CHENNAI: Stress continues to take its toll on young professionals even today. Problems caused by high work pressure, long hours in front of the computer, high cellphone usage and a fast-paced lifestyle are being reported more often and are leading to greater cases of depression, contend city doctors.Dr Vinod Kumar, mental health professional says, “The competitive lifestyle has caused severe stress on many working professionals, and this is not just restricted to IT industry. Relationships, public appearances and other issues are also taking a greater toll on their health. There are atleast five cases reported every fortnight in the 25-35 age group, with workplace stress followed by personal issues being a major trigger. Mostly working women are likely to be affected by job stress, as they have to balance home and work.”By celebrating Workplace Wellness Day, the well-being of workers on a sustained basis cannot be done. Workplaces are yet to check on the stress-related mental disorders among employees, he points out.Dr R Venkataraman from a city hospital explains that nearly two-third of young professionals are suffering from minor to major forms of stress. “A little stress is not bad as it can be a motivating factor. But stress, if not handled properly, can get hazardous for both mental and physical health. One has to be on the lookout for common stress signs like mood-swings, irritability, difficulty in concentrating, abnormal levels of fatigue, eating disorders from binge eating to anorexic behaviour and unusual addiction to the internet,” he explains.Experts advice that youngsters should do what interests them and confide to parents, and peers about what they feel. Dr Gunasingh Rajan, psychiatrist says, “Stress busters differ from person to person. While one might like listening to music, another might like shopping,” he saidUsually the youngsters work for meeting targets in tight deadlines, leading to high job insecurity.” Working professionals have become so work-oriented that they lack a social life, leading to frustration.Mental health professional Dr Sharada Ramesh said, “One should remember the adage — Stop and smell the roses. It all depends on your outlook and how you see handle things without stress. One should concentrate on the positives in life. Talk about your problems to anybody who is close to you, and it will make you feel better, she said.One can also involve in physical activities to relieve of stress. It can be anything from an aerobic exercise to dance or yoga, she said. “Also, don’t forget to pamper yourself, in the way you want to,” she added. When work stress enters the walls of a homeNewly married couple, Vinay and Nisha (name changed) are well-settled for a comfortable living. But they don’t have time for each other. This began to create small trouble in their relationship. While Nisha quit her job, Vinay, a banking professional, could not just take time out for her. This affected their interpersonal relationship. Signs of irritability, mood swings and lack of interest in eating was shown in Vinay, which gave a heads up to Nisha. She approached Dr Gunasingh who said, “Vinay was completely stressed out. While Nisha would eagerly expect him to be home early, Vinay returned home tiredly. This was stressing out Nisha in milder ways. The first session, we asked Vinay to catch up with his lost interests. Then we asked him to couple it with more number of family dinners and outings, and take it easy on work,” explained Dr Gunasingh who said that the couple is better off now.
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