What are 5 signs of work-related stress?
Asked by: Antonetta Schulist | Last update: February 15, 2026Score: 4.5/5 (75 votes)
Five key signs of work-related stress include physical symptoms (headaches, fatigue, sleep issues), emotional changes (irritability, anxiety, low mood), cognitive difficulties (poor concentration, trouble making decisions), behavioral shifts (withdrawal, increased lateness, lower performance), and lack of motivation or interest in work, often appearing as a sense of dread or feeling overwhelmed.
How to stop work stress?
- Tips for coping with stress. You don't need to cope with stress at work alone. ...
- Coping with a stressful workload. Ask your manager for help. ...
- Coping with a difficult work-life balance. Give yourself short breaks. ...
- Coping with a lack of support in your workplace. Find out about services in your workplace.
What are 7 warning signs of stress?
Seven common signs of stress include physical issues (headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, sleep problems), emotional changes (irritability, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed), cognitive difficulties (trouble focusing, memory issues), and behavioral shifts (social withdrawal, changes in appetite, increased substance use). Recognizing these signs—like frequent illness, digestive complaints, or a racing heart—helps you address stress before it escalates.
How to relieve stress quickly?
To relieve stress quickly, use deep breathing, short walks, listening to music, or mindfulness; these techniques calm your body and mind in minutes by shifting focus and releasing tension, while connecting with nature or a friend offers immediate support and perspective. For longer-term management, consistently incorporating exercise, proper sleep, healthy diet, and setting boundaries is key, but for immediate relief, focus on breath, movement, or connecting with others to interrupt the stress cycle.
What are the health issues of work stress?
For some, these stressors can contribute to serious problems, such as the development or exacerbation of mental health challenges (e.g., anxiety disorder, depression disorder or substance use disorders.)
Workplace Mental Health - all you need to know (for now) | Tom Oxley | TEDxNorwichED
What is the biggest cause of stress in the workplace?
Common causes of stress at work
- a lack of control of our workload.
- high demands on our time and energy and lack of clarity about responsibilities.
- fear of redundancy or changes.
- poor line management and lack of support.
- difficult relationships with colleagues.
- bullying or harassment in the workplace.
- workplace discrimination.
What vitamins help with stress?
Some vitamins, such as Vitamin D, Melatonin, Magnesium, and L-theanine, have also been found to help with stress. Before taking any vitamins for mental health concerns, you should consult with your healthcare provider.”
What drinks reduce stress?
Some of the best to drink in your tea are valerian, passion flower, and St. John's wort. 4. Fruit Juice: Juices high in vitamin C, including orange juice, grapefruit juice, and strawberry juice, help reduce stress levels by lowering levels of the body's stress hormones such as cortisol.
What exercises reduce stress?
Stress relief exercises include deep breathing, yoga, Tai Chi, and mindfulness meditation, which calm the body and mind through controlled movements and focus, alongside physical activities like walking, swimming, or dancing, which release endorphins; progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery also help by focusing attention and relaxing tension. The best approach often combines these, using rhythmic activities like yoga or mindful walking with short breaks for deep breaths, to manage the body's stress response.
What is the first symptom of stress?
Physical symptoms of stress may include: Aches and pains. Chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing. Exhaustion or trouble sleeping.
What medication is used for stress?
The most common medications to manage symptoms of stress are tranquilizers, beta-blockers, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), among others. Additional treatments may include acupuncture and herbal remedies.
What are the best foods to reduce stress?
Our bodies produce a “good mood hormone”: serotonin. The higher the serotonin levels in the brain, the more balanced and relaxed we feel. The amino acid tryptophan, found in protein-rich foods such as cheese, poultry, lean meat, fish and pulses, forms the building blocks for the "good mood hormone".
What is a natural stress reliever?
Natural stress relief involves lifestyle changes like regular exercise, a healthy diet, and sufficient sleep, combined with immediate techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, listening to music, journaling, and connecting with loved ones or pets, all helping to lower stress hormones and boost feel-good endorphins. Incorporating mindfulness, reducing caffeine, and using aromatherapy or herbal teas (like chamomile) can also provide significant, natural calm.
What are the first signs of work stress?
Symptoms of work-related stress
- fatigue.
- muscular tension.
- headaches.
- heart palpitations.
- sleeping difficulties, such as insomnia.
- gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhoea or constipation.
- dermatological disorders.
What is the difference between stress and anxiety?
Stress is the body's natural response to challenges, typically felt as tension or pressure. Anxiety is a longer-term feeling that persists even when there is no obvious trigger. It's a constant state of worry, fear, or unease.
Which fruit relief stress?
Eating fruits is always a good choice, and a good option for helping to reduce feelings of stress. Fruits high in vitamin C, including citrus fruit and strawberries, are an especially good choice.
Does vitamin D deficiency cause anxiety?
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient that is naturally produced in the body. It's also available in certain foods. However, a large percentage of Americans don't get enough. Research indicates that there is a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and anxiety as well as depression.
Can drinking water lower stress?
A new study found that hydration is key when it comes to managing stress. People who drink less than seven cups, or 1.5 liters, of water per day have a cortisol response to stress that is 50% higher than those who meet water intake recommendations.
What is the 90 10 rule for stress?
While 80–20 principle was focused on making the most out of your situations and, 90–10 principle is all about eradicating your stress and living a happy life. Stephen Covey defines it as: The 90–10 principle basically says that our life is 10% made of what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.
What is the #1 worst habit for anxiety?
There isn't one single "#1 worst" habit, but procrastination/avoidance, lack of sleep, negative self-talk, and excessive caffeine/poor diet are consistently cited as major drivers that intensify anxiety by creating a cycle of stress, worry, and poor coping. These habits often feed into each other, making it harder to manage anxious feelings, with procrastination often stemming from anxiety and then worsening it further.
How to reduce stress in 3 minutes?
25 Quick Ways to Reduce Stress
- Breathe. Slow, deep breaths can help lower blood pressure and heart rate. ...
- Listen to Music. ...
- Take a Quick Walk. ...
- Find the Sun. ...
- Give Yourself a Hand Massage. ...
- Count Backward. ...
- Stretch. ...
- Rub Your Feet Over a Golf Ball.
What vitamin deficiency causes stress?
Key Vitamin Deficiencies Linked to Anxiety and Depression
- Vitamin B12. Your body needs vitamin B12 to make neurotransmitters. ...
- Vitamin D. ...
- Folate (Vitamin B9) ...
- Magnesium. ...
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ...
- Iron and Zinc. ...
- Foods Rich in Key Vitamins. ...
- Supplement Recommendations and Precautions.
What is the best exercise for stress?
The best exercise for stress is often the one you enjoy and stick with, but yoga, Tai Chi, and aerobics like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming are highly recommended for combining physical release with mindfulness and endorphin boosts, helping calm the nervous system and distract from worries. Activities that involve rhythmic, repetitive motion or intense bursts of energy, like running, dancing, or kickboxing, also effectively burn off stress hormones and improve mood.
What herb is good for stress?
Chamomile. Limited data shows that short-term use of chamomile is likely safe and can be effective in lessening symptoms of anxiety.