In modern society, many people work in offices and companies as managers. People in this profession must carry out a large number of assignments, interact with employees, and draw up long-term plans. And sometimes they actually work hard to get things done. Recently, a new disease called manager syndrome has emerged.
Back in the late 1980s, American researchers drew attention to the fact that managers are more likely than others to experience stress and burnout. All this ultimately leads to serious mental and physical health problems. Occupational disease has come to be called manager's syndrome. But it is typical not only for people working in an office.
According to statistics, those whose work is associated with constant contact with people and emotional stress are also at risk. These are all medical professionals, social workers, salespeople, lawyers, teachers.
People in these professions gradually lose motivation, they often experience negative emotions, and they can gradually deteriorate relations not only with colleagues, but also with loved ones. Fatigue, feelings of loneliness and loss of self-worth are very common.
Reasons for the development of manager's syndrome
Workaholism and the inability to normally comply with the work and rest schedule. Irregular working hours, short vacations, work on weekends or around the clock, fast food and constant snacks, inability to leave the workplace even to the toilet. All this gradually leads to the fact that the psyche begins to collapse, because the body is constantly under stress and in fact can never fully relax.
There are studies on the basis of which it was concluded that if a person's vacation lasts less than a month, then the body cannot fully relax and recover. Only at the end of the second week of vacation does the tension begin to gradually subside, and recovery begins only from the third week. Not many people, especially those working in offices, can boast of having a full rest for a whole month at least once a year.
Another reason may be that employees, in order to get a pay raise or a new position, try to work as much as possible and stand out from the rest. Because of this, control over one's actions is strengthened many times over, and concentration of attention exceeds permissible norms. At the same time, a person forgets about personal affairs, family, rest and entertainment. All his thoughts are aimed only at getting a bonus or promotion.
Excessive demands made by the management to their employees can also negatively affect the psyche and cause the manager's syndrome. If employees are in constant fear of punishment, they are waiting for fines, deprivation of bonuses, and any of their efforts go unnoticed or invaluable, then gradually, instead of doing something better, they begin to do it worse, losing interest in any work.
With the daily performance of the same actions and the same duties, a person's interest in work will gradually completely fade away. He will work "automatically" and no one will wait for any initiatives from him.
Constant communication with strangers or unfamiliar people. If the work is connected with a large flow of people, while the person must remain polite and courteous, at some point a breakdown may occur. After all, a person is not a machine, he has his own emotions, which sometimes cannot be hidden, and the mood may not be rosy every day. But you have to be in a "mask" all the time, with a smile on your face, which creates constant internal tension. If this is not done, then as a result, the employee may be fined or even fired from work.
Manager's syndrome can lead not only to mental disorders, but also to provoke diseases such as diabetes, gastritis, ulcers, hypertension and many others.
Key symptoms of manager syndrome
- Fatigue that does not go away. A person even in the morning feels already tired.
- Poor sleep or insomnia. Difficulty falling asleep and waking up, nightmares.
- Constant headaches, indigestion.
- Loss of taste sensations or their change, loss of vision, hearing impairment.
- Aggression or apathy. Addiction to alcohol or drugs.
- Complete unwillingness to work, lack of responsibility for their actions. The feeling that the work being done is not needed by anyone and does not bring any satisfaction.
How to treat
Treatment should be comprehensive, it is almost impossible to do without the help of a specialist.
Drug therapy, psychotherapy and various practices that restore emotional and physical health are needed. As well as proper nutrition, adherence to the daily regimen, good rest and sleep.
There are many ways to solve the problem, but an individual approach to a person is always important.
