A Southern Metropolitan News survey report released Sunday showed that 97 per cent of "white collar" workers in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong, primarily from the city of Shenzhen, are bearing "unrelieved pressure," and 30 per cent of workers feel suffocated by the stress.

The survey of 5,000 netizens displayed that almost every office worker in the area faces pressure from many aspects of work and society.

About half of the office workers who took the survey were employed by private companies, and had been working for three years or less.

Despite the overwhelming number of workers who reported facing unbearable stress, more than 80 per cent of those surveyed said they were confident they could overcome the difficulties, and that they believed "attitude determines all."

In response to the question "Do you feel pressure?", 97 per cent of those surveyed answered in the affirmative, and while 76 per cent of respondents said they believed they could handle it themselves, 30 per cent said they could hardly stand it. Only 3 per cent of those surveyed said they felt no pressure in the office.

"I did go through a fickle time when I had nothing and started working from the bottom of the company," 37-year-old Ms. Guo said. "But I adapted to the environment quickly and made progress."

Ms. Guo said her secret to success was simple-solve problems in a good mood. "Pressure always seems to be bigger than what it actually is," she said. "People's complaints are just ways to relieve their bad moods most of the time, not real pressure."

What brings pressure to office workers? A full workload, fierce competition among colleagues, and heavy burdens to support families all make employees tense.

Some people set goals beyond their reach and force themselves to work harder, which brings them more pressure.

Too much pressure can cause a number of health problems in people. A lack of energy, a bad temper, and a tendency to be overemotional are common symptoms of the modern employee.

Most white collar workers are unhappy and forgetful as well, and haunted by ineffectiveness, an inability to communicate and general uneasiness.

Psychological consultants say people should treat pressure the right way, by taking time out for entertainment and handling affairs one by one in an easy spirit to conquer the tension of the mind.