps to improve self-esteem, work confidence & increase self-awareness
Specific treatments for alcohol or drug addiction
Learn relaxation techniques like meditation, biofeedback, yoga & more
Can get connected with other community resources
Help with making healthy & positive career goals
Assistance with healthy lifestyle measures including diet, proper rest & work downtime priorities
Learn better communication skills
Healthy stress reduction methods - exercise to release endorphins, weight loss strategies and more
Effective Job Stress Related Psychotherapy Help in NC
If job stress is keeping you from enjoying your work and personal life, one caring and knowledgeable psychiatrist in Raleigh, North Carolina, can offer truly effective mental and emotional help that "works for at-work" stress. Read more blog articles at MedPsych Integrated via https://www.medpsychnc.com/raleigh-psychiatry-blog.