Anxiety and Covid 19

[Sarahbelle]

Hi.

I am extremely anxious about the current covid pandemic.

Feel as though it is living in my brain but my body feels the symptoms.

It causes me such panic and terror and all consuming

Trying to challenge my thinking but ver hard.

Any one else feel this. Any advice appreciated.

Thankyou.

[Sarahbelle]

Hi Missep123,

Congratulations on your new job. may it be all you hope for and much more.

I have just been to see my psychologist today and spoke about returning to work plan the plan to go back part time and work back to full time. She was against it and wants me to have a good 6 week break and during that time no working at home - I have so much sick leave so no problems there. She is going to contact my Dr for a talk about it. The psychologist feels I am burnt out and exhausted and the Covid pandemic was the cherry on the icecream. I am really worried about this as I have worked in my field for over 30 years and have never crossed this path before. I don't know what to do - I feel I am letting people down and giving in. I have always been pretty resilient after many bumps and now I feel exhaused. Trying to look at different perspectives but finding it too hard.

Thanks for listening,

Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Hi Sarahbelle!

Thank you very much for those kind words!

As you mentioned, you have worked over 30 years in the field (which is amazing!). To be honest, burnout unfortunately is a very normal thing to encounter. We try our best to avoid it but sometimes we push our bodies or minds too far or the expectations or deadlines pile on top of us. Because of the fast-paced nature of the work environment these things can happen. Taking care of yourself and your wellbeing is a number one priority. Workplaces are organised and structured enough to make sure they are able to fill in the gaps until you return. You have shown a lot of resilience! You are resilient. Even the most resilient people though can find vulnerabilities. I've seen this in my own experience. It's totally okay to take a breather! I hope these words have helped you, I'm always here to chat about how you are going 🙂

[Sarahbelle]

Thank you Missep123, I agree with you. I feel I have reached the stage where I have to slow down a bit just for me. It has been a tough for a while and I know I am on remote control in many ways - what I am showing to others in my coping is not how I feel on the inside and this is getting harder and I am scared to show the cracks.

A little time off will give me some permission just to breathe and smell the roses, (even though they don't bloom in Winter - ha ha). I am actually now feeling happy to have this break for a few weeks.

Hope your new job goes well and brings joy to you. Looking forward to hearing your news.

Take good care,

Sarahbelle,

[Sarahbelle]

Hi Gem's,

Just a note to say Hi and checking you are okay.

I am having a few weeks off work just for a break. Time to catch my breath.

Hope life is being kind to you,

Sarahbelle.

[uncut_gems]

Hi Sarahbelle,

So good to hear from you. I needed a bit of time away from the forums last week but am back ready to go 🙂 How are you going with your much-needed and much-deserved break? How are you spending your free time?! I think this is a great opportunity for you to spend time with your son, going for walks with your dog, and relaxing however you like, but also maybe a chance to slowly start venturing out a bit more if you feel up to it?

I have found that "baby steps" being around other people have helped my health anxiety around all of this. It may just be because the US (where I'm from) is so bad by comparison, but I'm encouraged by the consistently low numbers of new community infections here in Australia.

Warmly,

Gems

[Sarahbelle]

Thanks Gems,

It was lovely to hear from you too.

I hope all your loved ones in the US are doing okay. I have a cousin and his family in Chicago and from his accounts very hard place to be right now.

Having a lazy day, taken the dog for a walk in the sun and had a chat on the phone with a friend. Nice not to worry about work. My boss was supportive when I told her I have some sick leave so now I can rest on that front.

Hope your day is going well,

Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Hi uncut_gems and Sarahbelle!

I'm sorry that I have been away from the forums for a while!

Recently my perfectionism has caused me to put too much pressure on myself! I started a new job and I was tough on myself and disappointed I wasn't getting the hang of it yet. Do you guys ever feel like that?

How have you guys been?

[Sarahbelle]

Hi missep123 and Gems,
I really believe when you have anxiety and other things happening we feel we need to try even harder to do a good job for fear of letting others down or see us as we are. We often are the ones who put the pressure on ourselves and often do not notice it immediately. missep 123 you are very brave starting a new job at this time when everything is upside, try to be kind to yourself and believe in your abilities, perfectionism can make this hard.
At the moment I am taking things slowly. My psychologist has told me I am burnt out so have to rest. All I want is to be at home in a quiet space and shut out the world. I have been assured that with rest and support all will be okay. Step by step.
Missep 123 and Gems these uncertain times are so tough on all, it would be great to have a magic wand and make all okay in so many ways.
Talk to you soon, take good care
Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Thank you so much for the support!

It is so true, being a perfectionist or trying to be perfect really does feel like so much pressure. I spoke to my partner about how I was feeling and he told me a great quote 'Progress before perfection'. That really hit me! It's so true, picking up new things, especially challenging ones at that can make it difficult to master at first. I realise that I have a bad habit where if I don't pick up something immediately then I don't like it and I want to run away from it i.e. quit prematurely.

I think that rest is very underrated. It can really help us feel like ourselves again. You give so much to the forums and to those around you, it's so important to take care of yourself too!

[uncut_gems]

Hi missep123 and Sarahbelle,

How were your weekends? What missep says about rest being underrated is so right on; I hope you've been able to enjoy your sick leave. I think one thing we don't have very good language to talk about when it comes to exhaustion is the "type"– for example physical exhaustion from walking all day, mental exhaustion from intellectual strain, or emotional exhaustion from trying personal times.

And then of course there is exhaustion that comes over a long, long period of time, for example working in the same field for 30 years. I would be very curious as to what the science behind that is!

In any case, I think sleep is great for each of them, but that "cognitive rest" is also a very underrated form of relaxation. How have both of your anxiety been in the past week or so, as the good news COVID-wise continues to roll in here?