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Anxiety & OCD Specialists • (408) 384-8404 |
Stress at Work
Laura L.C. Johnson, MBA, MA, LMFT, Cognitive Behavior Therapist
Stress in the Workplace
A "stretch goal" is when you have a task that challenges you just a bit beyond your capabilities, you believe you can do it and you feel energized because there's something new and different about the assignment. Stretch goals can help you grow and develop new skills.
In contrast, work stress develops when the requirements of the job do not match your capabilities, you don't have adequate resources to complete a project or you feel discouraged due to interpersonal conflicts, bad management or company politics. Chronic work stress can result in exhaustion, tension, anxiety, a negative attitude, lowered confidence and dissatisfaction with the job. Chronic work stress can also lead to health problems, frequent illnesses and sometimes disability.
Work Stress is Common
A study by Catalyst in 2009 reports alarming statistics about how employees are managing stress at work:
- 55% of employees are stressed to the point of feeling extremely fatigued and out of control
- 63% of employees say that job pressures interfere with their family or personal life
- 66% of employees who feel overworked report feeling nervous or stressed
- 20% of employees say they miss more than 6 work days a year due to stress
Counseling Can Help
The good news is counseling can help. Catalyst also found that:
- 77% of employees who sought treatment for stress or depression reported increased work performance after three months of treatment
- 94% of employees who got counseling reported missing fewer days of work after three months of treatment
Counseling for work stress can help you develop greater resilience to cope with the challenges at work. The Catalyst study shows that even three months of counseling can help you increase your coping skills and improve job performance. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a practical form of counseling that can help you set realistic goals and help learn more effective ways to manage work stress and job challenges.
Laura L.C. Johnson, MBA, MA, LMFT
Certified Cognitive Therapist by the Academy of Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, Adult & Child Counseling, Inc.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, MFC48807
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, Adult & Child Counseling, Inc.
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, MFC48807
1475 Saratoga Avenue, Suite 168
San Jose, CA 95129
(408) 384-8404