OVERCOME STRESS @WORK
Stress
at work is normal. But if cold sweats and ‘going blank’ during presentations
are your thing, here’s how to fortify yourself against heebie-jeebies in the
office
We’d
imagine that most people overcome their fear of speaking in public when they
take the stage in class four for an elocution contest. But New Yorkbased
psychotherapist and business performance consultant Jonathan Berent says, it’s
the biggest fear among most professionals. Ironically, it’s the one fear they
will encounter repeatedly — while making a presentation before seniors, sharing
opinions with colleagues and chatting on conference call.
While it’s normal to be anxious about challenges that come your way, if anxiety is controlling you, it could affect your career and mental well being. “Most people who work experience it due to the reality of ongoing and an ever-evolving pressure for performance and productivity,” says Berent.
The signs, say psychiatrists, range from physical symptoms (cold sweats, pulse racing and gastrointestinal upset) to nervously stammering and ‘going blank’ while worrying obsessively. It can deteriorate into avoiding taking on complicated assignments, not returning phone calls, ignoring assignments and calling in sick. Avoidance can be counter-productive and could even prevent you from bagging a promotion or being eligible for a raise.
Consulting psychiatrist Dr Ashish Dewan agrees that if unchecked, workplace anxiety can get out of hand and in extreme cases, derail a professional’s career, lead to alcohol dependence, and a long-term mood disturbance outside the workplace.
Work Makes Me Nervous
found several takers when it released in 2011. Co-written by Berent, it was the story of marketing copywriter Amy Lemley, who had spent most of her professional life worrying about whether her colleagues and clients took her seriously. She avoided calls, and preferred to communicate via email. Strangely, she experienced the tightening of the chest, heart racing and lightheadedness only at work. “Socially, I was fine.” Lemley calls workplace anxiety the “fear of being noticeably nervous or otherwise singled out on the job”. In an email interview to Mirror, Lemley explains that a big component of this is the fear of shame — that your mind will go blank bang in the middle of a meeting or you’ll say something stupid.
According to her, overcoming stress at work isn’t impossible. Start small, experts suggest. Set yourself a doable challenge — returning phone calls, speaking up at a meeting. Gradually build up to bigger challenges. “Several people suffer from workplace anxiety at some point in their careers. We’re talking about high-powered executives, middle managers and young people just entering the workforce. But you don’t have to live that way. You can learn to channel that anxiety — which is nothing but adrenaline — into a fuel that will lead you to success,” Lemley says.
Teja Lele Desai MM130511
While it’s normal to be anxious about challenges that come your way, if anxiety is controlling you, it could affect your career and mental well being. “Most people who work experience it due to the reality of ongoing and an ever-evolving pressure for performance and productivity,” says Berent.
The signs, say psychiatrists, range from physical symptoms (cold sweats, pulse racing and gastrointestinal upset) to nervously stammering and ‘going blank’ while worrying obsessively. It can deteriorate into avoiding taking on complicated assignments, not returning phone calls, ignoring assignments and calling in sick. Avoidance can be counter-productive and could even prevent you from bagging a promotion or being eligible for a raise.
Consulting psychiatrist Dr Ashish Dewan agrees that if unchecked, workplace anxiety can get out of hand and in extreme cases, derail a professional’s career, lead to alcohol dependence, and a long-term mood disturbance outside the workplace.
Work Makes Me Nervous
found several takers when it released in 2011. Co-written by Berent, it was the story of marketing copywriter Amy Lemley, who had spent most of her professional life worrying about whether her colleagues and clients took her seriously. She avoided calls, and preferred to communicate via email. Strangely, she experienced the tightening of the chest, heart racing and lightheadedness only at work. “Socially, I was fine.” Lemley calls workplace anxiety the “fear of being noticeably nervous or otherwise singled out on the job”. In an email interview to Mirror, Lemley explains that a big component of this is the fear of shame — that your mind will go blank bang in the middle of a meeting or you’ll say something stupid.
According to her, overcoming stress at work isn’t impossible. Start small, experts suggest. Set yourself a doable challenge — returning phone calls, speaking up at a meeting. Gradually build up to bigger challenges. “Several people suffer from workplace anxiety at some point in their careers. We’re talking about high-powered executives, middle managers and young people just entering the workforce. But you don’t have to live that way. You can learn to channel that anxiety — which is nothing but adrenaline — into a fuel that will lead you to success,” Lemley says.
Teja Lele Desai MM130511
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