Emotional intelligence – the links between emotions and stress-related illnesses

The challenge of work-related stress is now well-recognised by many employers. But how our emotions, the fluctuating emotional interplay with our environment that we experience every day, affects and feeds into stress and stress-related illnesses is much less well understood. Occupational psychologist Kyle Davies investigates. Depression, anxiety and stress now account for the majority of days lost because of work-related ill health in the UK. Statistics published by the government show that around 300,000 people with mental health problems will leave their jobs each year, and that this is costing the UK economy around £99 billion each year. Paul Farmer, chief executive of the charity Mind and co-author of the Thriving at Work report commissioned by the Prime Minister Theresa May, said at the time of the launch of that report in October 2017: “Mental health was a taboo subject in many workplaces. Opportunities are missed to prevent poor mental health and ensure that employees who may be struggling get the support they need. “In many instances, employers simply don’t understand the crucial role they can play, or know where to go for advice and support.” Kyle Davies BSc MPhil CPsychol AFBPsS is a qualified chartered occupational psychologist and business coach. He is also director of Energy-Flow Coaching and author of The Intelligent Body Quite often employees will fail to inform a manager if they are suffering from stress and, if they do, no mitigating action is taken. Lack of action can lead to deeply serious and complex afflictions amongst employees, such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Fibromyalgia, but we are also talking about mild depression, anxiety and addiction. These are conditions that are becoming increasingly more common in the workplace. Depression, stress and anxiety show now boundaries. They can affect any employee in any industry at any time […]

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