How chronic stress physically rewires your brain
February 21, 2025
Numerous studies show that job stress is a major stressor for American adults and has escalated progressively during the past few decades. Work stress’ severity is influenced by the magnitude of a job’s demands and the worker’s sense of control or decision-making latitude in dealing with them. Scientific studies based on this concept confirm that workers who perceive they are subjected to high demands but have little control are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Increased levels of work stress have been associated with increased rates of heart attack, hypertension, and other health issues. The relationship between job stress and cardiovascular health is well-known: in several large cities, police officers who experience a coronary event on or off the job are considered to have a work-related injury and are compensated accordingly.
Despite the strong evidence that work-related stress impacts millions of Americans and has significant health impacts, workplace stress is often considered a normal part of being an adult. Experiencing significant work stress and even burnout does not have to be the norm.
Workers, managers, and business owners can all take steps to address their own workplace stress and develop a safe and empathetic workplace environment.
Empathetic management practices can encourage communication and compassion amongst teams and create a safe environment for employees to be transparent about their mental health and stress levels. This positive environment can combat stress and prevent burnout.
This 8-question assessment is a valuable starting point to gauge your workplace stress levels. Take the first step toward managing your work-derived stress today.
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Workplace stress is a common challenge, but it shouldn’t overwhelm your life. This evidence-based course is designed to address the specific stressors that workers often face. Throughout the course, you will learn practical stress management strategies to help you navigate workplace pressures and improve your personal wellbeing.
of employees say the majority or all of their stress comes from work
of employees believe work-related stress has negatively affected their mental health
of healthcare workers report high or extreme stress
of employees believe work-related stress caused a personal relationship to end (break-ups, divorce, etc.)
Source: Headspace 2024 Workforce State of Mind Report
For any HR professionals looking to strengthen your corporate EAP offerings, consider integrating resources from The American Institute of Stress. Whether you choose to offer employees specific resources or comprehensive membership, AIS resources can enhance employee mental and physical wellbeing through stress education.
Empower your employees with our practical resources focused on the physiology of stress and effective stress management. Contact [email protected] to discuss our EAP options.
Stress affects everyone differently, and the first step to managing it is understanding how it impacts you. Explore science-based research and information designed to help you understand and manage your stress. Choose your category and begin your journey toward better stress management today.
Reduce stress and build resilience with practical, science-based tools from AIS and our partners. Start today by exploring our resources designed to help you manage stress effectively.
Stress costs businesses billions of dollars in absenteeism, decreased productivity, lower output, employee turnover, and healthcare costs.
Sources: Dr. Paul Rosch, UMass Lowell, BrightPlan’s 2024 Wellness Barometer Survey
Workplace stress is likely to be an issue for all professionals at some stage in their careers. However, regardless of industry or experience, all workers can experience burnout due to overwhelming or poorly managed workplace stress.
According to research from Indeed, 52% of employees feel burnout, and it’s never been more important to understand how it can impact our lives. The good news is there are many ways employers and employees can reduce the probability of experiencing burnout. The future of work does not have to include burnout as a common experience.
Historically, the work culture in most American companies is centered around productivity and maximizing profits, putting workers’ wellbeing second. However, making workers’ mental health a focus does not have to mean that an organization’s productivity and profitability will decrease. In fact, the WHO states “For every US $1 put into scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders, there is a return of US $4 in improved health and productivity.”
Some simple ways to begin combatting stress and burnout in your workplace include:
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