7 Takeaways About Work Stress: What You Should Know

By Rachel Lee, Pre-Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Most of us have to work. Unfortunately, this necessity of life can introduce a range of stressors. To help you manage them, we tapped Rachel Lee, one of our team members with experience in this area.

Here are Rachel’s seven takeaways about work. If you’re feeling burdened by tension around your job, #7 holds particular power for you.

1. Work is one of the top sources of stress for adults

According to the American Psychological Association, work consistently ranks as a leading stressor for U.S. adults. Many people report significant stress related to workload, unclear expectations, or lack of support. This often shows up in therapy as anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, or emotional exhaustion.

2. Burnout is a systemic issue, not a personal weakness

The World Health Organization defines burnout as a workplace phenomenon tied to chronic stress, not an individual flaw. People often internalize blame when the real issue is unrealistic expectations, unclear roles, or workplace cultures that make recovery nearly impossible.

3. Certain groups face heightened pressure

Women, working parents, and first-generation professionals frequently describe unique stressors:

• Women often carry emotional labor at work.
• Parents (especially mothers) feel pressure during return-to-work transitions.
• First-gen professionals often feel heightened pressure to prove themselves, which can intensify anxiety or self-doubt.

4. Imposter feelings are extremely common, especially during transitions

Up to 70% of people experience imposter feelings at some point. These feelings often surface during job changes, promotions, layoffs, or other major transitions.

Imposter feelings aren’t a diagnosis. They’re a normal reaction to new expectations, ambiguity, and lack of supportive mentorship.

5. Stress often shows up physically before people identify it emotionally

Clients commonly report early signs like:

• Sleep issues
• Headaches
• Difficulty focusing
• Irritability
• A sense of “not feeling like myself”

These symptoms often appear before someone recognizes the emotional or workplace component.

6. Today’s job market is amplifying anxiety for many people

The current job market is unpredictable across industries, and many people are navigating layoffs, hiring freezes, or long job searches. To compound the issue, being let go can trigger shame, fear, or identity loss. Then, struggling to land a new role can lead to prolonged anxiety and exhaustion, even for highly skilled professionals.

7. Therapy can help even when there’s no crisis.

Many people come to therapy because they want more balance, clearer boundaries, support navigating office dynamics, or help managing stress before it escalates. Therapy provides a space to understand patterns and build practical tools that support long-term well-being.

If any of these insights about work-related stress resonated with you, you could probably benefit from talking with our team. We offer career counseling if you’re trying to find your path, tools for boundary-setting, and any other support you need to manage your job, joblessness, or anything else related to work. Contact us and our intake coordinator can help you connect to one of our therapists.