Syndrome of the manager

Any kind of activity that gives a livelihood can cause fatigue, accompanied by negative emotions and problems: work and stress often go hand in hand. But the manager's syndrome develops in people who perform managerial functions and have not only a busy schedule, but also daily psycho-emotional loads.

The need to constantly make decisions and bear responsibility for them contributes to chronic stress. For their work, each manager receives a monetary reward, and some of them - because of the loss of the ability to relax, take a breather and take care of yourself - the manager's syndrome in addition.

Causes of the the syndrome of the manager

The causes of the manager's syndrome lie in the stressful nature of managerial activity. For many responsible employees and managers in various fields, the priority of their careers and ambitions is so high that it is almost inevitable that the balance between work and everyday life (rest, family, health and spiritual development) is disturbed.

And then they are overtaken by stresses - psychological and psychosocial. The first is caused by negative emotions, information overload, accelerated sense of time, unproductive perfectionism, anxiety, panic attacks (with a sense of loss of control over the situation).

The reason for the emergence of psychosocial stress are difficulties in dealing with partners, employers, employees, family members; problems with finances, etc.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]

Risk factors

Experts-sociopsychologists note that the risk factors for the development of the syndrome are the fear of those who make important decisions, to show their weaknesses, because this can cast doubt on their organizational abilities, reduce the authority of the leader, and infringe on self-esteem.

In addition, the average age, which accounts for the most fruitful period of life, is associated with the revision of values, the meaning of life and self-esteem. And a person can come to the understanding that instead of meaningful and satisfying work he participates in the exhausting struggle for recognition of his status.

A very small percentage of people can adapt to a stressful situation; the majority become more vulnerable when the psychological load increases. It is in reducing the threshold of stress resistance that risk factors for the development of the manager's syndrome are involved. So the pathogenesis of this syndrome is associated with the effect on the body of prolonged stress.

According to the American Institute of Stress, 75-90% of visits to a doctor are associated with stress, because the cascade of physiological reactions in the body caused by it can be devastating not only because of the depressive state. For example, it was suggested that the manager syndrome, very common among the Japanese, hit the birth rate in the country, which became one of the reasons for the aging of the population. A study conducted in rats showed that stress causes structural changes in brain areas related to decision making and targeted behavior.

By the way, some psychologists identify the manager syndrome with the syndrome of professional burnout or the syndrome of emotional burnout. However, the "burnout" caused by high emotional stress in work is a three-dimensional syndrome (nervous exhaustion, internal emptiness, inefficiency) and is associated with a loss of internal motivation. It is believed that social and medical workers, teachers and lawyers, police officers and servicemen are more exposed to him. This syndrome is more likely when the work performed does not correspond to the nature of the person.

[9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

Symptoms of the the syndrome of the manager

Most often, the first signs of the development of this syndrome are manifested stressful symptoms: fatigue, mood swings, irritability, nervousness, headaches, stiff neck muscles or back pain, sleep disturbance.

If the appropriate measures are not taken at this stage, the symptoms of the manager's syndrome will be aggravated: when stress-related moods and emotions are "pushed into the body", causing psychosomatic or psychogenic pathologies. And then there are palpitations and increased blood pressure; increase in cholesterol in the blood and its deposition in blood vessels; hyperhidrosis and hair loss; eating disorders and problems with the gastrointestinal tract; imbalance of adrenal hormones, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, etc .; weakening of immunity and reproductive capacity.

Complications and consequences

It is clear that in such a situation, consequences and complications are possible. These include cardiovascular diseases and sexual health problems, autoimmune dermatological reactions, difficulty concentrating, obesity, drinking alcohol and taking tranquilizers (to sleep at night).

More useful information - in the publication Stress Symptoms

[14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21],

Diagnostics of the the syndrome of the manager

At once we will notice that diagnostics of a syndrome of the manager should be spent by psychotherapists and psychologists, but at the reference of the patient concerning headaches, problems with cardiovascular system or GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, he gets to the therapist, the cardiologist or the gastroenterologist ...

[22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27]

Differential diagnosis

And here differential diagnostics is necessary. Because clinically and nosologically the manager syndrome is simultaneously similar to depression (about 90% of patients meet the criteria for diagnosing a depressed state), and the stress-induced nervous exhaustion, read the detailed principles of diagnosis of nervous exhaustion

Apparently, as the Journal of Health Psychology writes, the term "manager syndrome" refers to the controversial, since no psychiatric disorders or neurological disorders specific for this condition have been identified.

[28], [29], [30], [31], [32], [33], [34]

Treatment of the the syndrome of the manager

As a rule, the first step in solving the problem is recognizing that it exists, and this remark is especially important for the syndrome of the manager.

What is the treatment of the syndrome of a manager who has not reached the stage of serious physical manifestations? And is it possible to prevent this condition?

Experts say that everyone should find the solution that best suits him, and recommend:

• do fitness, swimming, ride a bike, play mobile sports games, and you can start with a morning exercise or a little jogging;
• adhere to the usual rules of healthy eating (see - Diet against stress ) and do not forget to eat breakfast in the morning, and lunch in the afternoon;
• Do not use food to "seize" stress (try deep breathing or a little stretching exercise);
• learn to meditate (neurophysiologists argue that systematic meditation not only calms the body, but can act as an antidote to the effect of stress on the brain, improving our ability to think analytically).

Whenever you feel that the situation is heating up and your nerves are at the limit, slow down the pace of speech: when a person speaks more slowly than usual, the internal tension "dissolves" and the ability to control one's emotions returns.

Perhaps a person with a clear complex of symptoms of this syndrome does not believe in health-improving opportunities for exercise and proper nutrition and will want to get rid of his problems with the help of pharmacological drugs. However, physical education and proper nutrition - unlike medicines - have no side effects. Want to make sure of this before you take the pill, then read the detailed article - Medicines that protect against stress

Forecast

What can predict the development of the syndrome of the manager? First of all, from the timely revision of values. If the work absorbs all the energy, leaving no strength, no time for family, friends and hobbies; if the demands made at work do not correspond to the person's ability to meet these requirements, then stress and manager's syndrome are guaranteed to him.

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