Work pressure, stress, and professional burnout are increasingly common among young people. Many psychologists, specialized clinics, and psychiatric hospitals report a rising number of individuals seeking examination and consultation for issues related to workplace stress, insomnia, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, and even depression. Notably, many cases begin experiencing psychological issues right at the start of their careers, as they simultaneously adapt to the office environment, financial pressures, career expectations, and new relationships.

Doctor Nguyen Viet Chung, Head of the Mental Health Department at E Hospital, warns that the transition from an academic environment to the labor market is a difficult developmental turning point, requiring young people to adapt on multiple fronts simultaneously.

Illustrative photo: Korea Times.

Illustrative photo: Korea Times.

University life operates on a predefined template with clear semesters, subjects, exam schedules, and grades. In contrast, the workplace offers no exams for self-assessment. Employees might work tirelessly yet miss promotions, complete tasks but receive poor evaluations, or suddenly feel lost when the company shifts its strategic direction. This unpredictability deprives them of a sense of control. When the brain constantly activates an alarm mechanism to cope with unseen threats, sleep disappears, paving the way for anxiety.

The measure of competence also changes completely. Previously, high-achieving students built self-esteem based on grades and teacher praise. However, businesses focus solely on efficiency, work quality, and a sense of responsibility. Faced with criticism from superiors, perfectionist young people can easily shift from thinking they haven't done a task well to concluding they are completely incompetent. Work productivity is equated with self-worth, pushing them into a deep pit of self-doubt.

Work stress activates the nervous system, leading to restless sleep; sleep deprivation erodes concentration and emotional regulation, reducing work efficiency the next day. Lying down, young people's minds still race around emails, upcoming meetings, and the fear of judgment from colleagues. If prolonged, this condition drains the nervous system's vitality.

In school, effort often yields immediate high grades. The workplace offers much slower and more uncertain rewards. Employees who exert themselves for months might only receive a stagnant salary and minimal recognition. When pressure skyrockets and joys from sports, friends, or rest are cut off, psychological exhaustion emerges, planting the seeds for depression.

This stage also forces young people to answer questions about who they are, what they work for, and if they've chosen the wrong path. The gap between idealized expectations and stark reality creates extreme confusion. Social media delivers another heavy blow by turning others' money, titles, or homes into unspoken benchmarks.

Doctor Chung affirms that working does not directly cause anxiety disorders or depression for everyone. Perfectionists, who base their self-esteem on achievements, are more susceptible to breakdowns than those who set boundaries for work and have a supportive network of friends.

If insomnia, melancholy, loss of interest, and exhaustion persist for many weeks, disrupting daily life, young people need to immediately seek a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist for timely intervention.

Thuy Quynh