I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it's making it difficult to work as my focus is constantly on me, how I'm feeling and anxiety. Does anybody successfully hold down a job whilst dealing with GAD?
I am feeling exactly the same , I work full time and the last couple of weeks have been a real battle to make it through the day as I constantly worrying about my health and just can't concentrate. I have spoken to my line manager so she's fully aware of what's going on but I'm sure she thinks I'm mad. It's very difficult.
It's awful isn't it. Constantly thinking about how your head feels or if the medication will work or how weird you feel when all you want to do is relax and concentrate at work.
I'm the same its bad. I wish I could be normal. I worry about myself and members of my family.
My focus is centred on me and every single little niggle ache sensation feeling I sit bolt upright and start to feel panicky !! I can't get my thoughts of myself I wish I could it's horrendous !! this all started as I got diagnose with an ovarian cysts and since then my health anxiety has shot through the roof !!!! you're not alone xxx
I've been wanting to work for a couple of years but anxiety stops me, I had a medical for my anxiety a couple of month ago and they said it doesn't stop me from working idk how they could know that, if they felt like this everyday I'm sure they would have trouble working,if I get signed off it looks like I will have to try my hardest to get a job
I work and go to school and both of these things are extremely challenging. I have both GAD and depression and getting myself out of bed in the morning is very difficult. I call in sick quite a bit, I miss a lot of classes, and I consistently feel guilty because I feel like I'm lazy. These days, my GAD is very bad (and so is the depression), so I'm having a really hard time focusing and concentrating. Thankfully, I work for the family business, and my mother knows about my mental health, so I have more leeway. Over the years, when I worked for other companies, I did have trouble holding on to jobs. I was very quick to quit and move on to something new. School also takes me longer to finish than most people. By the time the spring semester comes, I'm so exhausted from the first semester, that I end up dropping a lot of classes.
I think part of living with GAD (or any other anxiety disorder) and depression, is having to learn that your limits cannot be the same as other people. You have to learn to accept those limits for what they are, and love yourself regardless. A seemingly easy task, but much harder to do in actuality.
From reading and studying anxiety, this is normal with anxiety. Especially those that suffer from health anxiety. It is a survival mechanism, fight or flight. We have a broken record going on in our heads, is it this or that? What if.....? going around and around. Look up mindfulness, which teaches us to ground ourselves by being observant of what is around us to refocus on the present moment. Research it, it may be helpful.
it's hard for sure.
what line of work are you in?
I'm in accountancy so need to review information and analyse things. Very difficult with the head pressure and vision focusing issues.
Gad yes, panic disorders its extremly difficult,
have you thought about taking some time off?
i can relate to this I work in retail as a deputy manager am always forgetting stuff and feel am letting my team down. The next couple of weeks is gonna be hard for me as am running my team and store as an acting manager with targets to meet.... Voicemails... Emails it's never ending so it will be a big test for me I just hope I can achieve it all. I find when am at work merchising the store makes me forget about everything I can't explaining it weird hey!!! I think it can be done just at time it can be hard. Hope your ok
We have the same feelings. I am 60 years old already and now i can't really control it. It seems like many unusual things are triggering my brain. I can't work now. Mostly im home lying in bed. Im afraid to seek medical care. I don't know why. My cousin who is a head nurse in Michigan Hospital advise me not to take valium or else it getting worse. And it's really true. But sometimes i can't control my panic attack so i have to take that medicine to calm me down. Your not alone in this world. Be brave we hope we can find some alternative medicine for this GAD!
I used to really really stuggle with GAD and work. Now after a lot of time and effort it doesn't effect me quite as much when work is invloved and I enjoy work pretty much every day. I try to focus on little tasks and not think to much about what I've got to do next at work (I'm a teaching assistant at a competivie private school).
Yes it has affected my job. I have a history of anxiety and it went away but crept back into my life a few months back. The worst is over now as I am on meds and going to counseling. But I've been on a medical leave of absence since Dec 28th and due to go back next Friday. I believe all the forms of treatment and therapy I've been doing is helping as I am ready to go back now even though I've been officially diagnosed with GAD and Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression.
What are you doing to help your anxiety?
I know how you feel been suffering from anxiety for years I do long hours as a support worker sometimes I get very little sleep sometimes but still manage to function,the thought of work always fills me with dread,but I'm fine when I'm looking after people but feel very self conscious around my work mate's as my thoughts keep going back to myself and my symptoms so I know how you feel I find this the hardest to deal with,it brings me some comfort to read other people's posts going through the same thing xxx
Hi yes I have. My company are amazing and they have no problem with me going off sick but through past experience, I feel it can be dtrimental as all I do then is sit at home and think about how I need to be back in work and constantly 'checking in' to see how I feel on that day.
for sure, i totally get it.
what makes you feel calm?
what makes you feel less anxious?
Hi i'm trevor and 22 years old and i just started working again and i totally feel the same way and man it is difficult to concentrate and also having workmates who talks too much makes it even more worse. well the only thing that helps me is music it keeps thinking of other things rather then myself ,hope that might help