Work Anxiety

[Luna50]

Hi everyone

I'm a long time sufferer of anxiety and a classic over thinker.

I had a change in career earlier this year but the job never really took off and I wasn't exactly sure what my role was supposed to be. All that aside I got through it because I had a good team around me. A couple of months ago that changed and my team was disbanded and I was moved to a new department. My role is the same but the department I work for doesn't really have anything to do with me so now I don't have a support network and I feel very very lonely and isolated and all the anxieties I was able to control before hand have got completely out of control.

I sit there everyday wondering what I'm doing there and I'm extremely bored with the little work I do have and sitting there for 8 hours with not much to do distresses me. On top of that my new boss could not be more different to my old one, he's extremely busy and our roles have virtually no cross over so that adds to the loneliness because I don't feel like I'm part of a team. As a person he's a really nice guy but I've raised my issues with him twice now and nothing has changed.

I was once told have a fear of being bored and I think thats one way to sum up my anxiety. I obsess about how I'm going to fill in 8 hours a day and how I'll get through the week. I set my self mini goals just to get me through to Friday but then I start thinking if I'm that miserable why am I still sitting there? I get jealous of people who are busy and it almost becomes child like - why does their day get to go quick and mine doesn't??

Its completely consuming my life, I go home and stress out about it. All weekend I think about resigning but Monday comes and I back out because I'm worried being unemployed and on my own at home all day will be even worse for my mental health than being employed in a job I hate. Its becoming a vicious circle.

I have an appointment this week for a referral to a psychologist and I'm booked in for the following day so I'm taking action. I've also started applying for new jobs so I'm trying to get myself out of the situation.

Would be great to hear any coping strategies or similar stories.

Thanks for listening.

Luna50

[Croix]

Dear Luna50~

Having an ill-defined job with few duties and little interaction with others can be pretty soul-destroying in the long term and your ideas about it seem very sensible. You've tried management and nothing has happened. You are now looking for another position. Both good moves.

Before giving up on the job entirely is there anything you can do that is productive and in line with you companies objectives that will help fill the time? I can't really make suggestions as I've no idea what you do. Perhaps something about work-safety planning? Work social organization?

Failing that have you considered straight time-fillers, podcasts via earbuds, MOOCs via computer, writing a book/articles?

Being wary of leaving your job without another is very sensible. It is a terrible situation to be stuck at home filling in endless job applications that are most often not even acknowledged. Unfortunately at the moment there seem to be far too many people for far too few jobs. Isolating, terrible for the self esteem and drains all incentive.

Again you are thinking things though, the prospect of therapy with a psychologist is very hopeful and may in time allow you to stress less about your work position.

I realize being home on the weekends, and nighttimes too I guess, are bad with thoughts of your work and possible actions taking up so much of your mind. I find exercise, healthy eating, trying to use sleep hygiene techniques to get rest plus activities all help. Social interaction if possible is also great.

I particularly find regular distraction and self-reward in whatever takes one's mind away and is enjoyable are very necessary. I use books and movies. I also use the free smartphone app Smiling Mind when my mind gets completely stuck.

I hope you'd like to come back and talk more

Croix