Published by BUPA's Health Information Team

May 2004

In the UK it is estimated that work-related stress is responsible for six million days of sick leave a year, with stress being linked to many minor and major illnesses.

For most people, work is a significant and meaningful feature of life with the majority of us spending around 25% of our adult lives working. While work can provide us with structure, purpose, satisfaction, self-esteem and spending power, the workplace can also be a setting of stress and worry. 对大部分人来说，工作是生活中重要且有意义的部分。我们大部分人在成年期把25%的时间放在工作上。一方面，工作能为我们提供住宿、目标、满足、自尊以及购买力，而另一方面，职场也同样是压力和焦虑的始发地。

What is work-related stress?

什么是工作精神压力？

Everyone is under some pressure in the workplace. Some external pressures can be a positive factor, helping us to be more productive. Some people actually thrive under short-term added pressure, and our bodies are designed to meet these short-term demands. Hormones including adrenaline are released to prepare us for a "fight or flight" response to demanding situations. However, excessive and prolonged stress can take its toll, producing a range of physical and emotional health problems which have come to be grouped as "work-related stress".

There is no single cause of work-related stress. While stress can be triggered by sudden, unexpected pressures, it is often the result of a combination of stressful factors which accumulate over time. Some people can become so used to the symptoms of excessive stress that it goes unnoticed to their detriment. Most work-related stress is related to management of work, relationships at work, organisational set-up and whether you feel you have power and control in your work.

The experience of stress is different for every person. Some people are affected more than others, so what is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another. It can depend on your personality type and on how you have learned to respond to pressure.

Typical triggers of stress include: 典型的会触发精神压力的事件

* lack of control over work 对工作缺乏控制力

* excessive time pressures 过长时间的压力

* excessive or inflexible working hours 工作时间过长或不灵活

* too much or too little work or responsibility 太多或太少工作或责任

* confusion about duties and responsibilities 责任不清

* lack of job variety and interest 工作内容比较单一，缺乏兴趣

* inadequate training and possibilities for learning new skills 培训不足，学习提升的机会不够

* poor work/life balance 工作和生活不平衡

* difficult relationships at work 与同事关系紧张

* lack of support and lack of contact with colleagues 缺乏来自同事的支持，和同事沟通不够

* organizational confusion, restructuring, job change 组织混乱，公司重组，工作变动

* uncertainty over job prospects 工作前景不明朗

Symptoms of work-related stress 工作压力表现出的症状

Work-related stress can manifest itself as physical and emotional health problems, and as altered ways of behaving at work and at home. 工作压力可以身体问题或情绪问题的方式体现，并且同样改变在工作中或家中的行为方式。

Physical symptoms 身体症状

* increased susceptibility to colds and other infections 容易感冒或得其他传染病

* headaches 头疼

* muscular tension 肌肉紧张

* backache and neckache 背疼，脖子疼

* excessive tiredness 过度疲劳

* difficulty sleeping 睡眠困难

* digestive problems 消化问题

* raised heart rate 心率上升

* increased sweating 多汗

* lower sex drive 性欲降低

* skin rashes 皮疹

* blurred vision 视觉模糊

Emotional and behavioral changes 情绪和行为变化

* wanting to cry much of the time 大部分时间想哭

* feeling that you can't cope 感到无能为力

* short temperedness at work and at home 在上班时和在家里都容易发脾气

* feeling that you've achieved nothing at the end of the day 感觉一天下来什么也没干成

* eating when you're not hungry 不饿也吃东西

* losing your appetite 没胃口

* smoking and drinking to get you through the day 抽烟和喝酒来混过一天

* inability to plan, concentrate and control work 不能对工作进行计划，工作时不能集中精力，不能掌控工作

* getting less work done 完成的工作量减少

* poor relationships with colleagues or clients 和同事及客户关系不好

* loss of motivation and commitment 缺乏动力和敬业精神

那么，该如何应对这些工作压力呢？下一次我们来看看如何处理好这个影响工作和生活的问题。