Work Stress: Don’t Let It Go Into Crisis Mode
I often see clients who are in work crisis mode, as I call it. They’ve been in a professional environment with long, successful careers, and then, something changes. Sometimes it’s a new boss with a toxic management style, or suddenly they have an unexpected workload, for example. These changes may cause people to feel trapped, lost, and unable to perform work effectively. Inevitably, these feelings may bleed into other parts of their life, causing unrest, turbulence, and more stress. These shifts at work can escalate into inescapable worry and anxiety and then crisis.
This happened to me. In my previous career, I worked as a lawyer in a corporate setting. Over time, I found myself in a toxic work environment overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. My work led to personal crisis, and I lost touch with my authentic self.
For many of us, our jobs and careers have become a central part of our identity – even our own sense of value and self-worth. When work is threatened or in a state of uncertainty, it can feel like the very core of our being is in danger.
I am seeing clients as young as their late 20s and beyond their 60s who are experiencing this crisis. A major shift in their work environment gradually overwhelms them; their years of a steady, balanced, successful career feels like it is crumbling, and they don’t know what to do to get that balance and security back.
To make this even more challenging and stressful, many people facing this crisis feel like there is no one to talk to. Problems in the workplace can be isolating – who can understand? Who is unbiased and impartial? Who can be trusted? As the isolation and loneliness build, so does the anxiety.
For some, they feel the only option is to find a new job. This can present a whole new set of stressors around finances, the possibility of moving, and the prospect of entering into an entirely new workplace dynamic that comes with unknown anxieties and challenges.
If you are in crisis over your job and don’t know what to do, here are a few suggestions that may help you get through this difficult time and overcome stress and anxiety.
- Clearly observe and try to identify the specific causes of your stress. Find clarity in the situation.
- Set boundaries. Toxic work environments often lack healthy boundaries. Many of the clients I see haven’t set boundaries; in fact, many don’t know how, or think they are not allowed. Establishing clear and realistic boundaries can bring peace and harmony at work. They can improve your outlook and your relationship with your employer. When setting boundaries, be direct, polite, offer an alternative and remember your priorities. By defining and enforcing boundaries, you can regain control of your time and energy, which could reduce the stress from your job and help improve your own well-being. Remember, without clear boundaries, you never full disconnect from your work.
- Prioritize your authenticity. When you conflate your value as professional with your own personal value, it can feel deeply troubling. Learning to affirm your value outside of work can empower you at work to handle stress and crisis.
- Cultivate self-care. Find activities that help reduce your stress and maintain your mental health.
- Find support. Managing stress on your own can feel overwhelming. Talk with a professional mentor, someone you trust and someone who can offer experienced insights to help you find solutions to workplace challenges. An ex-colleague or a person in the same field with more experience can offer unbiased advice and support.
Job and workplace stress is not a new problem; COVID has intensified these challenges for many. As the saying goes, “work from home” is actually more like “live at work.” Desks are in the bedroom, zoom meetings take place from the couch, and the work laptop almost always is at our side. Now our home also is our office, making it difficult to separate the two.
Remember: start the awareness process; clarify the problem; try to gain an understanding of your employer’s behavior, which can help you manage your reactions; and align your skillset with how you spend your time in your career.
If you still feel trapped in work crisis and need more help to process your stress and find a way to move forward, consider seeking professional help from a licensed therapist and one with experience in a corporate setting. It’s time to find health and happiness again. You don’t have to let this crisis consume you.
