From Dispatch Room
A licensed therapist and former microelectronics design manager, Joseph DeNicholas, has shared how his high-stress career nearly cost him his life twice, warning workers not to ignore physical signs of extreme stress.
In a personal essay published by Newsweek, DeNicholas recalled first being hospitalized after contracting West Nile virus following a mosquito bite. The infection reportedly crossed into his brain, causing swelling and forcing him to spend six days in hospital.
His second health scare came after a stressful business trip to India, when a small blemish on his stomach developed into a serious staph infection. The infection resisted months of antibiotics and nearly led to sepsis.
DeNicholas said his doctor later suspected that his immune system had been compromised and advised him to speak with a therapist. During therapy, he discovered that words connected to his job triggered sharp physical reactions, including chest tightness, shallow breathing and a racing heart.
He said the experience helped him understand that job stress was affecting his immune function and weakening his body’s ability to recover. After taking a sabbatical from work, he said the infection cleared within a week.
DeNicholas noted that there had been earlier warning signs, including poor sleep, anxiety before work, tension in his body and strain in his marriage. However, he said he had ignored them because he believed pressure was simply part of success.
He later concluded that burnout was not only about working hard, but about working in a way that conflicted with his values. That realization eventually led him to become a therapist, focusing on mentoring, healing and helping others recognize the hidden cost of unhealthy work environments.
He urged workers in demanding jobs to pay attention to subtle body signals, especially chest tightness, chronic tension, sleep disruption and anxiety, warning that many people are quietly managing stress until it becomes a serious health issue.
— Newspot Nigeria
