Job Anxiety

[RachelGreen24]

First time posting, just in need of some support and like-minded people to chat too..

I am currently employed in a profession I enjoy and studied to do. It is a small business and within the last couple of months I have felt constant pressure to perform through busy COVID times. I have exhausted myself and received little help and no supportive network. A few confronting episodes happened recently at work and I cannot get passed them. Even through talking about it with my bosses it’s as if my workplace is toxic. I feel lonely at work and come home anxious about the next day. I can’t enjoy weekends from stress of returning on Monday. I have lost my appetite, experienced hot and cold flushes with a racing heart beat and constant pain in my stomach.

I have experienced anxiety and drops into depression before and time has taken the pain away. However this time I know my workplace will not change as I fear I am being used. I am so conflicted to leave because I feel I should be grateful to even have work with the state of the world. I wish I was brave enough to value my happiness and resign but I doubt my abilities to find new work and fear I would slip into anxiety/depression again from being unemployed. I have never seeked professional advice before.. Any advice or support would be appreciated. Thanks 🙂

[JeanD]

Hi RachelGreen24,

Just wanted to reach out to let you know I went through something similar a few months back - work pressure to perform, no support from my then manager, a confronting instance with a senior exec and that led to panic attacks and anxiety. Felt many of the same emotions you listed too and couldn't sleep which then just heightened the anxiety and panic attacks more.

I saw my GP, talked to her and am seeing a psychologist now. Am also on very low dose anti-anxiety medication. All this I have found helps as now I have an outlet to get it out of my head and not the thoughts swirl and get worse and worse. It also helps having someone else see the situation independently and help me not go down the rabbit hole of "what if" situations that I was making up in my head.

I also use the headspace app. Helps me calm my mind, learn how to breathe, associate different thoughts or emotions when bad ones creep in.

It's hard, I hope you find something or someone that can help you work through this.

[Gambit87]

Hi RachelGreen24,

Welcome to the forums.

I went through something similar,

I've been in the same job for over 10 years now, it is essentially the very definition of a dead end job. Theres no opportunity for learning or promotion and for the longest time I felt like I was stuck in a rut going no where and it was really affecting me. I would get headaches and stomach cramps when I walked into the office, I couldnt sleep properly (especially on sunday nights because I knew what was coming) and I had very negative thoughts because I felt trapped.

I was just about to take some long service leave and go on holidays then covid hit... so I had to put those plans on hold. I started working from home because of lockdowns and things got a little worse because I felt I needed to perform extra hard. I was putting more unrealistic pressure on myself. I realised that I was caring about a job that does not care about me.

My psychologist asked me the question 'is this a job you can do for 8 hours a day' and it really got me thinking. Yes my job sucks, but it is something I can do for 8 hours a day, the work isn't really that bad and my boss is great and I'm in a great team. I don't earn alot of money, but the money I do earn pays for what I need and lets me take my partner out of a meal every few weeks. I feel like ive come to terms with my situation because I realised i'm not going to be in this position forever.

What has also helped me is settings goals - I'm going to study a cert 4 in project management because I'm really interested in projects and sustainability etc, I feel like it gives me something to work towards and re-enforces the idea that theres something out there other then the job im in.

Another thing that I have found to be very important is self care. YOU are important too. Every day after work I walk though the city. Just walking around just looking at things and taking in the sights and sounds it helps me clear my mind and relax. twice a week I do taekwondo, I walk to the park down the road to watch the birds or just relax by the river. I see my psychologist once a month to just chat and work through things. I also meditate which helps me feel relaxed and centered.

My advice would be,

Ask yourself 'can I work this job for 8 hours a day'
Set some goals
Talk about it... friends/family or GP/psych. it really helps.
Self care - YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

I know how hard it can be and alot if it is easier said then done but you can get through this!

[Gambit87]

Adding to my post,

Since seeing a psychologist, accepting my situation, setting goals, implementing structure for self care and opening talking about my troubles, my anxiety around work has almost become non existant.

I actually feel grateful for the job im in because its secure and in these times its important to have a job.

Is it a job you can stick with until you find something else?

All the best! we're here for you.

[Sandro]

Hi Rachel

Hope your feeling a little better,

I know about these situations all too well unfortunately. You sort of feel damed if you do and damed if you don't regarding moving on, but my advice would be to slowly look for another suitable role where you give yourself the chance of job satisfaction and happiness while not allowing the external factors at your current workplace to affect you. I understand this may seem difficult but if have to stay true to you and you are more than capable of securing a new role and you need to tell yourself this and remind yourself even journal everyday about all your qualities and attributes that your new employer will benefit from and you from them. The greatest thing that has helped me ( and I've tried everything over the last 10 years) is meditation and visualisation. Actually see yourself happy and enjoying your work using your imagination during meditations. It's not something I got straight way , but with practice you can improve your imagination and once you can see it in your mind and even feel it in your body, your confidence and belief will improve and help you in your new job hunt. I lost my role due to covid and then lost my new role before I even got to start, but I'm not complaining that's just the way it goes. I use this time to improve myself continue my self growth meditate and stay healthy.

Hope this helps a little,

Take Care

Sandro

[Begisi]

Hi Guys,
I hope you don't mind me piggy backing on this post, but the title caught my eye.
I currently living in a mining camp room in WA, permanently till Jan or Feb on my own, my wife and all extended family are in Brisbane.
I've just started with this company in a profession I've done for the last 25 years.
I'm on very good money, and have benefits.
I'm now faced with constant anxiety about how I will cope with learning new processes and procedures to do with my role whilst managing with family, It's got to a point where I'm thinking of resigning and just driving back to Brisbane, despite the fact that I have big financial commitments.
The feeling is overwhelming me, and relentless.
All I want to do is a very basic job atm, no matter what financial stress is brought by this decision.
I'm worries about how my peers and leaders will perceive me, as I've always been able to perform well in the past.
I've suffered trauma before and now feel my whole world is crashing down.