Stress is most often associated with individuals. This is largely due to the consequences of stress being most visible at the individual level. However, businesses can also suffer from stress, as a result of the stress experienced by the individuals within the organisation. There are many potential consequences of stress for both individuals and organisations. This post highlights some of the common individual consequences of stress.
Individual consequences of stress
Common individual consequences of stress include:
Chronic fatigue
Stressful tasks require the individual to work beyond a point at which they feel that they can cope. In an attempt to cope, they will often increase their working hours and reduce their break times. This is done at the expense of family, social and leisure time. Even when not at work, they might find it hard to switch off. Prolonged exposure to stressful work can lead to chronic fatigue whereby the individual is both physically and mentally exhausted.
Physical health
Prolonged exposure to stressful activity leads to a rise in the individual’s cortisol levels. Excessive levels of cortisol can suppress the immune system, thus exposing the individual to a wide variety of potential illnesses. The individual may also adopt unhealthy behaviours in an attempt to cope with the stress e.g. increased alcohol consumption. These behaviours can further increase the individual’s chances of experiencing bad health. Among the illnesses which have been linked with stress are cancer and cardiovascular disease. Physical health issues which might be experience include:
- Heart attacks/stroke
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Angina
- Premature death
Psychological health
For stress to occur, the individual must feel that they are unable to cope. This feeling of helplessness can have a dramatic effect on their mental health. Anxiety and worry levels increase and this can in turn lead to the individual experiencing depression. Psychological health issues which might be caused by stress include:
- Low self-esteem / self-worth
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Breakdowns
Addiction
To cope with stress, people try a number of coping mechanisms; some of which can be very unhealthy. If not controlled these behaviours can quickly become addictions and have devastating effects. Addictive behaviours which can be associated with stress include alcoholism, smoking, drug addiction (both legal and illegal drugs) and gambling.
Increased Conflict
Stress pushes people to, and beyond, their limits on a consistent basis. This level of pressure makes it hard to manage interpersonal relationships in all areas of life. Conflict, both in and outside work, is common. Conflict also arises as a result of reduced performance and failure to meet expectations, again, both in and outside of work.
Disciplinary action
As stress increases, performance levels decrease. It is neither physically nor mentally possible, to work under extreme pressure for prolonged periods. As many stressed persons are incapable of explaining their issues to management; stress can often lead to disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal.
If you feel that you may be experiencing stress, check out Stress Free Living.
The individual consequences of stress can be very dangerous. Failure to recognise, and deal with, the symptoms of stress, at an early stage, leads to the stress spiralling out of control. The stress may start off in one small area of their life but as they fail to tackle it soon spreads to other areas. Perhaps the biggest problem with the individual consequences of stress is that they cannot be contained; they take over the person’s whole life. Despite being called the individual consequences of stress, they do have knock on effects for far more than just the individual. Organisations, families, communities and any other groups, with whom the individual has regular contact, suffer some consequence from the individual’s stress. For that reason alone, stress should never be seen as just and individual problem. It is a societal problem.