Holding down a job while dealing with anxiety.

[Eva]

There has only been one job for me where my bosses were understanding of my anxiety disorder and allowed me to continue working the job. All jobs I have had since then, I eventually get fired from for being "too timid" around people. I do get very nervous around people because it is just the way I am. I can't change it about me. Anxiety medication helps some, but it doesn't help me. Luckily, I am able to work from home, but keeping a job outside of home is impossible for me. How are you able to hold down a job? is it difficult for you? Do you seek out jobs where you don't have to interact with people much?

 

[DavidRosenberg]

For me personally, it's just something I have to deal with. I'll never be able to deal with the 'office' environment again. All the false smiles and pointless meetings. I don't think I can stomach it anymore.


I think it's no different to limitations for anyone really. I don't think there's anyone who can do every kind of job. Everyone has limitations, right?


To that end, I encourage you not to feel like you're especially disadvantaged or anything. Instead realise that everyone has limitations that they have to deal with. Some people don't like being around lots of people. Other people don't have use of their legs.


So yeah, best to work to one's strengths I feel.

 

[rz3300]

I think that it is one of those things that you just do. It is like the modern day survival mode where you just go through the motions if you have to, just to be able to do it and live and eat. This always makes me think of one of my favorite stories, Bartleby. He is the opposite of socially anxious, maybe just socially inept, but still the going-through-the-motions like attitude applied here too. It is tough, but I feel like I adapt better at work then I do at a lot of other places, which is saying something.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

I am kind of young, so I really have had one formal job, and I heard all the time that I was really quiet, and that I "almost didn't talked" and those comments were really frustrating... I tried to do my best but it didn't really worked, I was awkward all the time, lol. And actually, when I spoke with a lot of people continuously I really needed some time alone to take a breath, and just calm myself, I think that no one noticed that but that's how I used to deal with my anxiety at the time.

 

[WorkAtHomeGal]

I am 29 but I too was told at all my jobs that I always looked mad or was to quiet. I have never been fired from a job thankfully but social anxiety is one of the driving forces for why I quit some of my jobs. I did a paper route for a short bit at 2am until I was done I only saw people sometimes in the early morning, it was a easy job but to many expenses plus my car broke down to much. Later tried a cleaning job that to me was misleading, 3 shifts is not part time... Oh well I left that temp situation because it was not worth my time and I was anxious going in to clean while people were still in the gym. I try and do what I can online for income but it is not enough. I have been mostly applying to anything with as little interaction with people as possible.

 

[Alex]

It does depend on your job too, because the geeks who are quiet usually get more understanding. I've found it hard in some previous jobs and would look forward to my lunch hour to get away from the office or I would have to go to the bathroom for some space.


Holding down a job is hard work and very few people do understand. I worked in a department store and that is not a place where there is any understanding, and I let it build up for too many years to pay the bills at the detriment of my mental sanity and health.

 

[pwarbi]

Holding down a job is hard with anxiety and I ended up leaving my last job due to that exact same issue, I just found that I was unable to perform as I should in that role. sometimes the management understanding your situation can make things worse as you then start to get anxious about letting them down and the fact they have to make special conditions for you as what happened in my case.


Being a typical male, I tried to deal with my anxiety by ignoring it and carrying on, sticking my head in the sand and I didn't want to admit that I needed extra support as I wanted to be treated just like the other employees. When I finally accepted that I did need the extra support, I was anxious about how others would feel and so in the end left as the job made things worse. Finding a job when you suffer from anxiety is very hard and while I wouldn't recommend lying to a potential employer about your condition, sometimes it's more helpful to you if you don't mention it as then you do get treated just like anybody else and sometimes that's all you need to stop you from feeling upset and anxious. Being treated like anybody else and knowing that you can hold down a job in spite of what your dealing with can often give you that bit of self belief you need in yourself that helps your anxiety and stops it taking over your life.

 

[lee]

Well actually.... saying that something is just you is not productive. if its causing you so many problems you can always work on it.

 

[jaden11218]

I think my job has actually helped with my anxiety. I work in customer service, so I have to deal with people all day. I've learned that my customers are either idiotic jerks or they are super friendly and understanding. After I found that out it became easier to speak to people. If someone was rude to me then I would just remind myself that their opinion didn't matter. If someone was very polite then it calmed me down and made my job easier. Currently I'm looking into working from home though because the amount of rudeness and hatred in the world just seems to be growing, which doesn't help my anxiety.

 

[lydiag75]

I have only had one job at McDonald's and one day because my ex boyfriend had made me late to work and I had a panic attack because I am afraid of being yelled at. My manager took me to the back room when I got there and I was so afraid to be yelled at that I just quit without thinking about it and never went back. I'm trying to get another job now and I think I am in a much better place and I'll be able to handle situations better now.

 

[mauricioq]

It's hard but we must commit to our jobs, at least until we find a better one. When I first started working I was very timid but after a time I was more relaxed about it and I started to perform better. For me it was just a matter of time.

 

[amy88]

I think once I am in a groove with jobs, then I am a great employee because I'm loyal. Almost to a fault. But it's getting to that point of feeling like I am in my comfort zone that is sometimes hard to reach. I've had to take days off before when my anxiety has really been at it's peak, and it's tough trying to explain that to an employer - I think if you haven't really had to deal with anxiety or haven't been close to anyone who has then it's a bit of a foreign concept to some people. But I do think on the whole my bosses have been mostly understanding.

 

[greeken]

I find that I can actually be outgoing and normal when I am out and around people. On the outside at least. The inside I am freaking out and destroying myself because of everything that I feel. I'm sorry you have to go through that...it's hard.