Anxiety happens to everyone at one point or another. These feelings typically worsen with stress. It’s important to pinpoint what’s causing this stress. Often, anxiety is a result of one’s working conditions.

If workplace anxiety is causing you to feel overwhelmed and is stopping you from living your life to the fullest, read on. Below are 5 common causes of workplace anxiety and how you can address them. 

Excessive workload

A heavy workload happens when you’re given more than you can handle. If you’re receiving work that’s not part of your duties, it’s time to speak up. Otherwise, it will take a toll on your mental and physical health. 

The first step to finding anxiety relief is acknowledging your workload is excessive. Then, speak with your manager and explain how it’s affecting you. A heavy workload makes employees suffer from stress, poor work-life balance, and lower employee performance. 

If you’re feeling submerged in deadlines, speak with your manager to prevent burnout. Good managers will find a solution to prevent excessive workload, which could then lead to bigger problems. 

Lack of support

Feeling like you don’t have your employer’s support can worsen work-related stress. Employees should be able to reach out about anxiety, tension, and worry if it’s a result of the workplace environment. After all, it impacts your life negatively and distracts you from your work.

If you feel that your work and personal life are becoming affected by your workplace, reach out to your employer. Often, they’ll be able to help ease the stress and anxiety that you’re feeling. Your boss won’t be able to offer the support you need if they’re unaware there’s a problem. 

Senior staff

Upper management plays an integral part in the mental health of their employees. Managers who don’t come around or communicate with you unless it’s something negative can cause anxiety at work.

What managers say or do has a huge impact on how you’re going to feel toward your job. This is one of the leading causes of workplace anxiety.

Understand that you can’t control what those around you do. However, you can control how you react. If your boss is unsupportive, seek help from other senior staff that can help. Establish relationships with people in your workplace that have influence and can help. 

Peers

Your coworkers can be the reason you have a hostile work environment and these issues need to be addressed. 

A bad coworker can be harmful to your mental health and career. Negative work relationships cause tension, and conflicts can cause anxiety outside work. Knowing you must work the next day and deal with your peers can also cause issues outside of work. You may feel constantly stressed or not look forward to work because of the negative coworkers. 

It would help if you kept a journal of any negative interactions and the date they occur for when you’re ready to bring them to human resources.

Insufficient training

Training is essential for management as well as staff. New employees should have gone through an orientation and proper training for the position they have. It’s a great thing to keep current employees up to date with any training or classes that can help them further their careers.

Not being properly trained or not staying up to date with training can show poor job performance and increase anxiety. 

Final thoughts

There are many reasons you may feel anxiety with your job and it’s normal until it begins causing issues. If you feel you’re unable to reduce the anxiety you’re feeling or your well-being isn’t getting better, reach out to a professional for help.

Tommy Williamson did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in psychology, mental health, and wellness.