Hi,

I'm new here and wondering if anyone has any advice on work and anxiety. I've been battling anxiety for 1.5 years and depression on and off for 5. Work is a big trigger for both. I have trouble concentrating which just makes me more anxious and prone to mistakes. I have a big deadline for a client coming up with things not working quite right (and mistakes cropping up) and I've only managed to sleep 4 hours or so each night.

I've been seeing a therapist to try and help for 1.5 years, but still feel like I'm never going to be able to do this job without having a problem. I've been here 4 years and the responsibility just keeps increasing, even though I've tried to make them aware that I'm not comfortable with things. It's a professional consulting job (ie think lawyer like) so there are not set positions and job responsibilities to deal with, but ever changing and increasing pressure and responsibility.

Last summer I talked to my boss (now gone) about this problem, but it was related to one specific project and now seems to be associated with most work.

I did manage to talk my company into 6-8 weeks off this summer (banked time and holidays) due to burn out but am pretty concerned that I will feel the same within 2 weeks of being back at work. I am also now getting anxious about the time off (lovely little paradox, that).

I know no one will have an answer for me, but I wondered if anyone has dealt with this issue. I feel torn between feeling like I'm giving up a good career with a good company (and the two university degrees in this field) and mental health/physical health and what else I could possibly do that would be less anxiety forming.

Thanks for your time,
T