It’s not out of the ordinary that you have to take your son to therapy every week to help manage his ADHD. Nor is it unusual that your partner takes medication to manage their depression. These are all a part of keeping their mental health in good shape. But what about you? Your career places you in high-stress situations, and you don’t feel you have the time to slow down. Where can you turn when you need help maintaining your mental health in a high-power career?
In a 2023 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77% of respondents reported experiencing work-related stress in the past month. At Tranquil Shores, we understand how workplace stress can cause a decline in mental health, taking away from your work ethic and family time. Let’s discuss some important ways to stay healthy.
The Importance of Mental Health in High-Pressure Careers
Mental health is a crucial part of our livelihood, providing us with enjoyment during happy times and also letting us know when we are becoming too stressed out. When mental health begins to decline, job performance and motivation also fall. This can create resentment in the career space for the employee while also putting strain on the employer.
When we are not feeling our best mentally, it can also take a toll on our physical health. Increased stress, depression, and anxiety can lead to an increase in inflammation. Over time, this leads to a weakened immune system, leaving you susceptible to infections. This is why it is important to manage mental health, especially in high-pressure careers.
Mental Health at Work: What Are the Side Effects of Stress?
Having some stress at work is normal and can help keep you focused in the moment. However, chronic stress can lead to depression, anxiety, and illness. In the workplace, this can cause distractions and lead to negative outcomes. A doctor who is not feeling his best can misdiagnose someone or prescribe the wrong medication. These things are not done on purpose; stress and mental health have taken too much of a toll, resulting in wavering concentration.
The same can be said for business professionals. Executives tend to manage large accounts that may require money transfers or trades. When mental health is taking away focus, the person may make a bad deal or trade, costing the company money and time. This can also hurt the person’s reputation, making it more difficult to continue in the career field.
Caring for, and Maintaining, Your Mental Health in Your Career
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as your physical health and should be prioritized. Stress management and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are ways to keep mentally sharp while forging ahead in your career. Let’s take a look at some techniques for mental health in the workplace.
Stress Management
Keeping your stress level low is key to maintaining mental health. If too many projects are piling up at work, create a schedule or task list to prioritize importance and set deadlines. Stress may be high during this time, but having a detailed list of when projects need to be done can help reduce the time worrying about when you can get to them.
Another way to manage stress is to delegate. Many high-pressure careers such as executives, lawyers, doctors, and more have assistants and other staff to help with projects. This spreads the workload between others, allowing you time to complete other projects and tasks. If you are unable to delegate, consider hiring someone else to help or train an employee in what you are needing. This can reduce stress and help with time management.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Communication is key in the workplace, and if too many projects are being passed to you at once, talk to your supervisor. Express how you may need help to complete all of the work in the allotted time. Having honest communication with your employer shows dedication and prevents future problems from arising.
Mental Wellness
Practicing mental wellness is crucial both at work and at home. Stressful situations happen, and taking a minute for yourself to reset can make a difference in your mental wellness. Losing a patient, legal case, or partner account is devastating – you work hard to do everything right, and still, failures happen. Take a minute to get some fresh air, listen to music, or write in a journal to cope with stress.
If you need to take time away, communicate with your employer that you need some mental health days. Most employers are understanding of the importance of mental health, especially in high-pressure careers. Spend the time doing activities you love such as reading, running, or relaxing.
Resources
Mental health resources are everywhere, but how can you find them? The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a branch in Hillsborough County with various resources for Floridians. They offer a call and text line for mental health crises as well as information about different mental health conditions. There is a schedule of support group meetings available for grief, caregivers, family, and more. Connecting with others about mental health and sharing experiences can ease stress and help heal your mind.
The Florida Department of Health Pinellas County also has a list of mental health resources for the public. These include 211 (a mental health crisis line), children’s mental health, and more. They can also help with connecting you to therapy and support groups.
Meetup is an online forum for finding local groups and events. These range from support groups for stress to exercise get-togethers and more. Some events are one-time while others meet regularly. Utilizing Meetup is a great way to find new activities to reduce stress and engage in social activities.
Preventing Career-Related Mental Health Issues
Preventing career-related mental health concerns starts with proper stress management. As we mentioned above, talking to your employer when the workload becomes too much or delegating can help manage stress. Taking some time for yourself when needed also keeps mental health in check. Planning your day and tasks can keep your stress levels low as you accomplish each project.
Stress management is not just for while you are at work. Separating your work and home life will help keep stress to normal levels. Even if your career requires you to work from home, have a space dedicated to just work that is separate from the rest of the home. This keeps work stress in the work environment instead of bringing it into your living space.
Practicing healthy habits also improves mental health. Physical activity releases chemicals in the brain that create enjoyment. If you don’t have time for exercise when you are at home, try going for a walk or run during your breaks at work. This will improve mental health as well as physical health.
Getting Help for Mental Health With Tranquil Shores
Working is a part of life, but it doesn’t have to take away from your mental health. There is no shame in asking for help, and finding mental health care can get you feeling like yourself again. Treatment for executives, medical professionals, athletes, and more is available right now. Healing awaits you – all you have to do is take the first step.
If you or someone you love is finding their work-life balance is out of sync, work stress has become unmanageable, or mental wellness is deteriorating, help is here at Tranquil Shores. Our program addresses the unique challenges that high-pressure career clients face and works to heal their mental health. We often see substance use overlapping with mental health concerns, which is why we offer treatment for both conditions simultaneously. Call us today at 727-391-7001 for the peaceful and private treatment you deserve.
