Stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure.

When we are stressed, our body releases a hormone called adrenaline (often called the "fight or flight" hormone), which usually gives us a boost or motivates us to act quickly.

But too much stress can affect our mood, our body and our relationships – especially when it feels out of our control. It can make us feel anxious and irritable, and affect our self-esteem.

Experiencing long-term stress or severe stress can lead to feeling physical, mental and emotional exhaustion, often called "burnout".

(source: www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk

STRESS AT WORK

BURNOUT

Burnout is the result of a prolonged period of stress which negatively affects your wellbeing. The signs and symptoms may be subtle at first, but can progressively deteriorate and become overwhelming.

EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

  • Emotions feel blunted

  • Helplessness / hopelessness

  • Becoming tearful

  • Irritable

  • Numbness

  • Feeling unfulfilled

  • Feeling unappreciated

BEHAVIOURAL SYMPTOMS

  • Disengagement

  • Social withdrawal

  • Loss of commitment

  • Uncharacteristic mistakes

  • Lack of holiday planning

  • Being inconsistent with work

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

  • Muscle pains

  • Headaches

  • Tiredness / lethargy

  • Sleeping problems

  • Memory problems

  • Lack of concentration

  • Weight gain / loss

MORAL INJURY

A study revealed that moral injury – which refers to the lasting impact that is caused by performing, witnessing or failing to prevent an action that violates your own moral beliefs – and the stress it causes, is giving rise to a more intense type of burnout in people across many business sectors. Symptoms include:

  • Ashamed/embarrassed by an event that’s happened in the workplace

  • Feeling more fatigued

  • Constantly procrastinating

  • Feeling fearful or anxious during the day

  •     Unable to switch off from work, unwind or relax

  •      Having intrusive thoughts about work or worries

  •       Thinking of worst-case scenarios

  •       Feeling disinterested & disengaged in work/ day-to-day life

  •       Emotional, mental and physical exhaustion.