By Kim Cheong-won
Staff Reporter


Sung Hyun-ju, 32, a manager at a public relations company in Seoul, used to be an easy-going and outspoken career woman.

The situation, however, has changed since her boss reprimanded her severely for her mistakes during an important presentation in front of several advertisers.

Now, she is fearful of speaking in public or to strangers and of meeting new people. She is even afraid of writing, eating or drinking in public.

``I am very sensitive to criticism and rejection and have difficulty asserting myself. I also suffer from a low self-esteem,’’ she said.

``I fear that my colleagues, especially my boss, might notice the physical signs of the anxiety and judge me, and think poorly of me,’’ she said, adding that she meets a psychiatrist once a week due to these problems.

According to research conducted by Inje University Paik Hospital in Seoul, one out of 10 workers suffer from anxiety disorders and 22 percent of workers have potential to develop the symptoms.

The study was based on a survey of 3,732 workers across the nation by telephone and through face-to-face interviews.

``In particular, female production line workers showed a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders. We found that 15.2 percent of them suffer from the disorders and 29 percent employees highly susceptible to the disorders.’’ Woo Jong-min, who led the research tem, told The Korea Times.

Anxiety disorder is a general term covering several different forms of fear, phobia and nervousness that come suddenly and prevent a sufferer from pursuing normal daily routines.

It includes general anxiety disorder, social anxiety, sometimes known as ``social phobia,’’ obsessive-compulsive disorder and panic disorder.

Those disorders can disrupt a person’s ability to concentrate and cause hyperventilation, an increased heart rate, chest pains, dizziness, panic and extreme fear.

``Fierce competition in workplaces, conflicts with colleagues and heavy work loads are considered major reasons for the disorders,’’ Woo said.

The doctor said that in order to prevent the disorders people should let go of any pessimistic ideas and unrealistic expectations.

``Developing positive life goals and a more positive self-assessment can help address the problems. And consulting experts like doctors are also a good way to solving the difficulties,’’ he said.

Among the respondents, those who are in their 20s with work experience of two to five years suffer mostly from the disorders.

The survey showed that the disorders discourage workers, forcing more than half of those suffering from concentration difficulties to consider changing their jobs.

kcw@koreatimes.co.kr