Sick because of stress:
Everything you need to know about the silent wrecker in the workplace
Stress is no longer a buzzword - it is a social problem. Especially in SMEs, where pressure is high, teams are small and margins are often tight. Employees are increasingly calling in sick, not because of the flu, but because of something less tangible: stress. And yes, you can get really sick from stress.
Chronic stress slowly creeps into your system. It starts with a full head, poor sleep or a short fuse. But before you know it, you're walking around with palpitations, stomach problems or burnout. The impact in the workplace is huge: absenteeism, decreased productivity and turnover increase - while the real cause remains invisible.
In this blog you will read how stress makes you sick, which symptoms you should not ignore, what chronic stress does to your body and - more importantly - how to recognize and address it in a timely manner. Not only for yourself, but also for your colleagues or your team.
Subtle but important: more and more organizations are actively working on prevention. Recharge360, for example, helps SME teams become more mentally powerful and energetic, with measurable results and no extra burden on HR.
What is chronic stress?
Everyone experiences stress from time to time. A deadline, a difficult client, a presentation coming up. That acute stress is usually not harmful - in fact, it makes you sharp and alert. But what if stress is not a peak, but a constant state of readiness? Then we speak of chronic stress.
What is chronic stress?
Chronic stress is stress that persists for long periods of time without sufficient moments of recovery. It is the difference between sprinting and running endlessly without pause. The body remains in a heightened state of readiness, with the stress hormone cortisol continuously active.
Your body perceives stress as danger, and puts everything on survival. In the short term, that's helpful. In the long run? Debilitating.
What can cause illness due to stress?
Stress is personal, but some causes are common, especially in the workplace:
- Too much work and too little control
- Unclear expectations or goals
- Not enough recognition or support
- No room for recovery or breaks
- Private problems that spill over into work
Often it is not one major cause, but rather an accumulation of small, daily stressors that eventually lead to getting sick from stress lead.
The assassin in modern work environments
This is why it is so important to chronic stress taken seriously and not waved away as "just getting through it." Because those few weeks of "just having a blast" can take months of recovery if you're not careful.
Can you really get sick from stress?
Yes, it's very common: sick from stress. Both mentally and physically. Long-term exposure to stress disrupts various systems in your body - from your nervous system to your immune system. Chronic stress is therefore increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for physical and mental health issues.
Can you get sick from stress?
According to the Trimbos Institute (2022) stress is related to a wide range of complaints, including insomnia, cardiovascular disease, depression and anxiety disorders. Also, data from the CBS (2023) that stress-related complaints are responsible for about 35% of long-term sick leave in the Netherlands.
These figures confirm that not only do you can get sick from stress, but that this is also happening on a large scale. Moreover, the impact is visible in work-related figures: decreased productivity, rising absenteeism and increasing pressure on HR teams.
So how does that work, getting sick from stress?
With prolonged stress, your body continues to overproduce adrenaline and cortisol - stress hormones normally meant for short-term action. However, if these hormones remain elevated for weeks or months, they impair important bodily functions. Among other things, cortisol inhibits the immune system, disrupts sleep rhythms and triggers inflammatory responses in the body (Sapolsky, 2004).
Your body is constantly busy "surviving," losing room to recover. The symptoms that arise are often not directly linked to stress. But those who go longer without recovery moments are at risk of exhaustion, burnout or even chronic illnesses.
Illness from stress: the insidious nature
What makes getting sick from stress extra insidious is that symptoms often build up slowly and feel vague. Many people say afterwards, "I haven't felt well for weeks, but thought it would go away." It is only when the body really breaks down that the link to stress is made.
Sick due to stress is thus not a vague buzzword - it is a real risk in modern work cultures. Especially in SME/Corporate environments, where teams are small and pressures are high.
Illness from stress symptoms: how to recognize it?
Recognizing stress-related symptoms is essential to prevent escalation. Early signs are often ignored or misinterpreted. Yet there are clear symptoms of chronic stress - both physically and psychologically.
