THE CHALLENGE OF ANXIETY AT WORK:
Anxiously attached workers, or those who worry about losing their jobs and having difficulty in the workplace, are more likely to report stress and job dissatisfaction. They also seem to be less satisfied with their job, which leads them to turn to social media outside of work. They may perceive their work environment as hostile, and may react to stress with outbursts of anger or defensiveness”.
Anxiously attached workers are also more likely to report physical problems from stress, such as stomach-aches and headaches. This is due to how they interact with people who are important to them.
CAUSES OF ANXIETY AT WORK:
There are three main causes of anxiety in the workplace; organizational change, high demands and lack of control over work responsibilities. Organizational change is a common cause of stress for employees because it is often unpredictable, fast-paced and leads to a loss of control.
Work demands, such as long hours and high workloads, often lead to increased stress for employees because they have no control over the amount of work that is expected from them.
Lack of control can also lead to anxiety in an employee’s work environment. Furthermore, job insecurity is a factor that causes anxiety in the workplace. Job insecurity is often caused by organizational restructuring and downsizing, which typically lead to layoffs or reduced hours.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF WORKPLACE ANXIETY:
There are a number of signs and symptoms that indicate a worker may be experiencing high levels of stress from work-related anxiety. Some of these symptoms include, feeling on edge, irritability, difficulty concentrating on their tasks and an increase in accidents, errors or near misses.
WORKPLACE ANXIETY: Anxious attachment in the workplace can lead to stress and anxiety, which may affect individual employees as well as productivity. Managers play a role in managing anxious attachment through creating an organizational culture of open communication and supportive relationships between co-workers.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: Organizational change is often a highly stressful event in a worker’s life that causes feelings of anxiety and stress. Managers play an important role in managing change by facilitating opportunities to voice concerns about the changes, encouraging cooperation between employees, and offering training for new organizational changes.
MANAGEMENT’S ROLE IN MANAGING WORKPLACE ANXIETY:
Managers play an important role in managing workplace anxiety because they are the ones who introduce new organizational changes, which cause employees stress. This is especially relevant for managers of entry-level workers since many have more demands placed on them by their organizations.
Managers need to be aware of how workers are feeling about the changes that are taking place in order to address any negative consequences that may arise.
One way to manage workers’ reactions is to give them opportunities to voice their concerns and be heard by management. Furthermore, managers can also help minimize demands placed on employees by setting up training programs for new organizational changes.
STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH ANXIOUS ATTACHMENT:
One way that managers can help employees with anxious attachment style is by creating a culture of open communication in the workplace. This allows for opportunities to discuss issues that may arise from feelings of stress and anxiety.
Managers can also facilitate opportunities for co-worker cooperation, which has been shown to reduce anxious attachment in the workplace. By encouraging social interactions at work, employees find it easier to talk about their feelings and engage with one another.
Furthermore, managers can provide opportunities for training and development in order to give employees a sense of control over their work.
When organizations make organizational changes without consulting workers, it can lead to feelings of distress among employees. Instead of imposing changes on employees, managers can encourage employee input by including them in the decision-making processes of the workplace.
WAYS TO MANAGE WORK-RELATED ANXIETY:
Employers can make changes to the organizational structure of work in order to reduce the anxiety felt by employees. This includes giving workers more time to do their work, allowing them to work outside of standard working hours, offer flexible schedules and job sharing.
Some strategies for managing stress at the individual level include taking time off or switching shifts with co-workers. Employees can also learn ways to relax during these times by doing yoga, meditation or exercise.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that when individuals are feeling anxious they tend to neglect their personal health by not exercising, not eating right and failing to get enough sleep which can cause additional stress at work.
PERSONAL STRATEGIES FOR COPING WITH ANXIETY AT WORK:
Some ways in which individuals can cope with workplace anxiety include communicating their feelings to co-workers, family or friends they trust. This is a good way to reduce stress by getting support from others who may be going through the same problems. Individuals can also benefit from taking on new responsibilities or finding ways to be heard by their employers.
Anxieties in the workplace can be caused by a number of issues, including changes to job descriptions and tasks. Many employees experience stress due to feeling a lack of control over their employment situation, leading to a decrease in work-related productivity.
Employees who have kept their jobs consistently face the highest amount of anxiety in the workplace. Some common workplace anxieties among employees include concerns about job security and what happens to co-workers after a company reorganization or downsizing.
“Anxiety Disorders”:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an excessive worry about everyday things that lasts for at least six months. People with this condition have trouble controlling their worry and can’t seem to stop thinking about many different things such as money, family health, bills, school or work.
GAD is diagnosed when a person finds it difficult to control the amount of anxiety they feel on most days and considers these thoughts intrusive.
GAD often has physical symptoms of nausea, muscle tension or sleep problems. It can be difficult to diagnose because it overlaps with other mental health conditions such as depression and substance abuse disorder.
Symptoms of GAD may include: excessive anxiety about real life events or concerns, inability to relax, constantly worrying about future events/
Anxiety Treatment Options:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder and specific phobias. CBT teaches a person how to replace negative thought patterns with more positive, realistic views of themselves and their goals. Cognitive therapy helps with faulty or negative thinking and the behavioral aspect focuses on changing unhelpful actions. Both therapies may include desensitization, breathing retraining and relaxation techniques.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment in which an electric stimulus is passed through the brain, triggering a brief seizure. ECT is used mostly for patients who have severe depression that has not been relieved by medication. In addition, ECT has been found to be effective in the treatment of mania and catatonia. Side effects can include short-term memory loss and other cognitive problems.
- Medications used to treat generalized anxiety disorder are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines and buspirone. SSRIs have been found to be as effective as benzodiazepines in treating generalized anxiety disorder, but cause fewer side effects. Certain types of benzodiazepines may offer a slight advantage over SSRIs because they come in a higher dosage, causing a quicker reduction of symptoms. Buspirone is usually the first medication tried in generalized anxiety disorder treatment because it can take weeks to work.
CONCLUSION:
Anxiety is often a response to stressful events within an environment. Workplace anxiety occurs when employees are feeling stressed about work related issues caused by organizational changes, demands and lack of control.
Managers play a crucial role in creating a supportive and open work environment for employees by facilitating communication and providing opportunities to discuss concerns related to organizational changes.
Managers can help employees cope with feelings of anxiety in the workplace by treating them with respect, developing an employee-centered culture and ensuring that they feel like their opinions and ideas are heard.
This is especially important for managers of entry-level workers since they often have more demands placed on them by their organizations.
