Caring And Support For Work Colleagues

How to Identify Stress in Others

Stress is what happens when the demands placed on someone exceed what he or she can readily cope with. While a certain amount of pressure is a part of everyday life, and can actually help people to perform better too much pressure can cause stress to build.

Even if your organization has a policy on mental health and an active HR manager or team, it’s most likely a friend or co-worker who’ll be the first person to notice a change in someone’s behavior that could indicate stress.

Here are a few examples of unusual behaviors that could be signs of stress:

•  Snapping at colleagues.
• Losing concentration.
• Putting off decisions.
• Restlessness.
• Emotional volatility.
• Anxiety.
• Erratic behavior.

Why Giving Support Matters

Even when you know that someone is suffering from stress, it can be difficult to broach the subject. You might be scared of causing offense, making it worse, or causing the other person to become angry or emotional

But offering your support can be a crucial first step in battling the often serious mental and physical problems caused by excessive stress, such as burnout depression, sleeplessness, fatigue, and even heart disease.

The problems caused by stress can also go beyond the individual who is suffering. It can begin to impact his or her performance at work, forcing others to “pick up the slack,” and relationships to break down.

Your support can help to the ease the impact of these “side effects” and to keep team relationships strong.