Anxiety is often a large part of a person’s identity. It can largely affect all aspects of a person’s life, and certain circumstances can elevate and affect an anxious reaction. “This condition controlled my every thought and action, causing me to experience panic attacks, physical pain, and intrusive thoughts” (Lihanda). Personal testaments shared on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America website offer a deeper insight into all anxiety disorders, whether Generalized (GAD), Social (SAD), PTSD, or Panic Disorder, to name a few. These personal stories show how debilitating dealing with anxiety can become. A major part of one’s life that is affected by major anxiety symptoms is their job. Certain expectations, situations, and requirements accompany all types of jobs and all roles in the job. Whether it's a fixed career or a young persons’ summer job, anxiety has evident correlations with work performance.
Anxiety symptoms include difficulty concentrating, feeling fatigued and irritable, difficulty sleeping, issues concentrating, feelings of worry and stress, and experiencing physical pains such as headaches, stomach aches or muscle aches (NIMH), which can play into how one functions within their day-to-day life. When trying to function in a work environment, experiencing mental and physical stress and fatigue can affect productivity and the quality of the work being done. Missing deadlines due to brain fog and fatigue. On top of everything else, anxiety can cause you to become easily irritable or angry (CAG). When feelings of constant worry and stress about everything and everyone around you build up, it’s hard to regulate those feelings. In fact, in the American workforce “29% had yelled at co-workers because of workplace stress”, and “14% said they work where machinery or equipment has been damaged because of workplace rage” (AIS).
A job is large part of a persons’ social life. Whether you’re working-from-home, in an office building, and especially if your job relates to dealing with people all day, there will always be necessary interactions. Symptoms of anxiety, especially SAD, which affects 15 million adults in the US (NIMH), can cause a strain or disconnect between a person and their coworkers. If they cannot effectively communicate with co-workers, or avoid meetings and social events pertaining to their job due to their social anxiety, this can largely affect their relationship with their co-workers. Research from Champion Health shows, “...with 1 in 5 employees reporting that poor mental wellbeing affects their productivity…those experiencing anxiety are more likely to leave their job.”
As discussed in a previous article, social anxiety most popularly affects adolescents aged 13-18 (NIMH). Experiencing social anxiety in school is often the first glimpse that someone who suffers from anxiety gets of how it affects their social life. By avoiding large groups of people, or people in general, avoiding events or gatherings, etc. teenagers are being set-up to experience the same fears in adulthood. Anxiety has also proven to affect schoolwork; “Nearly a quarter say their anxiety affects their academic performance,” according to the National Education Association on college students dealing with anxiety. Social anxiety also affects public speaking and presentation abilities, asking clarifying questions, and the willingness to speak up in group discussions with classes. All eyes on you, people judging your every word and how you deliver them, comparing and questioning that information you’re presenting. In jobs where giving presentations, participating in meetings, and communicating with co-workers is essential, anxiety can make one’s day-to-day tasks feel exteremely daunting and scary.
Anxiety causes a very different outlook on day-to-day life, and can have major affects. On the other hand, looking at how the workplace itself can affect a persons mental health is imperative in understanding anxiety aswell. Studies done in the US showed that 80% of workers feel stress on the job, and almost 40% say they need help learning how to manage their stress (AIS). Whether its workload, or dealing with other people on the job, workplace stress can greatly affect someone’s overall quality of life. Previous feelings of anxiety can be worsened from constant stress because of work, heightened in stressful situations in the workplace. Workplace stress can also cause feelings of anxiety to develop in other aspects of a persons’ life. 40% of workers reported their job was very or extremely stressful, and 25% view their jobs as the number one stressor in their lives (AIS). There are multiple reasons as to why the workplace could be causing someone’s stress. according to a study from The American Institute of Stress, “42% report that yelling and other verbal abuse is common”, and “10% said they work in an atmosphere where physical violence has occurred because of job stress…” (AIS).
Taking everything into account, there is a clear correlation between anxiety and work performance. Symptoms of anxiety such as fatigue, irritability, and panic attacks can largely affect how well a person performs on the job. Social anxiety causes fears of interacting with others, as well as presenting and public speaking. If someone experiences these issues in school they can continue on into their job and affect their social life. It is also important to account for the correlation between workplace stress and anxiety, as issues at work can greatly affect ones mental health and can further the symptoms of anxiety. Resources of managing workplace stress can be found online at sites like CaryMedicalGroup.com, and advice on dealing with anxiety symptoms as to not let them take over your life can be found at BetterHelp.com. It is manageable, and it is do-able.
Sources:
NIMH » Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness
Surviving GAD Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Five Ways Anxiety Affects Your Work Performance.
The Epidemic of Anxiety Among Today's Students | NEA.
The HR Guide to Anxiety in the Workplace | Resource | Champion Health.
Workplace Stress - The American Institute of Stress
What is the correlation between anxiety and work performance?