Anxiety and work

[Rhu]

Hi all,

I started a new full time job this year, and I've been struggling to keep up with the workload and have been underperforming badly. I often feel spaced out and overwhelmed, and my senior colleagues keep having to tell me off for the same matter over and over again. Now my boss has told me if I fail to improve in the next month, I'm going to lose my job. I've been having anxiety issues and low mood for several weeks, which affects my performance at work, and this has contributed to my stress and anxiety levels. I often feel miserable or ready to burst into tears at the slightest mistake, and I'm terrified of losing my job or having a breakdown. Anyone have advise on how to deal with this?

[Fairywings]

Ok firstly hello and welcome nice to meet you. Can you please tell me what your professional relationship with ur boss is like? Do you feel as tho you can confide in them? If you do then i would arrange to have a face to face with them hence you can let them now about everything that is going on in your mind and that the issues based on your performance i think run deeper than they seem to know. If you think you will find it hard to open up to them then write them a letter giving them the head up of what is going on bc i do think it's important for them to know what is really going on. After all they do have a duty of care towards you so i would def be giving this a go. I would also go to your local gp you may just find yourself getting further referrals for some professional help. It's nothing to be ashamed of all of the better part of it. Hope this has helped please seek out the help you need your mind body and soul will thankyou for it xx nice to have spoken with you please take care of yourself and let us know how you go venessa xx

[Rhu]

Hi Fairywings,

I only started working there 2-3 months ago, so I don't have a very close relationship with the boss. I did talk about my anxiety issues with her recently (and she made me promise to see a GP!), however she said that the part about me losing my job in a month's time if I don't improve enough is non negotiable, and it's pretty much contributing a lot to my anxiety as the nature of my job will make it harder to find a position elsewhere in the middle of the year. I do feel a bit better now that I've talked to my GP this morning and it's basically going down the road of medication and counselling.

Thanks for the advise!

[BballJ]

Hi Rhu,

I think it's good that you have advised your boss of your anxiety and also spoken to your GP. I think you should definitely explore the counselling avenue as I am very much for it. Has the anxiety come about because of the role, or have you always had it?

It's a tricky one because you know you just have to do the work that is put in front of you as best as you can, I do also understand how difficult it will be if the workload is high so please don't think I am just saying go and do the work because I understand anxiety and it isn't that easy. I think you need to just keep speaking to your boss and advising them of how you are going, let them know you have seen a GP and possibly what steps you are taking to help yourself so you can cope with the workload.

Please, let us know how you are going and we will try to help as best we can.

My best for you,

Jay

[Rhu]

Hi Jay,

The anxiety only started around 2-3 years ago when some close family members passed away or were diagnosed with cancer. All that triggered some severe crippling anxiety and for a few months I struggled to function - the anxiety eventually settled but if often reoccured when I got stressed. And then it got worse 1-2 months ago after I started the new job due to the pressure and struggling to perform at the level my boss wants. There were times when even the thought of having to work the next day almost set off some panic attacks. I'm definitely going to be talking to my boss about it again soon.

Thanks for the help and advise!

[BballJ]

Hi Rhu,

All reasons anxiety would be triggered and I am sorry to read about your losses. I think the best thing here is keeping your boss informed of how everything is going and keeping in constant contact with your GP, there is no such thing as too many visits because we are talking about your health here.

My best,

Jay

[Rhu]

Thanks for the kind words Jay. I'm definitely going to be talking to my GP or a psychologist in the next few weeks for more help with this.

[Transformation]

Hi Rhu,

Sorry to hear about this. It appears that there are other reasons of your stress that may affect your work situation. If so, can you get help for it? Can you talk to your GP, Psychologist, friends or family for different levels of support for all of the things that affect you?

A new job can be stressful and perhaps you need more training. I used to write things down so I don't forget as oral instructions can be hard to remember. Can you talk to your supervisor and work things out?

If you had to place your finger on 3 things that are triggering your anxiety out of & in the office, what would it be? Try and sit down and write them down and ask yourself questions or get help from a trustworthy person to help you work out the answers.

Also think about it, if you've done all you can & still lose your job it's not the end of the world. You can start again and take on another easier role.

I walked away from a terrible job without having another many years ago & was worried, but by doing so I was able to cut myself from that bad situation. I prayed a lot and asked for divine help & got another after a little while.

Hope these tips & sharing helps in a small way. You are worthy of much more, you are a capable person, you are deserving of a happy life and one that you have the power of choice.

Kind regards

[Transformation]

Hi Rhu,

Before I read your reply to Jay, I had a feel there were reasons behind your anxiety that affected your work.

You need a compassionate GP & a clinical psychologist to help you move forward. Sometimes the Doc may treat with meds but if they don't agree go back to them. I used to go to ordinary psychologists but had no benefit someone suggested a clinical one who is better trained, you can find bulk billing ones. It's worth pursuing the right one and no need to continue on if you don't get results, look for another.

Have you got private health insurance? If you do or can get one, there are lot of therapies under Psychiatry that can help you eg Art Therapy, DBT etc.

Sometimes depending on the level and if long lasting stress or trauma, we need to go back to the root causes and get help to be free of those that have impacted us and stifles us to the point we are robbed of life by constant anxiety.

With work, you can try and have a frank chat with your boss or supervisor and ask for help, extra training or support to learn the job and do a great job. Go by your gut feeling what seems right - you have the power within you to make the right decision.

I used to read Psalm 121 for help in crisis and it helped a lot.

God bless & sending a prayer your way for healing, recovery & right way to handle your situation.

[Rhu]

Hi Transformation,

Thanks so much for the kind words. I have been wanting to talk my parents about my anxiety issues for some time, but they are caring for another close family member who has severe mental health issues as well, and I basically don't want to add on to their stress. I did talk to my boss and my GP about it, and I'm making arrangements to see a counsellor soon as well. For now, I'm going to take things one step at a time and stay positive about all this!

Thanks again for your advise - I love Psalms 121 too!