topic Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job in Anxiety

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

vixstar — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:14:07 GMT

Hi everyone, I am brand new to this site and would like to share with you my hurdles with panic and anxiety.

I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for the majority of my adult life in the beginning I was not able to eat out at restaurants and go out with my friends and have fun because I would have anxiety attacks whilst I was out and have to go home or go to the bathroom and make myself throw up. I have slowly learnt to overcome these hurdles and actually enjoy spending time with friends out and about but still have my odd moments.

I have also struggled with travelling overseas and new experiences in the past but have pushed through with all my strength and manage to feel better by slowly desensitising myself to the new things that make me anxious. For example I had a real rough patch when I moved out of home for the first time with my partner

The one thing I have not been able to overcome is the anxiety and panic I feel about starting a new job. This week I was told I would be made redundant at the end of next week. I have been working for the company for approximately 5 and half years so will receive a small payout that will keep me going for a month or so until I find something else but like most people I have a mortgage and bills and it's imperative I have an income. My husband also works and earns over the threshold for me to receive any payments from Centrelink.

When I found out I would be made redundant my anxiety immediately returned at the thought of having to find work and start a new job. I tried to push past it and jumped on job websites looking for work. I applied for a few and heard back from one that I attended the interview for I am usually fine at interviews and perform really well and there was absolutely nothing wrong with the job, the hours suited me and the position was something I could of handled but after the interview I was contacted and informed they were doing reference checks and wanted me to come back and meet with one of the bosses I would be working under.

It all became to real for me after that, the thought of starting a new job....the anxiety and worry started to roll in. The next day I struggled all day with the anxiety and was physically and mentally exhausted and broke down to my husband. He said to meet with them tomorrow and see how I felt after that. I hoped in my car to drive to the second interview got half way there and lost it. I had to pull over and just sat in my car crying that I wasn't able to go to the interview I felt like such a failure. Once I composed myself I was able to drive home and my husband was there and asked me what had happened, them the company called me to find out where I was and I just couldn't answer it. I later emailed them explaining I had second thoughts about the position and wished them luck in finding the right person. This all had happened yesterday.

To give you some history I have started new jobs in the past and my anxiety and panic has been so terrible I haven't lasted more than 2 days in a role, my anxiety manifests as nausea and I am unable to eat anything so after a few days I am so physically and mentally tired I cant go on. This has happened a handful of times and takes me ages to get over. Now I am so scared this will happen again my anxiety begins before I even start the job just at the thought of being offered it sends me into a spiral of anxiety and worry.

I know I have to find something eventually and have contacted Disability Support Employment Services to assist me in finding work however I am unsure if I am eligible for this service.

It sucks that I found a job I felt comfortable in and have stayed there for 5 years and now have to start all over again. I want to work so bad and need to work for the income but the thought of having to start a new job sends me running in the other direction. I am thinking about upping my medication to help me get through this rough patch and have a meeting with my GP on Sunday about it.

Thanks for listening and if anyone has any similar experiences or advice I would love to hear them just to know I'm not the only person out there like this.

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

Neil_1 — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:27:18 GMT

Hi vixstar

I hope that you're still around and I am so sorry this post has gone this long without receiving a response. I'm going to get onto it this morning for you and will be back to you today on this.

Kind regards

Neil

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

Neil_1 — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 23:16:29 GMT

Hi vixstar

Again I am so sorry that it’s taken to now to have your post replied too. You sure had a major event happen late last week and I am wondering how you are feeling now? Do you feel generally ok, but just have these times when the panic and anxiety just overcomes you?

It is good to hear that you were able to meet up with your GP … how did that appointment go? I hope you discussed the ‘upping your meds’ suggestion with your GP? Are they possibly referring you elsewhere?

Please don’t be feeling like a failure that you weren’t able to go to the 2nd interview. That’s a big point there I’d like to make vixstar … “if” indeed you were a failure (which you aren’t) you wouldn’t have succeeded through the first interview.

The fact that you got through tells me that you were able to push your boundaries and get through that first interview and not only get through, but ‘star’ in the process.

I’m no expert, but I think perhaps, having to back up for a 2nd interview probably was pushing your boundaries a wee bit too much, so soon after the first one you attended. Kind of a bit like a racehorse runs out of its skin in one race and wins, but only just as it had an absolute gut-buster of a run to get there first. The next time it backs up to run, all the key energy and oomph that was there last start has been drained and it doesn’t perform nearly as well. So there you go vixstar, that’s as good an analogy that I could come up with, but I thought it was pretty good … you had your first interview and starred at it, but the 2nd one was just too close to the first one and all the strength and determination it took you to focus towards the first one was missing out of you and hence you had your meltdown. I wonder and hope that this makes some kind of sense.

That is great that you’ve contacted Disability Employment Services – they do provide an excellent service and I hope that they can put you in contact with an appropriate job provider within your local area, so they can work with you to get the right support you need as well as hopefully a suitable job placement in the near future.

But just know vixstar, that deep down, you do have what it takes … you’ve proven that with your past record of a long period of employment, as well as being able to be interviewed and succeed at interview as well.

Would really love to hear back from you.