Symptoms of chronic stress
The most common chronic stress symptoms are:
Physical complaints
- Tension headache
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Palpitations or increased heart rate
- Fatigue and insomnia
- Reduced resistance to disease
These symptoms have been scientifically linked to persistent stress reactions. Research by McEwen (2006) shows that under the influence of chronic stress, the body enters an "allostatic load" state: a constant overload of the stress system, resulting in physical exhaustion.
Psychological complaints
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Feeling of being hunted
- Irritability or mood swings
- Anxiety or gloom
Psychological stress symptoms can also affect behavior. Examples include withdrawal from social contacts, decreased motivation or increased use of stimulants (such as alcohol, caffeine or nicotine).
Recognize sick by stress symptoms in time
A common mistake is to dismiss complaints as "busy" or "just tired." But those who experience symptoms for more than a few weeks with no obvious physical cause would do well to investigate stress as a possible cause.
Recharge360 helps organizations and teams recognize signs of stress earlier through vitascan modules, daily check-ins and a measurable well-being program. (See also: Vear prevent psychological absenteeism in SMEs today)
Note cumulation, not incidents
Stress symptoms are rarely the result of a single event. They often involve an accumulation of microstressors: small daily triggers that accumulate and eventually disrupt your system (APA, 2020).
Those who intervene early - for example, with coaching, awareness and active recovery moments - prevent stress from turning into long-term failure.
Chronic stress and physical complaints
Chronic stress doesn't just manifest itself in your head. Your body registers stress just as intensely - and often before you do. Who ill by stress is usually experiencing a range of physical complaints. These symptoms are often not recognized as stress signals, which increases the risk of failure.
Chronic stress physical complaints
According to research by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) and the Dutch Association for Occupational and Business Medicine (NVAB, 2022). the complaints below are among the most common physical manifestations of chronic stress:
1. Muscle tension and pain
- Prolonged stress leads to continuous muscle tension, especially in the neck, shoulders and back. This tension can eventually cause chronic pain.
2. Palpitations and high blood pressure
- Cortisol and adrenaline increase your heart rate and blood pressure. If this happens for a long time, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases (Steptoe & Kivimäki, 2013).
3. Gastrointestinal problems
- Stress affects your digestion. Complaints such as bloating, diarrhea or just constipation are typical physical symptoms of stress.
4. Weakened immune system
- Prolonged stress inhibits the functioning of your immune system, making you more susceptible to colds, flu and other infections (Segerstrom & Miller, 2004).
5. Sleep problems
- Many people with chronic stress sleep poorly, wake up often or stay in bed brooding. Poor sleep, in turn, increases stress: a vicious cycle.
Stress in your body: the invisible weight
Getting sick from stress So is not always a mental issue. Your body often gives signals weeks or months earlier that it is out of balance.
Getting stress out of your body: what really helps?
When your body is constantly in stress mode, recovery is necessary. Not with one day off or a weekend away, but by working daily on recovery on three levels: physical, mental and emotional. Only in this way can you addressing chronic stress.
Getting stress out of your body
According to the American Psychological Association (APA, 2020) these are the most effective methods of getting stress out of your body:
1. Physical activity
- Exercise lowers cortisol levels and activates endorphins. Walking, biking or a short workout can already help release tension.
2. Breathing and relaxation
- Deep abdominal breathing, yoga or meditation stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system - the system that ensures recovery. Recharge360 integrates this into daily challenges within the platform, for example.
3. Regularity and rest
- Sleep is the most powerful source of recovery. A regular sleep routine, day structure and limiting screen time in the evening are crucial.
4. Social support
- A good conversation with a colleague or friend has a stress-reducing effect. Social connectedness is a proven protective factor against burnout (Ozbay et al., 2007).
5. Targeted coaching or mentoring
- Professional guidance helps you recognize and break patterns. Recharge360 offers coaching modules and check-ins to make preventive adjustments - without burdening HR.
