Anxiety in High Performers

[Ultimate_Worrier]

Hi,

I wanted to start a thread on this, because I find it is not something which is often covered in the resources on line.

I am generally healthy, and have a very successful career, and good family life. I find I am fine 11 months of the year, and then I will get a dreadful bout of anxiety lasting for a week. I don't have full on panic attacks, but I will need to take most of the week off work, and find it almost impossible to concentrate on anything. I will feel like I'm going mad, and obsess over whether I will ever be normal again. Then it passes, and after building up some confidence, I get back on with life.

I always find myself wondering whether this is just a permanent thing that will always happen, or whether my job stress brings it on, and I should try to manage that differently.

Just wondering if anyone else has the same thing?

Cheers

[white knight]

Hi UW, welcome

My family has a history of anxiety and as it turned out in our later years- bipolar 2 also.

It was way back in 1987 that my anxiety peaked. My panic attack was so severe, and along with a false ECG, that I was told I had a heart attack. Certainly helped give up smoking t the time.

I pondered long about the anxiety. I had to identify where it originated from, establish a cocktail of remedies and prepare to the long run. So my actions established-

• The origins was family oriented from childhood not necessarily inherited.
• That my work in the security/prisons industry was not helping
• That I had neglected myself by not having specific holidays away from my living district and for at least 3 weeks a year
• That my life had several toxic family members that no longer qualified as productive in my life
• That my relationship needed counseling
• I was overworked with 3 jobs
• I needed professional medical evaluation followed up with medication
• Lowering my workload would open up hobbies and sporting interests
• I badly needed rest and relaxation even meditation. This opened the door to spiritual growth (not religion for me)
• I had to identify triggers and cycles, not an easy task and very ongoing even today 34 years later.

Much of the above had to be found with the help of a psychologist. Some with my own abilities as I have insight (like you do).

I found a clever man on youtube that I listen to regularly. His name is Prem Rawat Maharaji

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhrtbBrMQ1Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X30sWycWz4o&t=53s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgh08mZ355Q

And many more

I reassessed my family members and distanced myself from a couple and removed two from my life. Sad, but anxiety is a serious illness and those people planted anxiety in me.

I left prison work to find other less dangerous work in dog ranger and investigations. I lasted in the workforce till 2013 at 57years old when I had a few psychotic events that took away my ability to work.

So, I hope that give you some idea of the sacrifices needed to eliminate anxiety. Here isa few threads worth reading even jus tthe first post.

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

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it#qpS1gXHz...

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/depression-distraction-and-vari...

repost anytime

TonyWK

[CalmCat]

Hi Ultimate Worrier,

Thank you for sharing something so interest, I'm sure many will be able to connect with you.

I use a phone app called STREAKS to capture days where my anxiety is overwhelming. I also document these for my mental health processional for us to try and figure out what triggers the anxiety.

Regards,

CC

[D Walsh]

Hi UW,

I too like to think I am a high performer who has anxiety and depression. I go through phases where I am on top of everything then out of the blue I get whacked back into a anxiety/depressive phase. It’s all about management, but very hard to do when you are normally operating at a high standard or have a high pressure job. I am in the same boat however mine seem to cycle through a bit more frequently. I haven’t been able to work out the magic formula to keep on top of mine but I have a doc and a psychologist who are helping me work out what works for me.

cheers