Worry about your job, increased demands at work, and the responsibilities of your career can cause you a lot of stress, particularly in times of economic uncertainty. The stress can build over time because you return to work again and again. It isn’t always a major incident such as a demotion that causes stress; in fact, minor worries can snowball into major stress if they are repeated day after day.

It’s important to overcome pervasive stress at work because stress has such an impact on you both emotionally and physically. Individuals suffering from stress are at increased risk for depression, panic attacks, anxiety, exhaustion, frustration and anger. It’s also linked to physical problems such as high blood pressure and a suppressed immune system.

If you’re feeling stressed at work, take the time to identify the specific stressors that are affecting you. Is it a one-time occurrence such as lay-offs, or are you struggling to cope with an unpleasant or unproductive coworker on a daily basis? After you’ve identified the source, it’s time to make some changes.

If you can change the situation itself, do so. This may involve asking for a move to another department, looking for a new job, or simply learning better interpersonal skills. Time management is often crucial to alleviating work place stress because it helps you determine priorities and work more productively. Delegating work can also help reduce your stress levels. It’s important to keep things in perspective as well. If you feel like you are overwhelmed with work you can’t complete, ask yourself what will happen if you put some assignments off. In most cases, it will not be the end of the world, or even your job. Many people discover that the pressure they feel is self-inflicted.

If you still can’t cope with the stress at work, consider consulting with a therapist or counselor. They can help you develop relaxation techniques and effective coping skills that can reduce your stress levels and improve your mental health.