Top 10 Career Emotional Warning Signs

  • Changes in behaviors – increased drinking, smoking, zoning out, acting differently, changes in work habits, taking unnecessary risks, new reckless activities, change in eating habits
  • Emotional changes – anxiety, restlessness, worrying, irritability, sadness, fear, insecurity, lack of focus, forgetfulness, distancing
  • Relationship conflicts/socially withdrawn – home, partner, supervisor, non-responder friends, isolating self from friends and family
  • Reactive changes – angry outbursts, crying spells, flashbacks or sudden re-experiences of traumatic experiences, hyperarousal – feeling that danger is imminent, nightmares, displays of anger and rage
  • Letting self go, neglect appearance and hygiene, losing interest in hobbies and activities
  • Increased ailments – colds/flus/indigestion, headaches, backpain, chest pain, high blood pressure, problems sleeping, weight gain/loss, lack of energy
  • Procrastination in personal decision making
  • Sudden and unexplained improvement in mood after being depressed or withdrawn
  • Negative talk and Warning Statements – talks about suicide or death (“I wish I were dead”), “What’s the point of living?”, “ Nobody would notice if I was gone anyway”, “people would be better off without me”, express feelings that life is meaningless/hopeless, “I’m tired of life”
  • Start giving away cherished possessions – “I won’t be needing this anymore”, putting affairs in order – making final or funeral arrangements, ending significant relationships, having a suicide plan, collecting means or tools to commit suicide