Is stress contagious?

In the workplace, whether the work atmosphere is good or not can depend a lot on the manager. If the boss has just had a bad day, their facial expressions or unpleasant behavior can spread stress, according to Psychology Today (USA).

Stress can be contagious.

Psychologists call this “emotional contagion.” We tend to pick up on the emotions and behaviors of those around us. If someone is happy, you’re likely to feel better around them. Conversely, if someone is stressed, it can affect the stress of those around them.

In the workplace, this contagious stress can affect people's moods and reduce productivity. After all, most of us prefer to work with people who don't make us feel uncomfortable or stressed.

Because of these effects, leaders in organizations need to be especially aware of their stress, thoughts, and behaviors. People pay more attention to leaders. Therefore, stress signals from these people also have a greater impact on their colleagues.

There are many reasons why stress is contagious. But neurologically speaking, we have neurons in our brains that can copy the responses of others. For example, if you see a smile from someone else, you will want to smile back. A frown from someone else can also trigger discomfort and stress within us.

Similarly, other people's stress-revealing behaviors can trigger or reinforce our own feelings of stress. Even when we clearly perceive the stress as someone else's problem, we still feel uncomfortable ourselves.

To prevent this contagion, after being around someone who exhibits stressful behavior, experts recommend finding a quiet place and spending some time alone to reduce stress. Additionally, being around someone close to you who provides a sense of security and support can also help reduce the discomfort caused by stress contagion, according to Psychology Today.

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