This Stress Awareness Month, Birmingham-based career expert Mandy Rees has highlighted growing concerns that stress is increasingly being viewed as a “badge of honour” among women in the workplace. She also pointed to several behaviours that may suggest someone has become overly dependent on living under constant pressure.
In modern society, being busy is often associated with ambition and success. For many women juggling careers, family life, and social responsibilities, stress is no longer seen purely as a warning sign but instead as proof of hard work and achievement. However, specialists are warning that this attitude may conceal a more serious issue — a reliance on stress itself.
Often referred to as “stress addiction,” this pattern develops when people become so used to functioning in high-pressure environments that moments of calm begin to feel strange or uncomfortable. Today’s culture contributes heavily to this mindset. Long working hours, demanding schedules, and nonstop productivity are frequently celebrated as indicators of dedication and success.
Consequently, feeling overwhelmed can mistakenly be interpreted as strength or commitment, despite evidence linking chronic stress to poorer physical and mental health.
A major indicator of stress addiction is struggling to truly switch off. Individuals may feel guilty when resting or uneasy during quiet periods. Rather than embracing downtime, they often fill their schedules with additional tasks, create unnecessary urgency, or take on more commitments than necessary. Many also believe they work best under pressure and find it difficult to focus without tight deadlines. Over time, the body can become dependent on stress hormones such as adrenaline, creating a cycle where the feeling of pressure becomes strangely familiar and even desirable.
Additional warning signs include compulsively checking emails or messages, becoming restless during free time, and being unable to relax while on holiday. Even when exhausted, people may continue pushing themselves because they associate slowing down with failure. Gradually, this mindset can become deeply tied to a person’s identity and sense of self-worth.
There are psychological and biological reasons behind this behaviour too. Continuous exposure to stress trains the body to operate in a heightened state of alertness, making calmer situations feel unfamiliar. Some experts believe that early experiences or high-pressure environments can condition people to connect busyness with achievement, safety, or validation, reinforcing the pattern over time.
Although short-term stress can sometimes improve focus and performance, ongoing stress has the opposite effect. Long-term exposure can contribute to burnout, anxiety, disrupted sleep, and weakened immunity. It may also encourage unhealthy coping habits, including overeating, excessive screen use, or dependence on stimulants. Ironically, the pressure people rely on to stay productive can eventually damage both their wellbeing and effectiveness.
Women may be especially vulnerable due to the expectation that they should succeed professionally while also managing households, relationships, and caregiving responsibilities. Combined with societal messages that glorify “doing it all,” this can create a near-constant sense of urgency and make unhealthy stress levels harder to recognise.
Addiction specialist Nick Conn, founder of Help4Addiction, explained: “Stress addiction is likely to be a genuine issue, shaped by social and economic pressures. It is almost certainly intensified by constant access to smartphones, technology, and the demands of working across multiple time zones, which make it increasingly difficult for people to mentally switch off. Recognising the problem is the first step towards finding healthier ways to manage it.”
Recovering from stress addiction begins with awareness. Understanding the difference between unavoidable pressure and self-created overload is essential. Learning to rest without guilt is equally important, even if it initially feels uncomfortable. Practical steps such as setting clearer work boundaries, taking regular breaks, and reducing constant digital connectivity can gradually help regulate the body’s stress response.
Technology can also offer support, with a variety of apps available to track stress levels, encourage mindfulness, and help improve emotional balance.
Ultimately, experts say the conversation around success needs to change. Rather than viewing exhaustion as a measure of achievement, there is increasing emphasis on balance, wellbeing, and sustainable productivity. Stress should be recognised not as a status symbol, but as a signal that support and recovery may be needed.
Article written by Daniel Tannenbaum
