[kultking]

Hello everyone! I was wondering what you all do to handle anxiety at work. Thankfully I do not have a customer service related job but I still have high anxiety levels at work and anxiety attacks even though I've been working with the same people for 9 years already (& I work at a company with less than 15 people). The few techniques I know only help a little bit so I was curious as to how everyone else here deals with anxiety in the work place. Thank you - Jasmin

[Little Lulu]

My anxiety is not as bad as it was a long time ago but when it was bad, it was worse in the morning. I always looked at the clock and told myself that by 10AM I would be feeling better and it was true, I always was.

Now when I have a episode I use a mantra like "this, too, shall pass". If things are really bad I have a good friend I can call who has some of the same issues and understands. Just knowing I am not alone is so helpful.

Drinking a glass of really cold water or walking up and down in the stairwell a few times also helps - burns off some of the adrenaline.

[kultking]

Originally Posted by Little Lulu

I always looked at the clock and told myself that by 10AM I would be feeling better and it was true, I always was.

I will try this tomorrow morning before heading to work! Thank you for your suggestions.

I sit at my computer for most of the work day so every time I need to get up I will stretch and that relaxes me a bit. I do a lot of deep breathing which helps but only for a little while before my anxiety rises again. I also have a "worry stone" that I play with & two tiny stuffed animals that I touch because they are super soft.

[music junkie]

Originally Posted by kultking

I sit at my computer for most of the work day so every time I need to get up I will stretch and that relaxes me a bit. I do a lot of deep breathing which helps but only for a little while before my anxiety rises again. I also have a "worry stone" that I play with & two tiny stuffed animals that I touch because they are super soft.

I'm a receptionist, so I'm also sitting at a computer most of the day. I don't have a set way of dealing with my anxiety at work, though. I really need one. Most of the time I just try to push myself through it. I work with my gf & her family so it makes it a little easier, but some days are still hard. Sometimes I get up & go to the file room & just shake my body out, trying to release some of the tension that has built up on me. That seems to help. I watch the clock too much & I think that makes my anxiety worse.

[gayleggg]

I wound up taking Klonopin because I couldn't figure out how to handle workplace stress. I did work on breathing and try to listen to calming music. I also doodled when I was on the phone. I was a receptionist. I spent a lot of time on PC, too, because it was sometimes so boring.

[waterknob1234]

Unfortunately, I too have workplace anxiety. My anxiety is worse early in the morning. I think I need to learn to ignore other people's negative attitudes and remarks at work.

[MortalBeing7771]

I don't currently have a job, but I use to have bad anxiety when I attended high school. My ways of dealing with anxiety are terrible and even somewhat illegal. Most of the time I just try to deny how I feel because that's all I can do. Sucks

[CosmicRose]

Just wanted to say Kudos to you for handling a job for 9 years with anxiety. I also struggle with workplace anxiety. The longer you stay at a job, hopefully gradually the anxiety will lessen. Sometimes working with the same people everyday is more anxiety-producing, because there are coworker relationships and the pressure of that can be more than just having new people all the time like a customer service job or something.

[kultking]

It's kinda hard to deal with it at work, not just the whole experiencing anxiety aspect of it but also trying to "calm" yourself down because you have to do your job at the same time. I really hope we can all figure out a way to reduce our anxiety at work.

[doyoutrustme]

I listen to music on heapdhones while i work. Sometimes I'll run a relaxation/meditation/hypnosis track. and if its really bad, I pop an atarax.

[K2TOG]

Last winter I got full blown anxiety for the first time in my life and it is a frightening experience. I absolutely HATE anxiety and I would much rather deal with depression. There is so much fear for me with anxiety.

With the help of my counselor I have learned many ways to cope with anxiety. It's been very manageable until winter came again and it's been a bit worse. I also struggle with SAD.

I started a part time job and that has been VERY STRESSFUL. I am putting pressure on myself not to mess up. There are meetings where I have to present a report and that is freaking me out big time! If I personally knew more of the people I would feel better and I'm afraid of being put on the spot. Anxiety has me thinking I should quit this job. Then anxiety has me thinking I cannot handle my full time job. Ugh.

How I manage anxiety...

1. Deep Breathing
2. Breath Prayer
3. CBT
4. Aromatherapy
5. Epsom or Sea Salt baths
6. Positive self talk
7. EXERCISE!!!! I walk three to five times a week. With out exercise I would need medication.
8. Happy light or light therapy. I got mine from Verilux.

[kultking]

Originally Posted by K2TOG

I started a part time job and that has been VERY STRESSFUL. I am putting pressure on myself not to mess up. There are meetings where I have to present a report and that is freaking me out big time! If I personally knew more of the people I would feel better and I'm afraid of being put on the spot. Anxiety has me thinking I should quit this job. Then anxiety has me thinking I cannot handle my full time job. Ugh.

How I manage anxiety...

1. Deep Breathing
2. Breath Prayer
3. CBT
4. Aromatherapy
5. Epsom or Sea Salt baths
6. Positive self talk
7. EXERCISE!!!! I walk three to five times a week. With out exercise I would need medication.
8. Happy light or light therapy. I got mine from Verilux.

Don't doubt yourself K2TOG, the first months at a new job are always very difficult. I remember crying ever day before & after work when I first started working here because I thought I wasn't meant for this job. It gets better & you'll start to feel more comfortable there, plus I think your presentations are good practice even though it may be very stressful at the moment (because you just started working there). Anyways, these are all great techniques & I'm ready to try them!
P.S. I apologize if none of my posts/responses make any sense. I've been getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night and the anxiety/depression are making it hard for me to focus on anything.

[Weownthesky]

At work? I go back and take a sip of my coffee whenever I feel overwhelmed or I stand and try to take deep breaths, or I do a simple but repetitive task like organizing or putting merchandise away.