BE MINDFUL OF YOUR STRESS LEVEL - ESPECIALLY IN THE WORKPLACE!

An elevated stress level in general is not good for your health, especially your Mental Health. My focus here in this post is the impact of Workplace/Occupational Stress and some of the contributing factors to this type of stress. This can contribute greatly to poor mental health and quite possibly, to Mental Illness, if not addressed properly and on time.

Some of the major ways in which this type of stress will manifest themselves in your bodies are Burnouts, Compassion Fatigue/Moral Distress and Vicarious/Secondary Trauma.

I will just pause for a moment and give you a bit of explanation about each of the terminologies that I have mentioned here.

Burnout, as defined by Oxford Dictionary of Psychology, Colman, Andrew M., [pg.#106] as "An acute stress disorder or reaction, characterized by exhaustion resulting from being overworked, with anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, depression and an impairment in work performance."

Burnout also has to do with being worn out or extremely tired. It is also a component of Compassion Fatigue. It will cause you to feel hopeless, unable to cope with the demands of your job and will spill over into other areas of your life.

In addition, you might feel unappreciated, under-resourceful in the execution of your duties at work. This type of burnout is very common among those persons whose jobs entail the giving of care and support in areas of great trauma and devastation. Nb. If that defines you, be cognizant of the that you too need to embrace proper Self Care and the Safe and Effective Use of Self.

Another reaction is that of Moral Distress in that you might feel that your contribution in your workplace or even in any place that you provide care, is not worthwhile and is being undervalued. This can put you under tremendous stress, especially if it is in the workplace.

Vicarious/Secondary Trauma is also another aspect of Compassion Fatigue. This can be work-related, and it can be as a result of you being a witness to traumatizing events that happened to others, while carrying out your duties. It could also be a case of you hearing about other peoples' traumatizing and devastating experiences. E.g. if you work as a part of the First Response, Social Worker, in the Medical Field etc. Your exposure to these types of experiences will have an adverse effect on your mental health, if you do not take the time for Self-Care. Although these types of traumas are secondary in nature, they can have a very negative impact on you emotionally, psychologically, mentally and even physically. Overtime, they can allow you to become depressed, anxious, fearful, suicidal etc.

Lastly, but equally important, is the notion of Compassion Fatigue. This a case where you experience a feeling of emptiness, overwhelmed and over-extended in carrying out your duties. However, you are unable to do so beyond a certain point to help due to Red Tape and Bureaucracies, policies and procedures in place, you cannot go beyond those boundaries, although your desires to help at that level is legal and moral. This can cause you to experience physical and emotional fatigue.  Nb. Workplace/Occupational Stress is real, please don't take it for granted!