topic Re: Work Anxiety in Anxiety

Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 08:13:21 GMT

Hi all. I will keep this short and to the point. Recently I started a new job which is quite demanding and it has made me very anxious about deadlines and I worrie I’m not going to perform well. My tummy feels like it’s twisted and I feel very nervous about my work. This started 2 days ago and I haven’t been able to sleep. I can’t stop thinking about work!! Other symptoms include sweaty hands and loss of appetite. Is this GAD? Or am I just being silly? I have a doctors appointment tomorrow.

Dear Macca96 Thank for having the courage and for reach...

Sophie_M — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:25:03 GMT

Dear Macca96

Thank for having the courage and for reaching out this evening and posting to the forum; sharing your concerns can help normalize that anxiety and help you feel less alone.

Firstly, congratulations on your new job! We can hear that you are feeling anxious about meeting the challenges of starting a new job and performing well enough.

We acknowledge your worries, please know that it’s common for people to feel anxious when starting a new job; such as you mention, sweaty hands, loss of appetite and not being able to sleep. These are a normal response that may last for several days until you settle in and things become familiar to you. In saying that, if you continue to feel this way, for example, not being able to sleep for a month, or that you are losing weight as a result of your loss of appetite we would encourage you to speak with your GP who can provide you with some options or treatment to manage the anxiety; so we are happy to hear that you have an appointment tomorrow. Please give yourself time and remind yourself that you were hired for a good reason, they clearly have confidence in you and see the ability in you to meet those challenges you are facing.

While you are waiting to hear from one of our supportive community members, we have included some links below to some resources that you might find helpful:

Click Here for information on anxiety

Click Here for information on managing anxiety and stress

Click Here to download a really great App that can help you manage the anxiety

As we mentioned it’s good to hear you have an appointment with your GP tomorrow but please also know you can call us anytime to speak with our counselling team, we are here 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via our Webchat.
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It won’t be too long before you hear from one of our lovely community members, thank you again for your bravery in posting this evening, as we mentioned, it helps us know we are not alone and that there is always someone there to listen.

Regards

Sophie M

Re: Work Anxiety

Mark Z. — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 10:06:09 GMT

Hi Macca96,

Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry for your challenge. I don't think you're silly. Let's don't do self diagnose, cause it often goes wrong. You've made wise decision to see a doctor, well done!

Do you want to share whether you had work related anxiety before, or this is the first time? Sometimes employer/manager may underestimate the amount of work assigned to you. It's normally because they don't know all details of the work or how challenging it actually is. I understand that as a new employee you don't want to 'complain' too much. But if you do it in a right way you will help them understand that it's not because of your capability but their unreasonable work distribution. To do it properly you may need to provide data supporting your opinion, it'll be better if your mentor or co-worker can support you as well.

Mark

Re: Work Anxiety

Petal22 — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 11:58:59 GMT

Hi Macca96,

I’m sorry you are feeling this way.

Starting a new job can be overwhelming.

I think it’s great that you have a doctors appointment you can discuss how you are feeling and how it’s affecting your life.

If it is GAD there are ways that you can learn to manage this.

Seeing a psychologist can be helpful they can give you many strategies to help you to manage your anxiety if this is what you are experiencing.

Re: Work Anxiety

smallwolf — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 12:00:43 GMT

Hello and welcome.

starting a new job can be stressful. It is also a good thing that you are seeing your GP tomorrow. And you are not being silly either. My own beliefs are that your body is trying to tell you something. Whether it is GAD or something else.... that's something I leave to the professionals. It is also courageous for you to post here as well. Where things go from here is up to you and you will be supported by the people here as well.

Re: Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Fri, 12 Aug 2022 23:55:02 GMT

Thanks for the reply’s. I have experienced this before and it lasted about a week cause I was simply worried about if I was doing the right thing at work and how I was gonna do it. It’s pretty much the same thing now but a little worse cause it’s a new job

It’s worse in the morning. I wake up at around 5.00 and can’t get back to sleep (normally wake up at 6.30) and that’s when it starts. Racing thoughts about the previous day I had at work. Not so much if I’m doing the right thing but just work in general now it seems. It gets better as the day progresses and I can sleep at night.

I saw the doc and he recommended to see a pchycologist. I said I’ll give it a week and see how it goes first. Am also having a blood test to check thyroid function and stuff.

Re: Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 00:45:34 GMT

The feeling is a worrying feeling (but I know it’s not worth worrying over. I should be worried about family health, not this). Inside I feel like my stomach is twisted. I am thinking I will get over it once this backlog of jobs is finished at work.

Re: Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Sat, 13 Aug 2022 02:30:33 GMT

I’m assuming if I had legit anxiety or GAD it would be impeding my life, I can still concentrate on a task while feeling nervous with this, so idk I hope it doesn’t get worse

Re: Work Anxiety

Manda_j — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 07:36:12 GMT

Hi Macca...IYou are DEFINATELY not being silly or over reacting - i'm in the same boat as you the scenario sounds exactly the same (right down to the doc appointment tomorrow) ..I am posting to let you know you're not on your own with these feelings and I am sending you positive vibes for the future and that your GP can help you work through this 😊

Re: Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 00:29:48 GMT

the doctor gave me some medication to try. Been taking it for 2 weeks now. I can go to sleep like normal because I am not to bad at night now but every morning I wake up at 4.00am with racing thoughts about work but it doesn’t make me feel very neovous in the gut like it used to. I feel I will be much better if I could just get a full night sleep

Re: Work Anxiety

JackFrost — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 01:49:51 GMT

Hey Macca,

I have the same feelings and thoughts. It's quite difficult to calm yourself when it happens. I have found time with a psychologist helpful. They can teach you methods of focusing on other lifestyle elements (health, family) and help you to view the issues from a different perspective. I often catastrohpise everything and think that the people at work think I'm lazy and not good at my job if things don't go as planned. Im in one of those phases at the moment, which is what brings me here. I try to remember that in 'x' number of years, this time in my life will be forgotten or at least reduced to nothing but a memory, so it's not worth my time to let overrun me.

