Many physical injuries can prevent you from working while you recover or if you are permanently disabled. Whether you are healing from a moderate concussion after hitting your head on an office cabinet or suffering from the long-term complications of a broken spine after falling from scaffolding, you probably know that you can file a workers’ compensation claim for these injuries. You and other Californians may wonder if the same can apply for job-related emotional stress.
Medical professionals say chronic stress, anxiety and depression can significantly impact your quality of life and ability to perform your job. Work-related stress can take many forms, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some examples may include the following:
- Emotional trauma and anxiety from being yelled at and intimidated by a supervisor or co-workers
- Post-traumatic stress disorder after witnessing a fatal workplace accident or sustaining a serious injury on the job
- Having a job that is dangerous, noisy, fast-paced or stressful
- Experiencing sexual harassment, racial discrimination or other forms of unlawful workplace behavior
Chronic stress often does more than upset you emotionally and psychologically. Over time, stress can impact you physically, resulting in such symptoms as chest pain, increased heart rate, fatigue, high blood pressure, headaches and joint pain. These physical manifestations of chronic stress can wreak havoc on your personal and professional life. Additionally, they often do not resolve on their own. It usually requires professional help to deal with stress, depression and anxiety.
This issue and other aspects of workers’ compensation law may be complex. Therefore, this information should not replace the advice of a lawyer.