How can I not be anxious? I need to work!
I do not understand how people can relax and be themselves all the time. I have an office job where I need to keep my head down and quietly do as much work as I can cram into the day.
I can't take a day off. What if they decide I'm not needed and lay me off? I lost my last job a year ago and I'm always terrified I'm going to lose this one.
I was yelled at today because I took a five-minute break. I don't want to get fired, but I'm not sure I was in the wrong. I can't talk to my boss about it. He's the boss. Bosses are never wrong. I like my job and my coworkers, but every day I'm terrified that pink slip is going to show up because I did the wrong thing.
@JustBeingMike
Ican totally understand your very real anxiety about your job. A job means money and is fundamental to our lives in that respect and I think most people would share that anxiety on some level.
In your post however I think the anxiety you are experiencing has become more sever - not ever taking a day off and fear that you are going to do something wrong must feel horrible and like you are constantly on edge and being judged. Prolonged levels of anxiety and stress like this can have a very real impact on our health. Has there been a time when you have felt less anxious at work? Was there an event that hieghtened your anxiety? or are there other pressures in your life that make this job even more important to you? Is losing a job the worst than can happen or are you catastrophising?
I would encourage you to find and focus on a way to switch of after work - things you enjoy and make you feel better about yourself, but also to reach out to someone and explore your thoughts further to discover where thisanxiety stems from and are there ways you can learn to keep it at a more managable level?
Take care of you and good luck
@Rycochet
The thing is, I am being judged at work. That's normal. We're all watched by our supervisors and analyzed by them.
What relaxes me at work is being able to take some time out of my day to go have a chat with some coworkers. Just a few minutes to step away from my desk. What stresses me is getting yelled at for doing so. I'm having my relaxing outlet taken away.
Yes, losing my job is the worst thing. I have few skills and I am terrible at finding a job. The job market is awful.
I just hate that doing my job and being a good employee is not enough.
@JustBeingMike hey mike, I also deal with anxiety and I can see where your coming from, now what I might say may actually come as a huge shock but with this type of anxiety, I suffered where I was in a job and I was scared of being let go and to be fair, the simple fact is my social anxiety actually got in the way of me doing the job to the best of my ability so it got to the point where I would be frustrated with myself. I knew the day was coming where I would be let go and when I was, part of me was relieved.
I looked at myself and I asked my self what I actually want to do and for two seconds didn't think about money. What's money if your not happy anyway. I changed my career and realised my anxiety was gone in terms of work. I know I'm good at my job and I know it may take time for me to make the money I used to but I'm happier and that's something money can't buy...
im not telling you to do this by any means but it's just a thought.