Re: Work Anxiety

Macca96 — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 07:20:04 GMT

Hi. op here. I thought this anxiety issue would be gone by now but it hasn’t. It’s been 6 weeks now since it started. To put it simply, it’s nervousness that I feel and it’s all work related. If I could quit my job it would all go away and I would be cured that that can’t happen. I recon it’s having lots of jobs waiting to be signed off by clients is what is doing it. I’m not worried anymore. It is weird as I don’t obsessesvly think if I’ve done it correct anymore it’s just work in general. Some days I’m good and think why do I let myself get worked up about it? It is what it is.

Nervous vrs anxiety

Macca96 — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:10:01 GMT

Is there a difference between feeling nervous and feeling anxious? I am always nervous about my job cause I fear I might make a costly mistake. Like nervous in my stomach to the point I lose my appetite. It feels horrible and can’t enjoy my life as I should. As soon as I wake up it starts up but normally settles down at night, even on days I don’t work. My doctor now has me on medication but it’s not working. Anyone else get this?

When it does settle down at night I’m asking myself why? there is no need to be nervous. I go to sleep and wake up at 4.00 (earlier then I need to) and it starts up again.

Re: Nervous vrs anxiety

Chris o — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 10:52:16 GMT

That seems not fun, hopefully you start feeling better.

Re: Nervous vrs anxiety

Fern42 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:11:39 GMT

Hi Macca,

From my understanding nervousness is generally related to a specific event, while anxiety is often a more general state. You may feel anxious but can't always pinpoint what exactly is making you anxious. Feelings of anxiety can be awfully debilitating and I can understand how you would be feeling. I once felt like this too. I had experiences where anxiety would stir backup once morning came but settled of an evening. I hope this improves for you. You could certainly speak to your GP again if you are concerned.

Re: Nervous vrs anxiety

jaz28 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 06:26:00 GMT

Hi Macca96,

I am sorry you are experiencing this. Two important things here:

1. Nervousness and anxiety are classified as feelings that everyone, including mentally healthy people, experience to some degree.

2. An anxiety disorder is classified as irrational thought processes that lead to EXCESSIVE, often unnecessary feelings of anxiety and worry.

It is important to remember that anxiety is a normal feeling, but an anxiety disorder is when you have excessive, irrational feelings of anxiety. Loss of appetite, disturbed sleep and a constant, irrational feeling of worry are common symptoms of anxiety disorders that you describe. Has your doctor spoken to you about anxiety disorders? It is important to get a proper assessment from your doctor and a referral to a psychologist if they think you have an anxiety disorder. Medication can certainly help, but you may need to trial and error on different types. The treatment that helped the most for me was THERAPY with a psychologist - I learnt strategies to manage my anxiety and I rarely experience it now.

I hope things improve soon,

Jaz xx

Still nervous

Macca96 — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 07:10:45 GMT

Hi all. Why am I always nervous about my job? It’s like I’m anxious but I’m not. Like I’m not worried about making errors I just think about the processes I need to do. Even on my days off I’m nervous about it.

I wake up hours before I need to and can’t get back to sleep. That’s when the nervous feelings kick in and lasts most of the day. Normally goes away at night but starts up again the next morning.

Only symptom is this nervous feeling in my tummy. And when it’s really bad I have no appetite. It’s very uncomfortable.

Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.

Re: Still nervous

TSmith — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 09:18:06 GMT

Hey mate, good on you for reaching out! Work related anxiety can be very normal but it's important to address that it's effecting you to that degree. Is your job a new job? It's also good to get an outside perspective on what you might be having feelings of anxiety about, this could be having a chat to a loved one or even a work manager or colleague. May I ask what type of job it is? You could also be unconsciously feeling anxious about other aspects of work and life and going to work brings it all back up.

Re: Still nervous

Macca96 — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 11:28:08 GMT

I started a new job 8 months ago and 1 month later the neovous feeling came rushing in. So now I went back to my old job (drafter) a week ago and it’s still lingering. All I know is my current place of work, which I left 8 months ago, I was fine but now I’m not if that makes sense.

As I mentioned, it’s just a feeling of nervousness in my tummy, like butterflies, an adrenaline surge, which can last all day.

Re: Still nervous

Macca96 — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 04:43:52 GMT

It’s Sunday and been nervous all weekend, even though I’m NOT working. What gives? This is a joke! I can’t seem shake it no matter what I do. I’m very frustrated. The thoughts are right in the back of my mind so not too intrusive but enough to make me feel the way I do. Oh and my job is a technical drafter. I haven’t been doing anything wrong, my boss is happy with me so yea I dunno what to do. As I said it’s just butterflies in the stomach. No racing heart or palpitations. No appetite.