Excess pressure at work can affect your mental and physical health in many ways:
Your body:
weight loss/gain;
skin rashes;
muscle fatigue;
indigestion; and
raised blood pressure/rapid heartbeat
Your mind:
anxiety and tension;
irritability;
forgetfulness;
disturbed sleep; and
headaches
Your behaviour:
fall in performance at work or becoming accident-prone;
increased use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs; and
tensions at home.
Unless the causes of your stress at work are dealt with, these symptoms can develop into much more serious, long-term ill health.
Your body:
digestion problems;
diarrhoea;
vomiting; and
stomach ulcers
Your mind:
chronic anxiety;
depression; and
mental breakdown, even suicide. (Worker safety magazine Hazards estimates there could be as many as 250 work-related suicides each year.)
Your behaviour:
alcohol/substance misuse; and
social isolation.
Your immune system:
lowered resistance to infections;
chronic asthma;
chronic dermatitis; and
possible increased risk of cancer
Your heart:
heart disease;
heart attack;
stroke; and
hypertension
Note: This content is provided as general background information and should not be taken as legal advice or financial advice for your particular situation. Make sure to get individual advice on your case from your union, a source on our free help page or an independent financial advisor before taking any action.