2024-01-10 12:32:19
Irrational and excessive fear of work has causes that depend on the relationship that a person has with themselves, with the world and others. The return to routine after the Christmas holidays is one of the triggers of ergophobia, which can be faced by applying some self-help strategies.
After the holidays, with their non-working and vacation days, returning to routine is not easy for most people, but some feel a disproportionate and intense fear when thinking about returning to work. It is the so-called ergophobia.
Some people are comfortable with their work, enjoy some of its facets in particular, or take the setbacks it generates as a challenge and a learning experience. For others, Working alone is a way of life with certain tasks and schedules. that they have to fulfill in exchange for receiving fees.
Others, depending on how things are going, what awaits them that day or their mood, fluctuate throughout the day or week, between satisfaction and diffuse discomfort; between indifference and boredom; between apathy and enthusiasm.
Also there are those who hate their work activityor they approach it with resignation, making a repetitive pilgrimage from the restlessness of Mondays to the fleeting liberation of Fridays.
But some individuals feel something different when facing their work activity: a disproportionate, persistent and irrational fear of work or some of its aspects in particular, and which could be defined more specifically, as an “uncontrollable fear of going to their place or job.” usual”.
When and how ergophobia or fear of work appears
Ergophobia (a word that comes from the Greek terms ‘ergon’, which means work, and ‘phobos’, which means fear or terror), can manifest itself before, during or after the work day, according to the Claritas Psychological Institute (IPC). .
The discomfort experienced by the person with ergophobia can be as intense that prevents them from carrying out their work tasks in a natural and adequate manner, and even hinders or hinders the performance of those seeking employment and facing personnel selection tests, according to the IPC.
Some people may experience ergophobia, return to workafter the summer or winter holidays, or shorter holiday periods, such as the Christmas holidays or Easter.
But This phobia is different from simple sadness or difficulty adjusting. What we feel when resuming our work routine after a temporary break. In fact, It can occur at any time of the year or stage of your working life. of a person.
This phobia “causes great suffering, which can manifest itself in various ways, producing anxiety, constant worry, negative thoughts and physical symptoms,” says the psychologist and coach. Pilar Guerra, specialized in emotional and behavioral disorders.
Causes of discomfort
“Irrational fear of work can have deep causes that vary from person to person, and which may include traumatic or negative experiences related to work, such as an unexpected layoff or a toxic or stressful work environment,” he points out. Guerra.
“It can also be related to self-esteem problems or social anxiety, for which the person fears being judged, negatively evaluated or rejected by colleagues or superiors,” he adds.
Others possible causes of ergophobia they can be the lack of genuine interest on the part of the person in the occupation he or she performsa feeling of lack of control about the work they do, or the perception of not being able to adequately fulfill the functions assigned to them, according to Pilar Guerra.
Explain what This psychological disorder can be triggered by specific situations at worksuch as a public presentation, a performance evaluation, a meeting with bosses, or it can even begin to occur from the simple idea of having to fulfill work responsibilities.
“Stress-related triggers may also arise, such as excessive workloads or very tight deadlines,” says Guerra.
Pilar Guerra, psychologist and ‘executive coach’. Photo provided by the psychologist.
Recommendations to combat ergophobia
In this way, the psychologist describes some Basic self-help strategies to deal with ergophobia:
Deactivate your perfectionism
The Self-demand leads to the utopia of perfectionismbut the exaggerated tendency to want to do things “with honors” leads to the opposite: to clumsy behavior, becoming obsessed with doing everything perfectly, warns Pilar Guerra.
Practice relaxation techniques
Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga are effective techniques for reducing stress and anxiety. They are based on bringing our thoughts to the ‘here and now’, instead of focusing them on fearing a future that does not exist and has not arrived, he points out.
Set small, achievable goals
“Break down work tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This will allow you to achieve a sense of gradual achievement, which can increase your confidence in your ability to face your work responsibilities,” recommends the psychologist.
Traumatic situations: they can trigger ergophobia. Photo: Racool Studio/ Yeco Studio/ Freepik.
Seek professional help
“Recognizing the problem and seeking help are the first steps to solving it. With the appropriate strategies and professional support, you can overcome ergophobia and have a full and satisfying work life,” says this specialist.
Distinguish ‘demand’ from ‘excellence’
“Self-demand leads us to the distressing pretension of perfection. Aspiring to excellence leads us to the responsibility of trying to do things in an outstanding way as much as possible, considering mistakes as learning,” she concludes.
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