Tension and anxiety / depression?

Mental health
1

Hello,

​So my job has been dreadful again lately and so has my anxiety skyrocketed. It's an office job, so long hours in front of a PC and the boredom is driving me insane. There is literally nothing to do but sit in silence and casually refresh emails, in an environment so stale and negative it’s untrue. My day is basically spent listening to everyone’s moans about how “rubbish” the place has become and when we are getting laid off etc. It’s like I feed of this negativity lately with this toxicity of my colleagues jabbing each other for entertainment.

​Some would say going to work to do nothing is brilliant, but it's a special kind of torture, trust me, especially with high anxiety and a need to be kept busy.

​The problem is now, throughout the day I hold myself so rigid that I have developed a lot of chest, neck and jaw pain. It's frightening and as horrible as it feels, it's definitely muscular which I keep telling myself and have some crazy tension headaches as a result.

I come home every night and breakdown on my partner, sometimes in the car on the way home and hold back tears most of the day. This can’t go on. I wouldn’t say I am depressed (well down lately) more frustrated at my circumstance and constant pain from the tension, it gets to much. It’s been that bad, I have bouts of breathlessness and shakes / dizziness. It’s definitely anxiety and propranolol no longer works at all.

Has anyone got any advice of what I can do?

Leave isn’t an option until I have another job (which I am applying for) as I have a mortgage and bills to pay and same with sick as I won't get pay. It's like I am literally trapped.

The doctors have prescribed Sertraline as I said, I cannot get the thoughts of going back to work out of my mind and constantly getting upset and panic attacks over it. Will this relieve some tension and help me just relax a bit in order to focus on moving forward? Really scared of trying this

​Some would say going to work to do nothing is brilliant, but it's a special kind of torture.

​The problem is now, throughout the day I hold myself so rigid that I have developed a lot of chest, neck and jaw pain. It's frightening and as horrible as it feels, it's definitely musuclur which I keep telling myself.

 

2

Hi Thomas,poor you.OK I am a sufferer of Anxiety & tension.My advise to you is to take yourself into your health food shop. Tell them that your suffering big time.Rescue remedy is wonderful,also kalms,and Bach flower remedies.you. can also buy a herbal tea but don't have milk with it.Chamomile &honey.You need a break from your job.Please try & rest when you can.I have had Anxiety since childhood.I have regular Reflexology. Hope this helps.regards Amanda h

3

Thomas

You can get books etc explaining posture that can help reduce the tiredness of the joints in  your neck and spine, many people are not sitting well and need to change their work place to make life easier.

The main thing people may suggest is look for a new job and gain work experience doing different things, especially if the work is getting you down with all the negative feeling that surround you.

Remember the grass is not normally greener on the other side of the river, keep your existing post untill you get somewhere else to go. It is always easier to find a new job if you are in work somewhere else even when what you are doing really sucks

BOB

4

Hi Thomas

I do feel for you, I'm in a similar situation with a rubbish job except I'm constantly busy and stressed which has caused tension and migraines which I never used to suffer with. I have started paying attention to my body and noticing if I'm walking around with shoulders a bit hunched etc and then just spending a few minutes deep breathing and stretching my neck to loosen up, relaxing my shoulders and just trying to relax myself. It hasn't completely stopped the headaches but I have found I do feel much better for paying attention to myself. The job isn't worth stressing about and stress only increases anxiety so try practicing ways to relax and hopefully that will help a little with work.

I've also started to sneak in some drawing /doodling at work when I'm on the phone or find myself with a few moments to spare, just takes my mind to a better place for a few seconds or minutes...... I'm rubbish at drawing but I find it relaxing :-).

I hope things improve for you soon.

Lucy

5

Hi,

I've been on sertraline for three weeks. 2 weeks at 50mg. One at 100mg. I have GAD. Sertraline has really helped me, but there are a few side effects. I just had to ride it out as I'm in a new job and can't afford time off. I felt spaced out and dizzy. Lost my appetite, increase sweating, glassy eyes, insomnia. most of theses side effects have now faded. I found it best to take the tablet in the evening so you can sleep off the spaced out, dizzyness.