Addressing chronic stress = daily maintenance
Your stress level does not go down by itself. That's why it's important to incorporate small, achievable actions that contribute to recovery. It's not about rigorous life changes, but about consciously making room daily for moments of recovery.
As an organization, do you really want to tackle stress? Then it is essential to make room for such habits - not only during burnout, but even before. (See also: Increase productivity with vitality)
The workplace as a source of stress
The modern workplace is increasingly a source of illness due to stress. Think open offices, performance pressure, endless emails and a culture where you always have to be "on". All of these factors contribute to chronic stress - often without management realizing it.
What can cause stress in the workplace?
According to a report by TNO (2022), the biggest sources of stress are at work:
- Work pressure and lack of autonomy
- Unclear expectations or roles
- Social insecurity (such as bullying or micromanagement)
- A continuous flow of information without time for reflection
Open offices: incentives without pause
Open workplaces seem efficient, but multiple studies show that they actually increase stress. The continuous exposure to noise, movement and distraction prevents the brain from recovering sufficiently (Kim & de Dear, 2013). This is a classic form of stress in body, accumulating with no apparent cause.
👉 Read more about this in our article: Why open offices create stress more often than success
Work stress is not an individual problem
Stress is often seen as something personal, but often arises from structural deficiencies in the organization. Consider unrealistic deadlines, insufficient feedback or a culture where calm is seen as weakness.
Recharge360 helps organizations make these blind spots visible with data from well-being metrics, vitascans and direct employee feedback.
The impact of stress on your organization
Chronic stress doesn't just affect the individual - it undermines the entire organization. Increased absenteeism, decreased productivity and higher turnover are just some of the visible consequences. The invisible costs? Reduced motivation, lower creativity and a negative corporate culture.
Sick due to stress = absenteeism and costs
According to the Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases (NCvB, 2023) stress-related absenteeism costs organizations an average of €300 per day per employee. In SMEs - where teams are smaller - the impact per individual is even greater.
Productivity under pressure
Workers suffering from chronic stress symptoms function less well. They make more mistakes, are less creative and have difficulty collaborating (LeBlanc, 2009). The organization continues to run, but with lower efficiency - both in output and team dynamics.
Attrition due to lack of well-being
Millennials and Gen Z expect more from their employer than just salary. They want to work in an environment where well-being and development are taken seriously. If stress is structural and nothing is done about it, they vote with their feet - and leave. That costs not only money, but also knowledge and continuity.
Recharge360 as the underlying engine
Effective management of stress is therefore not just a welfare issue, but a business strategy. Recharge360 offers a program with which companies can build sustainable employability in an accessible and measurable way. Think of preventive measurements, coaching, and activating challenges - without putting an extra burden on HR.
Preventing chronic stress: the role of HR and management
Addressing chronic stress starts not with the employee, but with the organization. And within SMEs, that responsibility often lies with HR and management. The key? Prevention instead of repair. That requires a new attitude and smart tools that do not put an extra burden on HR.
HR as a key player in prevention
HR managers face a complex challenge: They want to improve employee well-being but often have limited time, capacity or budget. Yet their role is crucial. Not in the form of yet another mandatory vitality program, but by creating space, safety and structure in which employees can take ownership.
Recharge360 responds directly to this: the platform requires minimal effort from HR, but instead activates employees to the maximum via challenges, vitascans and personal coaching.
👉 Read more: Emotional well-being in the workplace: what we can learn from affect monitoring
Management: exemplary behavior and support
If leaders themselves are predatory, it is impossible to foster a culture of recovery. Therefore, the first step in addressing chronic stress is for management itself to be intentional about boundaries, breaks and moments of recovery. Only then will teams dare to do the same.
According to research by Kelloway & Barling (2010), leadership behavior directly affects work stress and psychological well-being of employees. Leaders who show empathy, manage expectations and provide space for recovery create resilient teams.
