Panic And Anxiety In The Workplace – Understanding And Managing Mental Health Challenges
- Sep 6, 2024
- 4 min read
Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma is the Founder and Chairperson of Vishwas Healing and Healthcare LLP, a renowned Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Alternative Healing Master with over 22 years of experience in the healing industry. Dr. Pooja’s passion for healing and counseling goes beyond just a profession; it is her true calling.
In modern workplaces, and particularly given the ever-increasing demand for productivity, panic, and anxiety are some of the prevalent conditions that people are likely to develop. These conditions can greatly affect an individual’s health, efficiency, and output in relation to the job. It is, hence, important for employees and employers to have adequate knowledge of the causes of panic and anxiety, its signs, and how to deal with it.
Understanding panic and anxiety
Panic Attacks are acute episodes of phobic anxiety and fear or discomfort that are rapidly time-limited, usually occurring within minutes. Some of the signs are palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pains, and feelings of hopelessness.
Anxiety is a general term that defines different disorders that present symptoms of worrying, feeling nervous, or being afraid. While panic attacks are characterized by acute occurrence, anxiety symptoms can be chronic and might include agitation, tiredness, impaired focus, increased sensitivity, muscle stiffness, and sleeping disorders.
Sources of work-related anxiety and panic
Several factors contribute to the development of anxiety and panic in the workplace:
High workload: Pressure and strict deadlines are unhealthy for employees because management pushes them to the limit which results in stress and anxiety.
Job insecurity: Any threats related to employment status, such as the loss of a job or lack of promotion, can cause stress to become persistent.
Workplace conflict: Strain with co-workers or bosses can elevate stress parameters.
Lack of control: If one is helpless regarding job activities or the setting, this may lead to anxiety.
Poor work-life balance: It is a known fact that lack of effective work-life balance increases the levels of stress and anxiety.
Recognizing symptoms
It is crucial, therefore, for panic and anxiety symptoms to be recognized early enough. Common signs include:
Physical symptoms: Palpitations, perspiration, hand tremor, lightheadedness, or nausea.
Emotional symptoms: Unable to stop worrying, being afraid, angry, or feeling helpless.
Behavioral changes: The most common behavioral indicators range from avoiding specific tasks or situations to generally reduced performance or increased days off work.
Ways of coping with panic and anxiety
Open communication: Promote awareness of Mental health in the workplace especially through discussions. One should be able to approach the management with his or her problems without any prejudice.
Stress management techniques: Encourage stress-reducing activities which include; practice of mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing exercises. Exercise is also an effective way to reduce anxiety symptoms, it is recommended that people engage in a certain level of physical activity.
Professional support: Advise the employees to consult a professional if they feel that they need to. EAPs can offer a counselor, and mental health professionals or services.
Workload management: It is important to be optimistic when it comes to work and responsibilities assigned so that they are not too heavy on employees and timelines given are not unrealistic. Divide work into smaller chunks to help in the reduction of anxiety levels among the workers.
Healthy work environment: Promote a positive corporate climate that embraces the employees. Appreciate the contribution of employees, offer training and development, and involve people in the organizational decision-making process.
Regular breaks: Exhort people to take their respective breaks so that they do not feel weary and burnt out all the time. Short breaks could help avoid a state of exhaustion and ensure good performance of the tasks.
Training and education: Promote awareness and training in Stress prevention and Mental health. Inform employees and managers about the possibility of anxiety and panic and the ways to prevent it.
The role of employers
Some of the ways that can be adopted by employers include the following with regard to workplace anxiety and panic. They can support mentally ill employees and prevent mental health issues by fostering a healthy organizational culture and applying the following measures. Key actions for employers include:
Assessing the stressors within the workplace environment and dealing with them as soon as possible.
Ensuring that patients have a way to get the necessary mental health care and related support.
Flexible working arrangements as a way of enhancing work-life balance.
Including the organization’s top management in the promotion of mental health awareness and practicing it in the organization.
Conclusion
Anxiety and panic as the issues that exist within the workplace are problematic and need to be addressed. With awareness about the causes and symptoms and ways for their management, the sufferers, as well as the providers, that is, the employees and employers, can establish a superior work culture. Treatment of these mental health disorders not only improves the quality of life of the patients but also positively impacts the economy since the productivity in organizations is improved.
Read more from Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma
Dr. Pooja Anand Sharma, Healing Therapist & Life Coach
Dr. Pooja, an exceptional communicator, seeks to revolutionize holistic healing by emphasizing the profound interconnectedness of the mind and body. Her philosophy rests on the belief that mental and physical health are inseparable. Any ailment affecting one inevitably reverberates through the other. With this vision, Dr. Pooja has transformed countless lives.
