Khaberni - No one goes through their job without tough days, but the problem starts when temporary stress turns into a permanent state that exhausts the body and mind.
According to the research of Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor of organizational behavior at Stanford University and author of the book "Dying for a Paycheck," poor management in American companies is linked to about 8% of annual healthcare costs and contributes to about 120,000 excess deaths each year.
Monique Reynolds, a clinical psychologist at the Maryland Anxiety and Behavioral Change Center, says the body often emits early warning signals before a person realizes the extent of the problem.
According to a report published by HuffPost, one of the first signs is sleep disturbance. Many suffer from recurring insomnia due to constant thinking about work or waking up at night to review their to-do list. If insomnia becomes a fixed pattern, it's a clear indicator of an imbalance between work and life.
Stress might also manifest as frequent headaches. When the brain treats the workplace as a "danger zone," the muscles in the neck, shoulders, and head tense up, leading to tension headaches or even migraines.
And it doesn't stop at physical pain. Reynolds notes that ongoing stress can exacerbate mental health issues, particularly for people who are naturally anxious. An analytical study conducted in 2012, which included 279 research studies, indicated that feeling a lack of justice inside organizations is linked to increased depression and overeating.
E. Kevin Kelloway, a professor of occupational health psychology at Saint Mary's University in Canada, explains that injustice at work is one of the most toxic stresses because it directly affects a person's dignity.
Other signs include weakened immunity and frequent occurrences of colds, in addition to chronic fatigue, stomach disturbances, and changes in appetite. Constant stress increases cortisol levels, which may increase hunger or lead to the consumption of sugary foods as a temporary way to calm down.
Experts believe the solution starts with taking regular breaks, exercising, and socializing outside of work. But Jeffrey Pfeffer emphasizes that sometimes the real solution is both simpler and harder at the same time, which is "leaving the toxic environment itself," because treating symptoms is not enough if the cause remains.