Timely signaling with technology
As an HR or manager, it is almost impossible to detect stress signals manually. That's why technology has become indispensable. With its quarterly vitascans, daily nudges and real-time feedback, Recharge360 offers a scalable solution for signaling as well as activation.
The shift to prevention and vitality
Whereas wellness used to be seen as a perk or luxury, we now see a clear trend shift: from reactive care to proactive vitality. Companies that understand this are not only more attractive to talent - they also perform better.
The wellness shift: from illness to energy
According to an international report by Deloitte (2022), 77% of employees say wellness policies are essential to their job satisfaction and loyalty. But then it has to really contribute. Not a fruit basket or mindfulness workshop every quarter, but a structural program that supports behavior change.
👉 Read more: The wellness shift that companies should not miss
Vitality as a strategic HR theme
Vitality is no longer an HR trend - it is a boardroom theme. Especially at a time when absenteeism is on the rise, burnouts are on the rise and the "war for talent" is in full swing. Organizations that addressing chronic stress by focusing on vitality, building sustainable teams that can take a beating.
Recharge360 helps companies by making vitality tangible. No woolly concepts, but practical activations, behavioral nudges and measurable data. The result: less turnover, more energy and higher productivity.
👉 Also read: The best 5 HR trends to embrace in 2025
The days of loose initiatives are over
Many organizations deploy separate interventions, such as workshops or external coaches. But without consistency or follow-up, the impact is small. Prevention only works if it is integrated into the work culture. Recharge360 makes that translation - and ensures that well-being does not become an afterthought, but a habit.
Recharge360: a fresh take on stress management
Many companies want to do something about work stress, but don't know where to start. Or they enthusiastically start a vitality program, which bleeds to death after a few months. Recharge360 takes a different approach.
No endless theoretical model, no standard e-learning - but a program that employees Activates, guides and grows measurably. Subtle, approachable and attuned to the rhythm of the work.
What makes Recharge360 different:
- Employees take ownership through challenges and check-ins
- HR gets real-time insight without extra work
- Prevention becomes a habit rather than a project
- Everything is measurable - from activation to behavioral change
Recharge360 connects perfectly to the different stages of stress: identify, address and prevent. As a result, it is not a symptom treatment, but a structural solution that really helps reduce mental illness absence.
Frequently asked questions about getting sick from stress
1. What are the symptoms of tremendous stress?
- Symptoms of extreme stress include heart palpitations, panic attacks, insomnia, overtiredness, emotional outbursts, difficulty concentrating and physical pain.
- ➡️ With prolonged exposure, these symptoms can develop into burnout or physical exhaustion.
2. Can stress make you feel flu-like?
- Yes. Stress affects your immune system, making you more susceptible to flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue, chills and a slightly elevated temperature.
- ➡️ It feels like the flu, but it's actually your body being overworked.
3. Can stress destroy your body?
- Prolonged stress can damage your heart, blood vessels, digestion, brain and immune system.
- ➡️ Cortisol and adrenaline are toxic to your body in high doses if recovery does not follow. (McEwen, 2006)
4. What are the symptoms of de-stressing in the body?
- During recovery, you often notice deep fatigue, better breathing, relaxed muscles, clearer thoughts and more emotional stability.
- ➡️ These are signs that your body is switching from "fight/flight" to recovery mode.
5. What are the symptoms of an overstressed body?
- An overstressed body gives signals such as muscle tension, headaches, poor sleep, palpitations and irritability.
- ➡️ The nervous system is constantly "on," with no room to unwind.
6. How do you notice when your body needs rest?
- If you have trouble relaxing, often wake up tired, are easily irritable or experience physical symptoms without medical cause, your body is asking for rest.
- ➡️ Listening to these signals prevents you from getting really sick from stress.
You know vitality is important.
Now is the time to take action. Lower your stress today. Schedule a free demo with Recharge360 right away.
Stronger team, stronger company
Stay up-to-date by signing up for our newsletter!