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Physical Effects of Bullying in the Workplace
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Last article was on the basic characteristics of bullying in the workplace. Today's article is on the physical effects of bullying in the workplace. Most of us might think that bullying in the workplace only effects the bully and his/her target. We would be very wrong. Anyone who is even remotely involved with anyone in the workplace environment where bullying is happening is affected and not in a positive manner.
Let's look at what happens to the most obvious person first, the target. Usually the targets are the best and the brightest in the workplace. They are the ones who embrace change, who get their work done in a timely manner with a high degree of quality and they willingly help others. So why do these great workers become targets? Not everyone in the workplace has such high standards. They may be the in the minority in their workplace.
Stress takes its toll on the target. Stress kicks starts the autonomic nervous system into a "flight or fight" response to any and all potential "attacks" or "dangers". The body is in high alert status. Our muscles get tense, our heart rate speeds up, adrenaline pumps through our bodies. If the high alert status remains for a short period of time, our bodies can recover easily and return to our normal state of being relaxed. However if the high alert status remains constant, we can become irritable, emotional, angry, over tired, and so on. We will talk more about the emotional and mental effects of being over stressed in my next article.
However stress affects our physical health as well. Our immunity to bronchitis, colds, and flu is decreased so we are more susceptible to illnesses. Our heart rate is increased and our blood pressure becomes elevated as well. Thus we are more susceptible to symptoms of heart disease and stroke. Depending on how an individual copes with stress, the target may lose weight because stress takes away their appetite. Or the opposite may happen, the target will turn to food for solace and may gain an exorbitant amount of weight in a small amount of time.
Another byproduct of stress that is produced in our bodies when the "flight and fight" response is continually triggered is the body produces cortisol. If our bodies remain in a high alert state, we have high cortisol levels in our bodies. So what does this do? Hair becomes brittle and falls out at a faster than normal rate. Fat deposits become more predominant around the waist and harder to decrease weight. The bigger our waistlines the more prone we are to heart diseases.
In my personal experience with being in a bullying environment at work, I went from 155 pounds to 110 pounds within a 2 year time frame. I have severe hair loss. I have had bouts of angina. My other symptoms are more mental and emotional and will be discussed in my next article.
Now on to the bully, what types of physical effects would he or she experience? Others in the workplace environment will view that person as someone to be feared. Trust will fade quickly. People who use to talk with the bully, may start shunning that person. His/her reputation will be affected. Their professional life may become in jeopardy as well.
The other people within the workplace will be affected as well. Trust of the employer that management let this happen to one of the "best and brightest" will be affected. Trust of fellow coworkers will be tentative at best. Morale will suffer. Why do your best when it might get you bullied? The reputation will suffer of the employer. The remainder of the employees will certainly be telling this story to friends and family and others who might be interested in securing a position with the employer in question.
Bullying negatively affects every person in the workplace, not just the target or the bully. Presently, bullying is tolerated in too many institutions. More widespread education needs to be done so everyone can know what to look for, how bullying affects everyone and how to stop it dead in its tracks.
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