What are the warning signs of stress?

Excess pressure at work can affect your mental and physical health in many ways:

Your body:

• Weight loss/gain.
• Skin rashes.
• Muscle fatigue.
• Indigestion.
• Raised blood pressure/rapid heartbeat.

Your mind:

• Anxiety and tension.
• Irritability.
• Forgetfulness.
• Disturbed sleep.
• Headaches.

Your behaviour:

• Fall in performance at work, or becoming accident-prone.
• Increased use of alcohol, cigarettes or drugs.
• Tensions at home.

Unless the causes of your stress at work are dealt with, these symptoms can develop into much more serious, long-term ill health.