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.