The subject of mental health and work is the subject of several debates and studies as the reflections of one over the other reveal themselves to be increasingly significant in contemporary times. If physical disability was the main concern for centuries, today the maintenance of sanity is highlighted, even because it is capable of causing effects on living in society and on social security systems.
Finding answers that help improve the organizational climate and preserve the integrity of workers has been a great challenge for human resources departments, given the complexity that hovers over the subject and that is inherent to human beings in all aspects of their activities. life.
Do you want to know more about this subject and its impacts on the lives of professionals? Continue reading and see what are the main signs that show that there are problems related to the professional’s mental health.
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What is the relationship between mental health and work?
Especially in the last 3 decades, there has been a great leap in the creation and application of technology, which, although it is something positive in many ways, has contributed to many uncertainties about the future and to a notable level of precariousness.
Added to this is the age-old quest for competitiveness, which leads to exhausting routines and often unattainable goals, with an unusual pressure falling on the professional. On the other hand, there is unemployment, which makes people subject themselves to bad working conditions as long as it means taking their livelihood home.
This permanent tension that is experienced in the market is one of the main causes of illnesses that affect workers, and mental health also compromises physical health in several ways, such as when it serves as a cause for the occurrence of accidents at work.
What mental health problems are caused by work?
Have you ever felt your breathing irregular and pains in the chest area while you were preoccupied with work-related issues? These signs point to anxiety, which has had a growth spurt throughout the coronavirus pandemic, given the uncertainties generated and the limitations of activities that were part of the routine and were suddenly interrupted.
Working at home was also one of the reasons, as many professionals found it difficult to get used to this new type of work, especially to separate their rest time from their working hours. Reconciling the professional space with a level of family life never seen before also served as a trigger for this disorder.
With recent events, the problem has worsened, having as obstacles the taboo on the search for treatments and the use of medication. See below other pathologies of the mind that are closely related to professional life.
Burnout syndrome
It is the physical and mental exhaustion caused by overwork or pressure suffered by the professional about their results. It happens when the worker is assigned to tasks that are considered challenging, but that go beyond his capacity, and this generates a feeling of incompetence. In addition to the mentioned signs, there are also symptoms.
- usual headache;
- changes in appetite;
- insomnia;
- difficulties concentrating;
- negativity;
- sudden mood swings;
- isolation;
- changes in cardiovascular pressure;
- muscle pain;
- gastrointestinal problems.
The precise diagnosis will be given by a duly qualified health professional, the psychiatrist being the most indicated to identify and treat this disease. For this, the patient will be given psychotherapy, commonly accompanied by drugs such as antidepressants and anxiolytics.
Stress
One of the most common pathologies, so much so that it is estimated that 79% of workers suffer from it. It is an evil caused by competitiveness in the labor market and works as a response to this situation, contaminating the organizational environment and also interpersonal relationships.
Even family life can be affected by stress, with damage and trauma that last a long time. Conflicts generated at work, such as long hours, clashes with leaders, and lack of opportunity for growth, are common in a worker’s daily life.
Along with the rude posture, other symptoms affect the stressed worker, such as hair loss, headaches, muscle tension, and low immunity, among others. As mentioned, it is a problem that also generates serious sequelae in private life, so getting used to this condition should not be an option, under the penalty of having your relationships destroyed by it.
Demotivation
The search for maintaining motivation is the rule in most companies, after all, a motivated employee is more productive and aligns with business goals. On the other hand, demotivation also emerges in this environment due to the increasingly ambitious goals, the lack of recognition by leaders, and the poor use of the worker’s potential.
In this way, procrastination, missed deadlines and a drop in productivity become increasingly common. When the concern becomes exclusively the remuneration, the employee will have less and less availability, will be absent more often, and will have difficulties working in a group.
When to seek professional help?
Identifying the moment to ask for professional help is a task that can be carried out jointly, with sensitivity on the part of the company, to see the employee and their dilemmas in order to reverse the situation.
Diseases that affect mental health are not visible as a bruise on the skin, but they do have symptoms. Knowing how to identify them and seek help shortens the suffering and increases safety at work, as a sick employee can be a risk to himself and his colleagues.
How to avoid these occupational diseases?
First, as already mentioned, it is necessary to be attentive and aware of the existence of these diseases, as well as to know that they are much more common than one can imagine. This perception will help identify symptoms and seek expert help for treatment.
As prevention, having habits that ward off these diseases even helps to prolong your life, such as having a hobby, practicing physical activities, and cultivating good moments in family life. Mental health and work are not separate issues from your private life, which is why it is important to be very careful with your integrity and well-being in all environments.
