Working with Anxiety

Posted by in Healthcare


Working with an anxiety disorder can be difficult.  It can affect the way you work and even holding a job itself.  I have this disorder and it’s affected me in all my jobs one way or the other.  I’ve had a total of about 11 jobs through the years, many of them in totally different fields.  The longest I’ve worked at a job was seven years and the shortest was six months.  My jobs were varied: two office jobs, factory worker, working in a pet shop, in a Laundromat, a sales clerk, in a bank processing center, managing apartments, a floral designer in two shops and finally a freelance writer, which I am presently.

 

I didn’t know I had this disorder until about 6 years ago.  My jobs would be fine for a while and then the stress would build. I would hate to get up in the morning and dread going into work.  I would have heart palpitations pulling into the parking lot. I would jump at the slightest noise.   I’d end up going to the emergency room with chest pains and then the doctor would admit me in cardiac care for a few days.  Each time it would be stress from the job or a combination of work and family life.  I would look for another job that would be less stressful.  I would work that job for a while then the same thing would happen and I had no idea what was going on.

 

Another way this disease has affected my work life is that I cannot take public transportation or drive somewhere I’m not familiar with.  I’m okay with a taxi cab because it will take me from point A to point B.  But if I had to take a bus to work or a subway or drive through heavy traffic, it isn’t going to happen. I have severe panic attacks and feel as if I can’t get enough air and that I’m going to faint. This really limits my work options if I have to go outside my comfort level.

 

There is hope though.  I was put on an anxiety medication which helps me handle stress better, as well as cognitive therapy.  This therapy allows you to talk about what your fears are and how to handle them.  If I get lost, for example, I know that I can turn around and go back.  Also my husband has bought me a GPS so that helps with that.  I still can’t deal with public transportation though at this point.

 

I did find a new work field that I enjoy.  I am now a freelance writer.  I can support myself with something I like to do and not even have to leave the house.  The hours are my own.  I have deadlines for the work that I do.  By having a schedule that I stick to, various topics I can write about, the freedom to work when I want and it has eased my anxiety a great deal.  If I get stuck on a topic, I can get up from my desk and go for a walk to clear my head.  The stress level is a lot less and I have only had two panic attacks that I worked through.  So I think the secret to beating this is to be on medication, have a good therapist and find a job that you enjoy that doesn’t cause stress.  Life is good!

 

If you have an anxiety disorder, how do you cope with the work stress?

 

 

 

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  • Linda Ruzicka
    Linda Ruzicka
    Unhi, I definatly think it depends on the field of work you get into. I never thought I would be working at home for a reputable company like Beyond doing freelance work. There are possibilities, you just have to be aware of them.
  • Unhi
    Unhi
    Honest work at home companies don't exist, the only way I know of to work out of your home is to get into some type of medical billing, but to find legitimacy you usually have had to work in an office and the doctor you worked for hires you to do work out of your home. It takes 2 to 4 years of college to become a medical biller. You could always try to scam others like these other fake work at home companies do, but you probably wouldn't be very successful because people are getting wise to the numerous scams in our society. You would have to think of something new and creative, but even that will probably cost you money. Sorry. Just one more thing, I would love for someone to prove me wrong, so if you find an honest work at home company be sure to let me know. I would love to eat my own words. : )
  • Linda Ruzicka
    Linda Ruzicka
    Hi Linda, I'm glad your meds have helped. I have found that therapy does help find out the reasons you have the anxiety and helps work on ways to deal with it.  Good luck to you!
  • Linda B
    Linda B
    I have the same problem w/ anxiety and jobs. When I work FT jobs, I'm fine to about 3/4 of the day and I feel this terrible feeling that I'm going to drop dead, dizzy, lightheaded, and sick to my stomach. I had lots of tests done, but nothing really showed up that would answer why this was happening to me. I would even have panic attacks, even when I was driving at times. I'm always hesitant to take on FT jobs, because it eventually happens again, and then I quit. I don't have a therapist, but my doctor has me on Zoloft after trying so many things, and helps big time w/ the panic attacks. I'm also on anxiety meds, to help my brain calm down when I overload myself with work and family. It's helped somewhat, but not everything.

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