Kind regards

Neil

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

John57 — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 03:26:48 GMT

Hi Vixstar , I'm brand new also and this is the first site I read , I feel very similar to you except the nausea , I'm also currently going through looking for work anxiety . I'm not going to offer any advice , but maybe some support from one to another , since I've become very carefull who I talk to about my condition . All the best to you and hope everything picks up

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

optimistic — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:22:46 GMT

Hi vixstar

Neil1 has shared some excellent insights. To add my 2c worth:

1) have you considered taking your husband or a friend with you when you go for the interviews as they can help you to get upto the door.

2) Since you aced your first interview, can you email them ( I presume, emailing should be easier than talking on the phone or meeting in person) and be open and honest and tell them what really happened. Anxiety and Depression is more common than you think and it is highly likely that the interviewers have experienced it themselves or know someone from their immediate circle of friends or relatives who are suffering from it. There is a good chance that they will consider your anxiety and make allowances for it, if you are really good at your job otherwise.

3) Can you think of professions that does not involve talking to people but working in isolation or working from home ?

God bless and Take care.

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

vixstar — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:42:27 GMT

Hi Neil,

Thank you for your response I didn't mind if no one responded but I'm glad there has been some responses it was just good to get what I was feeling off my chest.

In answer to your questions I do feel generally fine and have learnt to lead a fairly happy life. I just seem to have these outbursts of anxiety and panic about finding and starting new jobs and it has been with me for most of my adult life and because working is such a big part of anyone's life it effects me quite a lot. My family and husband also have a very strong work ethic and I can't help feeling inferior about being out of work and spending my last few days at home. It makes me feel lazy and it's only been one week. I think I'm more anxious and stressed not working...Go figure!!!

My appointment with the GP went well she has upped my medication for a short period of time until I find some new employment and I already see a psychologist on a regular basis so keeping going with that its a great outlet for me if nothing else and I can be open and show my weaknesses as opposed to always trying to be strong around everyone else.

Your analogy was very good. I really enjoyed it considering I have shares in a race horse and understand how temperamental they can be when it comes to backing up after a good win. I think your right that is what happened to me, it all became too real at the thought of getting the position and starting so quickly I think I just had a meltdown, the truth is I am scared about my next position and if I will be able to cope. I seem to do OK in the interviews and then struggle afterwards, weird I know.

The disability employment service I contacted never got back to me so I contacted them again today and will wait to hear something, but I think I might have to go it alone as I am one of those people that doesn't fall under the "so-called" disability category to receive help. I'm not after Centrelink payments and wouldn't get anything anyways as my husband earns money. I am just after some help for the initial period of finding and keeping a position.

I am slowly getting back on the wagon and have registered with a few recruitment companies for short term temp work for the time being so I am hoping something comes up and I look on seek everyday. I think I will need to begin with something casual or part time first so I can ease myself back into everything. I have also considered volunteering to keep myself busy.

I am really grateful for all the posts I have been reading on the forum as it makes me relies I am not alone and others struggle with similar things to me as well. It is a comforting feeling.

Thanks for your comments Neil they were greatly appreciated and I just have to keep pushing through, take each day at a time and believe it will get better.

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

vixstar — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:46:37 GMT

Hi John57,

Thank you for your response. I hope you are coping and finding this site as beneficial as I am.

I completely get were your coming from and hope you found some comfort in my post that you are not alone in your anxiety around looking for work.

If you feel like it let me know how you are going with this difficult task. I wish you all the best as well and feel free to post on this thread.

Take Care!

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

vixstar — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 08:54:34 GMT

Hi Optimistic,

Thank you for your suggestions, they are greatly appreciated 🙂

I have thought about taking someone to interviews with me but at times they can make me more emotional and upset so I feel better going by myself and I can't them to work with me everyday...sometimes I wish I could 🙂

I could have talked to them but I left it a little late and I'm sure they would of found a replacement and by not showing up to the interview without calling was a big no-no so I just decided there will be other opportunities for me later down the track.

Believe me I have tried to think of every job under the sun that would be a good suit for me such as working from home or alone, but there is just nothing out there that can sustain a decent regular income with my skills. I also think I shouldn't be looking at that either almost as if I am giving in to my anxiety and letting it win by doing something like that, when I know I am capable and intelligent of achieving much more.

Anxiety and Panic when looking for a new job

ClintonA — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 03:04:25 GMT

Hi vixstar. Your panic & anxiety issue sounds almost identical to mine, almost every thing you feel I feel also. Your experiences are so close to what I’ve battled with for pretty much my entire adult life. This has affected my life in so many ways and caused many great opportunities I’ve had work wise to slip away. I have applied & successfully gained so many jobs in the last 20 years or so to only have them taken away from me sometimes before I’ve even started my first day. It’s a pattern that’s so predictable but I feel powerless to change. I recently left my job of 8 years to pursue something I thought I’d be ok in doing only for the same old panic & run routine to once again ruin it for me and send me into a deep depression, feeling helpless, useless, weak, pathetic and a number of other horrible emotions. When in this frame of mind I cannot function normally, I hardly eat or drink and find it hard to do just about any regular daily activity. I’ve been using an anti depressant now for 3 weeks and feel a lot better in general but I still have that daunting task of finding & more so staying put in a new job which is weighing heavily on me. I’m booked in to do some CBT sessions with a psychologist and hoping that helps me finally get out from under this dark cloud that’s followed me for so long. Thanks for sharing your story, it’s a strange but comforting feeling to know I’m not crazy, that there’s others with very similar problems.