Struggling in work

blue note

I've been struggling in work for a few months now. Basically the more stressed and worked up I get the less I work. Obviously that's having the effect of me being way behind and I don't think at this stage I can catch up.

I went to the gp about it about 4 months ago, who gave me tablets and referred me to a councillor who I've been seeing since. I have no optimism at this stage about improving - I just seem to be getting steadily worse. I spoke to my employers who were very nice and willing to help, but I can't see my position being tenable in the near future. Basically, I'd fire me. And I can't see it going any other way.

I really don't know where it will all leave me. I'm not depressed, but may go that way. I'm such a fuk-up I feel I should be! I can see myself unemployed and unemployable in the near future. And I really don't know what the way out from there will be. I also have no savings, so don't know what I'll do from that side either.

username123

blue note wrote: »

I've been struggling in work for a few months now. Basically the more stressed and worked up I get the less I work. Obviously that's having the effect of me being way behind and I don't think at this stage I can catch up.

Hiya, is it the job thats the thing in your life causing stress? Itd be natural to get less done the more worked up and stressed you get - so I think the key thing to look at here is this - does the type of work suit you? Does the company suit you? (some companies have harsher working conditions than others). Without knowing the type of work you do its harder to be more specific but say for example, if its office work, are you too overloaded?

blue note wrote: »

I went to the gp about it about 4 months ago, who gave me tablets and referred me to a councillor who I've been seeing since. I have no optimism at this stage about improving - I just seem to be getting steadily worse. I spoke to my employers who were very nice and willing to help, but I can't see my position being tenable in the near future. Basically, I'd fire me. And I can't see it going any other way.

Its good that you have taken steps to help yourself. What is the counsellor suggesting? Its nice that your employers are willing to help, but if you are just not suited to the job then no amount of being nice about it is going to be of any practical use to you. Its ok if you are not suited to your job, there are plenty of jobs Id be awful at and wouldnt be able to handle the stress of, whats important is finding something you can do without becoming overwhelmed and stressed about it. Another thing, how long are you in the job and has something happened recently to cause this stress, or has it just been something thats been building slowly?

blue note wrote: »

I really don't know where it will all leave me. I'm not depressed, but may go that way. I'm such a fuk-up I feel I should be! I can see myself unemployed and unemployable in the near future. And I really don't know what the way out from there will be. I also have no savings, so don't know what I'll do from that side either.

Youre not a fuk up - youre just going through a period of stress. Dont worry about savings etc, there is social welfare to fall back on.

More importantly you need to identify what causing the issue and how best to resolve it, either by doing some other type of work or by changing how you do what you do. But you have to stay positive, we all go through stressful periods in work, it doesnt mean you are useless or anything like that, its just something to be dealt with thats all.

angeline

I do think you should return to your GP. We can't give medical advice here but it may be that your thinking is faulty due to something which may not have yet benn diagnosed. Regarding work, the more you put your head in the sand, the more stressed you will become, so I would advise that you sit down with someone at work, explain you haven't been up to par, and go through what needs to be done. Believe me, you'll be surprised at the sense of relief you will feel at getting things done that you may have been putting on the long finger.

blue note

username123 wrote: »

Hiya, is it the job thats the thing in your life causing stress? Itd be natural to get less done the more worked up and stressed you get - so I think the key thing to look at here is this - does the type of work suit you? Does the company suit you? (some companies have harsher working conditions than others). Without knowing the type of work you do its harder to be more specific but say for example, if its office work, are you too overloaded?



Its good that you have taken steps to help yourself. What is the counsellor suggesting? Its nice that your employers are willing to help, but if you are just not suited to the job then no amount of being nice about it is going to be of any practical use to you. Its ok if you are not suited to your job, there are plenty of jobs Id be awful at and wouldnt be able to handle the stress of, whats important is finding something you can do without becoming overwhelmed and stressed about it. Another thing, how long are you in the job and has something happened recently to cause this stress, or has it just been something thats been building slowly?



Youre not a fuk up - youre just going through a period of stress. Dont worry about savings etc, there is social welfare to fall back on.

More importantly you need to identify what causing the issue and how best to resolve it, either by doing some other type of work or by changing how you do what you do. But you have to stay positive, we all go through stressful periods in work, it doesnt mean you are useless or anything like that, its just something to be dealt with thats all.

Thanks for the replies, they are appreciated.

I'm fairly content that I understand my problems - it's changing my behaviour that's the issue. Essentially, I procrastinate whenever I can get away with it and always have. I got by in school and college and even in work. I'm in the same job for about 6 and half years and while I haven't really gone anywhere with it, I was always fine at it. I was also doing the accounting exams, so could pretend to myself that I would go somewhere when I got them, but in reality I never put the work in for them. I put the hours in and spent the money on lectures, but day dreamed through the whole lot and repeatedly failed them. At this stage I've probably just given up on them and the demotivation from going nowhere is probably "the straw that broke the camels back".

So it's not really the job, or an event that has me where I am. It's not that the job is not suited, if I don't sort my behaviour out I'm suited to nothing. The company I work for is actually extremely nice to work for and I'm not overloaded. If I was working properly, I would definitely not be in this position. I probably am overloaded now, but it's my own doing.

The counselor is nice. She seems to think that understanding the problem is the key and awareness of my own procrastination will be the solution to it. I'm fairly sure I understand and am aware, but I don't know what it is about me that I'm finding it so difficult to change it all.

I'm generally fine outside of work as well - I had a great weekend away this weekend, so I'm happy I'm not depressed. But during working hours, I'm not the best anymore.

And I'd definitely describe myself as a fuk-up! Or a waster or lazy. I don't get too down over it, but those terms definitely describe me.

username123

It sounds to me like youve no real interest in what you are doing.

I remember finishing my degree and getting my first 'real' job, and after around a year I was like, is that it? You just go to work 9-5 and thats it? Previously there had always been some goal to work towards, the leaving cert, the degree, but then it was like, just work. And I didnt like it!! But the money was great so I stayed for years. Its only now Im out of it I realise how much I didnt like it.

I understand the level of procrastination you are talking about, and its good you are aware of it etc... But if there is nothing to motivate you to change, then why would you change?

Do you procrastinate in all areas of life or just in work? If its in all areas you may want to consider speaking to your GP again, it could, as another poster suggested, be faulty thinking - I am not a professional in the area but there could be something to investigate there.

blue note

Still doing the same thing here. I'm trying to decide between getting a sick cert and seeing if some time off would help and trying to keep going in here. The latter does not seem to be working. It seems to be a slow, thoroughly unenjoyable journey to forcing work to take action about me.

The main problem with the first is that it would highlight how poor I've been, and there are some things that will suffer here since others will not be familiar with how to do them.