Stress at work...

[AliciaH]

Work has been very stressful lately. My boss quit and all the work has shifted to me. I'm feeling very anxious, sick to my stomach almost daily. I get hot and sweaty often too. Do you think this is an anxiety attack? I'm new to this feeling and I hate it.

 

[MorningStar]

I had been in a strikingly similar situation not too long ago; from my experience, I think you are under extreme stress. Anxiety is one of the symptoms of extreme stress and, if not managed immediately, it can lead to burnout. I would advice you to gather more information about the condition and the ways to manage it. All the best, Alicia.

 

[Alex]

I think the sudden change has increased to level of anxiety which would be normal for anyone. It doesn't seem fair and if it is too much perhaps you can say something and ask if there will be a pay rise, extra time off, or someone drafted in to help?


If this is long term, maybe you need to ask what are the plans? It's not fair on you, both work wise and health wise. These days everyone has to pull together, and short term is fine, but not for too long.

 

[pwarbi]

I was in a similar situation to you a number of years ago AliciaH and being male, I did the stupid thing of ignoring it until it got so bad that I ended up having to quit my job due to health reasons. Stress and especially work related stress is one of the major factors when it comes to anxiety and if you don't deal with it, it can often lead to depression also. If you're feeling particularly stressed, there's nothing wrong with simply taking a break from the situation.


A lot of people carry on simply hoping things will get better of there own accord, but it very rarely works out that way. If you're stressed enough to join this forum then you must be worried about it enough to admit that you need to change and do something about it. Work can take over a massive part of our lives, but at the end of the day our health is far more important.

 

[morgoodie]

If you are having these types of feelings, it is probably not a good idea to let them go. If you have to ask for help at work, then you should. It is not fair that just because your boss quit that you should have to shoulder the work load. It should be split up or at least having someone help you until the situation can be fixed. I know when I was working stress was a big contributor to my anxiety and I have noticed that I am not having quite as much now that I am not under that type of stress. Definitely talk to someone in your workplace and do not let it stay bottled up. Your health is more important than the work.

 

[GeneKaufman]

Work related stress is a terrible thing, and it can rob you of your joy both at work and at home. I know how this feels personally and it is a very bad thing. As others have said do not go on thinking things will be resolved of their own accord. I made this mistake with both physical and mental issues and it has never gone over well, and most certainly not better than it would have had I done something sooner. I don't know if I would say it is an absolute necessity to see a professional now, but try and find proper ways to maybe resolve the issues, as some have said ask for help, explain that maybe it's just too much for you. Even if you can technically do the work for now, in the future as stress and anxiety wear you down the case may not be the same. We are all individuals and we all have different things we are better at, and other things we are less equipped to deal with on our own.

 

[mauricioq]

You're definite seem to be suffering from anxiety. Just relax and think you can't control everything around you, that's impossible. Think about how past, you've probably went through something worse and you did fine. Ask for help if needed, and try to talk about your problems.

 

[bachelor56]

I used to deal with work related stress a lot its part of the reason that I ended up becoming anxious and becoming depressed. I just had to start to realize that I can't complete everything in one day. If there are subordinates who work under you I would just delegate some of the overwhelming tasks to them and just focus on the tasks that need your expertise. By doing this I have found that work has become less stressful and I am more calm than I used to be.

 

[justsayyes]

Work can be really stressful but i think it's best for you to take things slow and just pause your work for a second and take deep breaths if you feel so overwhelmed. Since you have responsibilities, you can't simply just drop them and leave the business hanging.

 

[SirJoe]

It's natural that you would experience these feelings. Having your boss leave and taking on his responsibilities and still keep your own is a very stressful experience. The signs that you are going through is anxiety, you are in a situation that you don't want to be in and you want to get out of it, but can't. Hopefully they will find someone to fill his shoes soon or better yet promote you and have someone else take your previous job.

 

[janemariesayed]

Work has been very stressful lately. My boss quit and all the work has shifted to me. I'm feeling very anxious, sick to my stomach almost daily. I get hot and sweaty often too. Do you think this is an anxiety attack? I'm new to this feeling and I hate it.

With the hot and sweaty feeling you are having, and the sick feeling in your stomach really sounds to me like you could be suffering from anxiety. Go and see your doctor and he may be able to give you some meds to calm you down.

The situation may be just temporary and your company may find a new boss soon which will take some of the pressure off of you. Is there anyone at work you can talk to about this?