Anxiety build up - New Job

[AdamW]

Hi everyone, just wanted to come and share some experiences I’ve been having.


Things had generally been going pretty well, about 5 years ago I was diagnosed with panic disorder and generalised anxiety as a result of my employment. I had a well paid government job. In terms of my work since then I’ve done a variety of casual jobs but limited with what I feel I can take on, both in complexity and hours. I do about 8 hours casual work atm per week in the disability sector.


I’d been looking for more hours as financially things can be hard and had a interview for a job last Friday, I was then offered the job Friday afternoon. I was excited and felt like I could be ready for something new where I could use some of my skills from my previous government job. Unfortunately my anxiety has returned heavily over the weekend, I’m only getting 3 hours sleep a night and struggling with my worry and thoughts even though I think the new job would be good, I’m somewhat uncomfortable as I’m heading down a hole I haven’t been in for a while.


I feel like I know anxiety well and do believe it helps sometimes to try new things but when I can’t sleep I can’t function and just facing the day seems to much. I’m a single parent also with shared custody.


I’ve booked into see my gp and will try get a referral for my psychologist and will try talk it through as I’m not sure I’m in as good a place I thought I was and maybe dealing with trauma from my previous job I just can’t seem to shake.


The new job does appeal to me but am worried not sleeping will leave me not able to function and I feel like not accepting the job.


Thanks to anyone who has read this, if anyone has any tips that would be appreciated.


Regards
Adam

[white knight]

Hi Adam, welcome

Having had around 90 jobs and 15 professions, now retired, I can tell you that each new job I commenced had me really anxious before I started and lasted at least to the end of my first week then the following Monday. This is all quite normal except with those with anxiety it is a little more intense depending on the person.

The first day with little sleep the night before will see you struggle but often it is a day of learning not working so try to relax and you'll be doing more observation than anything else. If you have a mentor for the day and you are worried that person can tell you dont appear eager, simply be honest and explain "I'm coming across as if I'm not that interested, in fact being my first day here I didnt sleep well last night".

If your sleeping problem persist over a long period then see your GP as a sleeping disorder could be present and a sleep study needed.

Also read here-

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/worry-worry-worry

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/worry-worry-worry-part-2

TonyWK

[starfarmland]

Hi Adam.

I had a similar experience when I started a new job. It was at the university where I studied. I did not have a good time as a student as my mind was flooded with bad memories in the weeks before I started work. What helped me through it was to think about all the reasons I wanted the job in the first place. Like you, financial stability was a huge factor. I also tried to focus on my strengths, such as knowing the campus and how some of the systems worked. You have something similar because you have worked in the government sector before.

It also helps to remember that no one expects you to know everything the first day. They know it takes time to get a new employee up to speed. When they start trying to organise your swipe card access and computer login, you will realise even they do not know everything - and they have probably been working there for years!

I have the same problem with sleep issues. One thing that helps me is not to focus on sleep itself. I used to get mad at myself for not falling asleep right away because I could calculate how many hours I would need until I needed to be awake. Instead, remember that even just having your eyes closed is giving your body some rest. The anxiety should lesson somewhat after your first day because your mind is worried about the unknown right now.

You could choose to go through with the job even with your worries right now. You always have the option to leave if it turns out to be wrong for you.  Good luck.

[Petal22]

Hi AdamW,

I understand anxiety can be difficult to deal with.

Congratulations on the job, I believe you should step into the role and feed yourself with positive thoughts.

If we don’t accept opportunities that come our way because they make us feel uncomfortable then we don’t grow…… keep pushing the boundaries because if we don’t we will never know how far we can go.

Your psychologist can give you many strategies for anxiety so you can learn to manage it.

Meditation is really helpful for anxiety.

Wishing you all the best.

[Mark Z.]

Hi Adam,

I'm sorry for what you've experienced. Sorry that I don't have tips for you, but I just want to say that you're absolutely doing the right thing, which is to see a psychologist. I'm sure you'll be supported and you'll be on the right track. Just allow yourself more time to process this.

Hope everything will get better.

