Anxiety

Anxiety is a normal response when faced with danger, fear or a threat and can be a useful response in these situations such as; surviving a major accident or trying to rescue a loved one. However, an anxiety disorder differs from normal anxiety in that it is:

• more severe (excessive)
• long lasting of more than 6 months or recurring
• often leads to feelings of powerlessness in terms of managing symptoms
• can be linked to Depressive Disorders which relates to powerlessness
• can interfere with an individual’s ability to carry out their work or to have satisfying  relationships.

Symptoms and characteristics

Some of the symptoms and characteristics associated with anxiety include:

• aggressiveness
• avoiding social situations, becoming withdrawn
• change in eating habits
• decreased ability to focus
• decreased tolerance to stress or handling situations
• feeling overwhelmed mood swings
• irritability
• poor motor control
• regular feeling of unwell
• weight changes.

Workplace solutions and adjustments

In the workplace anxiety can affect a person’s ability to focus and process information, even their motor skills can be affected. Anxiety can also have an emotional impact on how a person behaves, for example it can make some people very irritated and aggressive or withdrawn. There are some strategies that can be used in the workplace to reduce the effect that anxiety has on a person’s performance, such as:

• identify any triggers in the workplace, for example is it the environment or the nature of the job?
• allow for open and honest communication between employer and employee so both parties can express any concerns
• if appropriate provide education to the individual who has anxiety and other employees so that everyone has an understanding of how anxiety can affect people. This is especially important as people who have never come into contact with the disorder can find it hard to understand how people with anxiety can behave
• contact a doctor or hospital if there is a threat of harm. 

There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:

• Concentrating
• Dealing with stress and psychological demands
• Interacting with others
• Managing emotions at work
• Problem solving and decision making

References

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Mental Health Council Inc., Kitchener, BA & Jorm AF 2006, Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace – an e-learning course, Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.

Sane Australia 2011, Anxiety Disorders, sane Australia,  online, viewed 6 June 2011, http://www.sane.org/information/factsheets-podcasts/158-anxiety-disorders.

Links to specific types of anxiety disorders