Work Stress - After Effects

[Ruby0707]

I have had a busy work period relating to a project that lasted about 2 months. It culminated in the last couple of weeks and I found myself surprisingly stressed with it at the end. I wasn't sleeping or eating properly, not finding enjoyment in my usual hobbies and quite frankly, exhausted.

The project has mainly finished now (last week) with a few lingering ends to tie up and possibly some variables which may change things.

I still feel utterly exhausted, I have a lack of appetite which isn't helping but why do I feel this way when it's over? I should be relieved.

Is that normal? Does it take time to recover from a period of stress? When can I expect to feel my normal self again?

Thanks for any words of wisdom.

I think it is normal. For me, it’s when I start relaxing after a period of stress I normally come down with flu like symptoms and weirdly the last 3 times I’ve had Covid has been after a period of stress. So beware, you may come down with something shortly.

I don’t know why it happens when the stress bit is over, but it seems like it catches up with you.

I have felt like you recently, not sleeping but eating nothing, then eating the wrong things rather than no appetite, I feel all over the place and “on edge” each day I go to work.

I guess your body takes a while to recover especially if you are a bit older (middle aged).

Hope you feel better soon.

Yep that’s very normal for me too, I think the adrenaline of a deadline keeps me going and when I can finally relax it all catches up on me. Take it easy for a week or two and you’ll hopefully be back to normal.

I was quite surprised at how stressed I got and the physical effects of that. I haven't slept properly for a while. That can't be good for the body.

Thanks for your insight. I'll give it a couple of weeks and hope that things start to feel better.

Every teacher I know is ill for the first week of the holidays, generally.

I'm pretty sure it's because your body is simply running on adrenaline by the end of term and then exhaustion hits you.

My experience of ageing has been that I feel stress more physically - terribly dry mouth, nausea from cortisol/adrenaline - and I think this is somewhat an age-related thing.

I wouldn't say I feel ill. Just 'not myself.'

It's quite frustrating.

Very normal, you need time and to do some self care. Health eating as much as you can manage, exercise and getting out in the sunshine, focusing on looking after yourself.

I nearly broke due to stress from my previous job last year and even though I left, it took a couple of months for things to really improve.

I don’t recognize myself from how I was a year ago now! I am in a much better place.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It really is amazing the impact it can have on you.

Thankfully, it's not a regular experience at work but I wasn't supported at all with this project and left to deal with it on my own which I feel a bit resentful about. There are still some lingering bits to do so I guess that stress could be lingering too.

Actually, I'm still finding that I'm thinking about it all the time. My weekend has kind of been taken up with what I will go back to next week so probably explains why I'm still stressed.

Any tips for switching off and not letting this affect me so much?

Feeling unsupported is a horrible feeling, it’s not surprising you feel resentful!

It’s also entirely normal when you are under a lot of stress to struggle to switch off.

In terms of switching off, the only thing that generally worked for me was going out, away from home. For a walk, day trip, night away. If I stayed home, work would creep into my mind and I couldn’t relax.

I go to the gym now and I’m sure that would have helped but when I was under that level of stress, I had no energy for the gym!

Writing it down brings back to me how brutal my old job was and how much easier my life is now. I’ve had a really busy day at work but at no point has it felt anything like my old job felt and I’m not dwelling on work now I’m at home.

Focus on self care, eating well, doing things you enjoy, slowing down at work if possible. If you continue to struggle, is there anyone you could reach out to? We have employee assistance which can provide counselling.

Thank you for your insight.

I recognise what you say about not having the energy to go to the gym. That's usually part of my routine and I enjoy it but I didn't go last week as I was exhausted so it has a knock on effect.

I think I need to take back some control this week. I feel I'm working above my pay grade to be honest and I need to start pushing back.

Having this much effect on my health is not on.

I will see how it goes this week. I could raise it with my manager but she's worse than useless.

Your experience resonates entirely with me in my last job! I lost myself really, the job consumed me and I stayed far too long!

For me, I knew the job wouldn’t change, my boss was mostly absent and completely took me for granted which didn’t help.

The only option for me was to leave and I handed in my notice with nowhere to go. I knew I could do bank if needed but it wasn’t necessary, another job came up almost immediately. The weight lifted the moment I made my decision.

Life really is too short to be unhappy at work. I lost my dbro in a tragic accident less than 2 weeks after I handed in my notice and that put everything in perspective. My focus now is very much on maintaining a good balance and staying healthy, mentally and physically.

I hope you can find a way forward and reduce your stress. Hopefully your boss will be more understanding than mine was!

Same situation here @Ruby0707, I had a couple of weeks of high work stress and I lost my appetite/got quite nauseous and even now the worst of the stress passed last week I still have little appetite and feel quite queasy. I suddenly feel exhausted too today so I suspect the adrenaline is finally dissipating. I am trying to find moments to breathe and start to recover as well as trying to eat little and often when I can. I hope you gradually start to feel more yourself.

Not quite the same but many years ago I had a period of lots of stressful things happening at once and it was actually after these things had all improved that I ended up with a load of anxiety symptoms, including a general feeling of being on edge. It was really odd as the stressors had gone but the after effects were still there...more so than during the actual stressful period where I'd just ploughed on.

What helped me in the end was to sort of embrace the feelings. So when I felt out of sorts I would just briefly acknowledge how I felt, chalk it up to stress and not try to 'be strong' or fight it to feel better. It did work and I know it sounds a bit woo but it's something to do with your nerves needing time to recover without you constantly questionning them as to whether you still feel stressed or not!

I work to constant deadlines so this is pretty much my life, but have a new job where I'm determined to not let work take over.

My top tip is to go out - it really depends on energy levels and weather but I find either the closest possible green space that is nice is good. Other things I like to do to switch off completely - mindlessly browsing clothes shops (does require a bit more energy).

Also, a weekend of just existing - that for me involves doing the chores, having a bath, doing hair, food shop, batch cook, eating healthy meals, minimal social like pop and see friend or family member for coffee. In between these - having a day time siesta on saturday, possibly watching something uplifting, low key pottering.

Stress is an absolute killer so it's just about resetting the cortisol levels. Also during the week try and get lots of walking in, feels loads better quite soon.

This is my life.

I am currently consumed by work. My “downtime” is running around after family members, catching up on chores or literally rotting on the sofa.

Like you OP I can’t say I’m ill but I’m not myself and I’m finding I’ve got very little tolerance for people’s BS at the moment.

I can’t give you any suggestions but now that the clocks have sprung forward (and weather permitting) I’m sitting outside for at least half an hour.

Hope things get better.

Thanks for your insights everyone and I'm sorry to hear of your experiences.

I feel worse now than ever, it's really weird. I don't have more work than I had before this project started other than a couple of lingering decisions, actions etc but I feel TOTALLY overwhelmed. Like really anxious and stressed and not able to focus on the work I need to do.

Maybe it is what you say about the adrenaline wearing off or maybe I've just got nothing left in the tank.

I will make sure I get to the gym tonight and let these feelings hopefully pass.

Normal - as far as I know it's the cortisol (stress hormone) leaving your body that wipes you out. It's a naturally produced steroid so you can get withdrawal sypmtoms.

I'm feeling better today. I got to the gym last night to work off some of that cortisol.

Think my body is realising that the bulk of it is over and I'm back to a manageable level of work.

That is definitely something that couldn't go on long term so I feel for anyone who has to deal with that!