Mark

[therising]

Hi Adam

Always a courageous move, stepping into a new phase of life. Even the most courageous of people hold fears. You know those typical 'What if...?' questions.

Having been a largely stay at home mum for so many years, I went back to work almost 4 years ago. The anxiety in the lead up to the first day and over a number of days which followed was horrible. A lot of those 'What if...?' questions rattled around in my head to the point where I was nearly sick. Just thinking about it now makes my heart race and stomach churn a little. I get where you're coming from, it's horrible. Looking back, I'd have to say the part of me that got me through the first day was 'the note taker' in me. I had a notebook and pen and was able to note down pretty much everything I was being taught. It became my reference book. At night I'd sit down referencing my notes, practicing the shift in my head before going back into work. Imagining yourself coping with certain tasks can make some difference.

Remember, the person who's teaching you has practiced that position over and over to the point where it's like second nature to them. They'll make it look easy. So don't go beating yourself up too much if it feels challenging to you. You haven't yet had the chance to practice it over and over again. That'll happen over time. The person training you plays a part in how you experience the job. Personally, I was trained on my job by one of the most beautiful patient people on the face of the earth. I can recall a couple of people saying to me at the time 'You never want to be trained by (I won't say her name)'. Over time, I came to see what they meant. So keep in mind who you're being trained by. Some folk are brilliant at training others whereas some are not so good. The best will say 'Doesn't matter how many times you have to ask the same question, feel free to ask'. If you're being trained by someone like that, take advantage of their offer.

Thoughts can play a massive part in physical hyperactivity. I'm sure you already know, thoughts and what we imagine can not only trigger our nervous system but they can go on to ramp things up. Bit of a weird meditation practice: Imagining yourself venting your thoughts out through your breath, over and over, might help calm down some of the physical hyperactivity. Science says that our venting breath can slow our heart rate, triggering our brain to relax more, which serves our nervous system.

All the best with the new job. You've got this 🙂

[AdamW]

Thanks very much, this is really helpful. I think it’s anxiety about the anxiety which is making things worse.

[AdamW]

Thank you for this, anxiety can be such a beast but I appreciate you sharing your tips and experiences.

[AdamW]

Thanks you. I appreciate you sharing your own experience. The thoughts are the hard part, I know anxiety isn’t always rational but it doesn’t make it any easier grrr. I think some of what I’m feeling is feeling upset that I’m in this place as had been doing really well so it’s sort of like ‘oh not this again’. Because I’m in this place my thoughts are more worrying whereas before they would just pass.

i have been through this before and looked back and smiled so I’m confident this will be the same. Just sucks.

thanks for the info on talking notes, that’s a great idea I’ll use.

cheers, Adam

[therising]

Hi Adam

Every new experience (new job, new relationship, new set of challenges, new set of self doubts etc) can re-present an old problem. You could say in the case of such anxiety, 'new' is one of your deepest and oldest challenges. As you mention, when you look back and realise how often you coped with something that was new to you, you discovered ways to manage. Can take a while to ease into what's new, to the point where you're not feeling the 'newness'.

I actually discovered last year that sometimes what's new isn't always so easily identifiable. For the first time in life, I experienced overwhelming bouts of anxiety, wondering what was wrong with me. At first, I couldn't work it out. Eventually it hit. It was the first time in my life I'd come to deal with so many challenges all at once. This was new to me. While I'd dealt with a lot of challenges in the past here and there, this was the first time I'd felt pure overwhelm. 'Pure overwhelm', in all its glory, definitely has a feel to it. Can take your breath away, set your heart racing and have you feeling physically ill for days. They weren't massive challenges, there were just so many of them.

I think, sometimes anxiety can be alerting us to what's new and the need to manage (strategically) what's new. Without a plan for managing what's new, we can be left feeling 'overwhelm', without any way to calm down out of it.

Maybe 'How am I going to manage 'new'?' could be something worth thinking about in the way of developing certain skills for the future. Accumulating the best tools or skill set could make you a master craftsman when it comes to crafting the way forward.