Stress in The 21st Century

The Hidden Epidemic of Stress in the 21st Century Workplace

While the industrial diseases of the 19th and 20th centuries, such as asbestosis, are thankfully becoming a thing of the past, a new, more insidious problem has taken their place: stress.

The coal mines and factories of the past have been replaced by call centers and trading floors, but the pressure of modern work environments has given rise to serious issues of stress and mental health. In today's streamlined, downsized workplaces, stress has become such a widespread concern that there is increasing demand for the Health and Safety Executive to introduce specific legislation to address it.

Stress occurs when individuals perceive excessive demands, leading to feelings of overload and overwhelm. This can activate the body's fight, flight, or freeze response, a survival mechanism designed to protect us in life-threatening situations. However, when we are constantly under pressure, this response becomes chronic, preventing the body from maintaining homeostasis—a state of balance and ease. Prolonged stress can lead to "dis-ease," manifesting in poor mood, decreased productivity, strained relationships, and deteriorating health. If you frequently feel overwhelmed, it's crucial to take steps to restore balance to your nervous system.

Complementary therapies, such as massage, kinesiology, Bowen technique, and reflexology—which our anatomy and physiology courses support—are designed to help the body maintain and restore homeostasis. These gentle therapies work with the body to re-establish balance, allowing it to heal itself. If this seems far-fetched, consider the process of a broken arm healing. While an orthopedic surgeon may set the bone and apply a cast, it is ultimately the body that mends the fracture by generating new bone tissue.

As therapists, it’s essential to understand the profound impact stress can have on the body, as many diseases and disorders are caused or exacerbated by stress. This is the first in a three-part series exploring stress and how, using knowledge from our anatomy and physiology courses, we can better assist our clients.

There is no doubt that stress in the workplace has significantly increased. The statistics speak for themselves:

"Stress in the workplace may be costing businesses £12 billion a year." – Health Education Authority, 1999

"Stress is likely to become one of the most significant risks to businesses and employers in the short term." – British Safety Council, 1999

"A survey of more than 300 organizations found that one in five companies with over 1,000 staff described stress as a major problem." – Gee Publishing, 1999

"30 times more working days were lost due to stress-related mental illness than industrial disputes." – CBI, 1995

"80 million workdays are lost each year due to emotional difficulties." – Department of Health

"70% of GP visits are for stress-related complaints." – International Stress Management Association

"Two-thirds of trade union health and safety officers said stress was their biggest concern." – TUC, 1996. The TUC is currently handling 470 union-supported cases related to stress.

These figures highlight the growing challenge of stress in the modern workplace and the urgent need for action to support both employee well-being and business productivity.

Stress has three primary causes: organisational factors, life events, and personal factors.

Organisational Causes include excessive workloads, job insecurity, long hours, poor communication, lack of recognition, bullying, discrimination, and poor work environments. Issues like rapid changes, fear of redundancy, and lack of support from managers also contribute to workplace stress.

Life Events such as personal problems can spill over into work life. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), offering counselling and support, have proven effective in managing such stress.

Personal Factors involve internal challenges like negative thinking, loss of confidence, motivation, or direction, and poor communication skills. Therapists can help clients manage stress by addressing these personal barriers.

Understanding these causes allows therapists to better support clients in stress management.

Stress triggers the body's "fight, flight, or freeze" response, a primitive survival mechanism that releases adrenaline and causes several physical changes. These include muscle tension, pupil dilation, increased heart rate, rapid and shallow breathing, and the release of cholesterol for energy.

However, in modern life, stress often leads to prolonged inactivity, causing issues such as high blood pressure, palpitations, digestive problems, mood swings, and weakened immunity.

This ongoing stress can negatively impact mood, productivity, relationships, and overall health. Therapists need to understand these physiological responses to better help clients manage stress.

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