Anxiety at the workplace
I've been suffering from anxiety since my senior year of highschool when I had my first real panic attack. I don't really know how to manage it, and there are days where it manages me. It's really starting to affect my work. I work with children as an assistant teacher. I know the teacher I work under has had it with me, because of me constantly asking her things like what are we doing today and asking her what is the right decision. I've been told I need to take initiative and use my better judgement but I'm constantly second guessing myself. Then I inevitably screw up and get complaints. I take them personally, it gets so bad that I get lost in my own head and end up making myself have a mental break down. I'm at the end of my rope. I need help. I feel as though I'm constantly walking on eggshells. If anyone reading this can offer tips on managing anxiety it would be greatly appreciated. Thank ypu
@mallieumpkin
Be proud of yourself for taking this first step in finding ways to help manage your anxiety at work. Getting lost in your own head is very real and I know for me it just makes my anxiety worse.
Learning a little about mindfulness and doing some different mindfulness exercises really helps me with my anxiety. It took me some time to try out some different things and find what was helpful for me.
One thing I find helpful is box breathing when I'm getting anxious and panicky.
Count to 4 as you take a deep breath in.
Count to 4 as you hold the breath in.
Count to 4 as you slowly exhale the breath.
Count to 4 once you're done breathing out and rest before starting your next breath in.
Even 2 or 3 cycles of that gives my brain enough of a break to disrupt the anxiety cycle and time enough to gather my wits and respond to a situation instead of just reacting.
I hope this helps you!