Anxiety about work

LegacyUser

I work full time for a company, about an hours commute away, each way. Anyway since I started with them (2 years ago) I have built up a lot of anxiety about my performance and the job and my supervisors. I've worked in many places before and never had this. But this job is considerably more challenging and a lot is expected of my.

Its gotten to the point where I can't enjoy a sunday at all because I spend the whole day fretting about going to work the next morning. I can't really pinpoint why I'm so anxious, on the whole I am doing well and my supervisors are happy. I think its just a feeling that I'm not good enough. I've been to counselling and I'm on anti-anxiety medication. To be honest the counselling just helped me identify negative thought patterns, but I havent really been able to break them. and the medication I hope to come off of as it really hasn't helped that much.

I'm so anxious all the time that its impairing my ability to do my work. I never want to go to work in the mornings. Before you say to leave the job, this is a career path I've always wanted so I don't understand whats going wrong...

Any advice or experiences? I'm really unhappy.

Goldenlady

Hi OP,

Firstly dont worry, you are not alone. Sometimes the pressure can just get to people - have you felt like this since the beginning or is it a new feeling? You mentioned the job is challenging, do you need further direction from more senior people? Never be afraid to ask for help! Perhaps you need to speak with your manager and let them know about the pressure you are feeling. I understand you say this a career choice, but maybe its not the right job for you - you need to consider this. As a former anxiety sufferer its easy for me to say try and change your thought process, particularly on Sundays... but please do. You are wasting an entire day fretting about the Monday. Sorry that I have no real advice, but I just wanted you to know this is very fixable for you xx

I understand completely. It's the whole confidence issue and believing that your good enough for the job....a few things just to point out
1. They hired you- I imagine u didnt tell big porkies in your interview n cv. They saw what they liked and hired you as the best person for the job
2. Have you mid year reviews/appraisals?has your supervisor ever said to you that you are not doing well in your job?
You need to just believe in your ability, they obviously saw something in you when they hired you.
It can be hard and I know what it's like having anxiety over work and that Sunday night feeling, but more often it's me building things up and then everything works out fine.
Good luck and be positive

Mayboy

Hi edpeace,

I hear what you are saying. I had pretty difficult anxiety about work for many years - much of it I took for granted as being 'normal'.
for me it culminated in a breakdown/ burnout and it was a very unpleasant experience but resulted in me having a whole new lie. ONce i saw the effect anxiety had on my life in the past I was shocked.

The one thing that made a HUGE difference for me was practicing mindfulness meditation - have a look at John Kabat Zinn and his approach. I use it a lot now. Also the late (great) Dr Aine Tubridys book deals specifically with panic but has a brilliant soothing body scan that you practice - its on a CD in the book (When panic Attacks) and also on her website as a free download - wellbeing foundation dublin in google should locate it - if not PM me. Both of those things have changed my life for the better and got me through some rocky days- I don't recognise where I was in the past. Feel free to PM me anytime. Good luck - think of this as your body saying something is wrong - you have to put it right and sometimes just getting to know the real 'inner' you is all it takes.

Warm Wishes & good luck.

If your supervisor is happy and you are doing well then is obviously nothing wrong with your work, so there fore maybe you anxiety had noting really to do with work you have just located it as a work issue to make sense of why you feel like you do, it could be that even if you were not working you would feel anxious.

You need to go back to you doctor if you are not getting any better.