Change of career due to anxiety?

[kucingcantik]

Hi there, I am new here!

I was diagnosed with GAD and Social AD in 2015, but have really been experiencing this my whole life.

I am a lawyer and that is obviously quite a stressful job. I find it really hard to manage my anxiety in many situations that arise frequently in my job. This leaves me having panic attacks and feeling awful for days/weeks at a time. I find it hard to interact with my children and husband and withdraw when this happens. It affects how I enjoy my whole life.

I have wanted to be a lawyer since I was 13. I thought it was something I was really passionate about. I do enjoy some aspects of my job, but every few months since I started working as a lawyer I have wondered if what I enjoy about my job really does justify the anxiety flare ups I experience due to my work.

Has anyone here changed careers because of the way that their career impacted upon their mental health? I feel like I would be a failure if I did this, but I also feel like I am wasting my young children's childhood due to how this is making me feel.

[Hope_for_the_best]

Welcome, kucingcantik!

I hope my uni friend's story will shed some light on you. I studied health sciences and she studied law. She had anxiety back then and she always turned to me for support, so I know a fair bit about the law profession. She worked briefly in a family law firm after graduation. Her anxiety was worse than ever because of the overwhelming cases relating to family breakups, so she decided that she would not be a lawyer dealing with court cases. She does not totally give up a career in law though. She now works as a legal consultant in a commercial company and she only needs to work during office hours. She is doing great and has no more anxiety.

Speaking from my friend's experience, you do not have to give up your law profession. However, regardless of your choice, you need to do something about your anxiety. It is good to hear that you have seen a doctor. Have you followed up with your doctor and got referred to a psychologist?

[BballJ]

Hi kucingcantik,

I have read many threads on these forums and there are many with work and anxiety related topics. I have seen a few people take the ultimate step to leave their job in search of being fully happy. It is never an easy decision but sometimes it is a decision that needs to be made. I think it is great you fulfilled your dream to be a lawyer and no one is doubting how hard that job would be and I can see how anxiety would affect it. I suffer from GAD as well so I do know the feelings you are talking about.

A career change is something you need to think long and hard about, obviously discussing with your husband as well. My other thought is have you thought about seeing a psychologist, especially in your line of work, it may be needed to really have a trained professional to vent too and let them help you work through the anxiety?

Please, post back as much as you like, I am always happy to talk.

My best for you,

Jay

[Kengy]

Hi kucingcantik

I too am a lawyer who suffers from anxiety. I completely understand the panic attacks that flare up due to stressful work situations. I’ve found that medication and therapy have really helped bring my anxiety levels down, and therapy gives me a good place to vent about my frustrations and sadness over some of my cases. I know law does have a high percentage of people with depression/anxiety, but if you don’t treat your anxiety, it will follow you about, even in a less stressful job. Are you with a firm with a good work/life balance? If not, maybe consider changing jobs rather than careers.

[kucingcantik]

Thanks Hope.for.the.best. That is something I have considered - doing non-contested work, and short term matters would alleviate a lot of the stressors that I feel. Not all, but a lot.

Thank you for sharing your friend's story too, it is helpful knowing that others have faced the same issues.

[kucingcantik]

Hi Jay, thanks for your reply. I was seeing a psychologist in 2015. Strategies he was helping me with were not working so I went on medication to get the overwhelming anxiety under control. I have learnt a lot since then and my anxiety had lessened somewhat but is coming back with a vengence at the moment. I had made an appointment with my GP for tomorrow for other reasons and I am going to ask for another referral/mental health plan while I am there.

[kucingcantik]

Hi Kengy

Thanks for commenting. It is hard isn't it? Law seems like one of the worst professions for someone with anxiety to choose due to the inherent conflict involved.

I am currently a sole practitioner working from home. I have absolutely no support. I do get to choose my own hours and I work that around my children with childcare and school, but money wise it is stressful, and the level of responsibility without being able to talk to anyone about it is stressful. I am looking to return to paid employment, and that is one of the reasons why this is on my mind at the moment. Do I look for a job in a law firm, or do I instigate a change of career?

I actually had an interview today for an advocate position with a disability organisation which sounds really interesting.

[Guest_902]

Hi kucingcantik!

Believe me, I know the feeling. After finishing uni for the second time, I went into a government job. Loved it at first, but then the culture rapidly changed into a toxic one as soon as the workloads increased. Not to mention a breach of duty of care that almost got my colleagues and I seriously injured. As a result, I left the job and went back to my old, much less glamorous one. Less pay, but less travel and much less stress. Management can still be frustrating, but I know I'm doing so much better.

It's a hard call to leave the career of your dreams, but what I've learnt from my experiences is that no career, be it dream job or no, should harm your own day to day happiness and wellbeing. I'm trying to simplify my life as much as possible now, giving away unneeded possessions as well as trying to hang out more with friends and family.

At the end of the day, I strongly feel that our immediate daily wellbeing comes first, always.

Hope that helps! ☺

[Ulysses]

Gosh welcome. I know just how you feel. I was a nurse with a good position. I started hating it because I was in a specialised field and the workloads drove me into the ground. I ended up hating it and I’m trying to look on the bright side-i can start a new career. So far not much luck in that but there are so many of us out there who are disillusioned with the career we chose. I am not able to practice now as they took away my right to be a nurse because I have depression. Hardly seems fair. But keep your chin up, you never know what’s around the corner. Best wishes

[BballJ]

Hi kucingcantik,

I think that is a great idea that you are seeing the GP tomorrow for another referral, when anxiety comes back with a vengeance I guess it just means it has never been fully dealt with, which is tough I know but you are doing the right things to come out from under it.

It is good you had another interview in a different industry, maybe even a temporary move to another career whilst you work on your anxiety isn't a bad idea, you can always go back to being a lawyer I am sure.

My best,

Jay