Where Does Stress Come From? Catching Stress Before It Catches You
In today’s hyperconnected, hyperproductive workplace, stress has become a silent companion for many professionals. Particularly across Southeast Asia, where long working hours, back-to-back meetings, and a strong culture of high performance often blur the boundaries between ambition and burnout.
But where exactly does stress come from? Can we catch it before it catches us?
The Corporate Pressure Cooker
According to a 2024 Channel News Asia report, Singapore remains among the most overworked countries in the world, with 60% of employees reporting stress-related symptoms. In Malaysia, a 2023 study by JobStreet found that 42% of professionals felt emotionally exhausted due to work-related pressures. Similar trends are emerging in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, where rapid urbanisation and digital acceleration have made “busy” the default state.
At first, stress may feel like just another deadline to power through. But beneath the surface, unmanaged stress can lead to chronic fatigue, reduced creativity, absenteeism, and even physical illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) has gone as far as to classify burnout as an occupational phenomenon, not just a personal failing.
Mental Health and Work Are Closely Linked
A healthy work environment can be one of the greatest protectors of our mental well-being. It offers routine, purpose, social contact, and financial security. But when the environment turns toxic due to poor leadership, overwork, unclear expectations, or lack of support; it does the opposite.
Poor working conditions not only reduce productivity but directly damage mental health. According to WHO, 15% of working-age adults live with a mental disorder, and more than 12 billion working days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety.
Story from the Ground: Anita’s Wake-Up Call
Take Anita, a 38-year-old marketing lead in Manila. She loved her job but found herself waking up at 3 a.m. with racing thoughts. “I thought I was just being efficient,” she said. But when she started missing family dinners and crying after meetings, she realised something was off.
Her manager, trained in resilience and psychological safety; noticed the shift. Through a team check-in and a 1-on-1 conversation, Anita was encouraged to use her company’s mental health support programme and eventually took a resilience assessment. Within weeks, she began small shifts: mindfulness breaks, clearer task boundaries, and better sleep. Today, she leads with empathy, not urgency.
Three Signals of Workplace Stress to Watch
- Physical Exhaustion: Frequent headaches, insomnia, or muscle tension.
- Emotional Agitation: Irritability, detachment, or loss of joy in tasks.
- Mental Fog: Struggling with focus, memory, or decision-making.
Catching Stress Early
Stress doesn’t have to break us. It can be an early-warning system if we’re willing to listen. Employers play a crucial role by fostering cultures of psychological safety, offering support systems, and building resilience at every level of the organisation.
If you’re a leader, ask yourself:
🟢 When was the last time I checked in; not on performance, but on the person?
🟢 Does my team feel safe to say, “I’m not okay” without fear of judgment?
As we approach World Mental Health Day on 10 October, let’s reflect on how we work; not just how much we work.
Let’s catch stress before it catches us.
