[CosmicRose]

I'm about to go apply for some jobs around town. I have an anxiety disorder and no I am not planning on telling this to any employers because I feel it will be a detriment to my hiring process. I am not on medication and I really don't want to go on medication because all the other times I've been on it, it hasn't helped or has made me sleep 14+ hours a day. I cannot afford therapy right now and my medical insurance doesn't cover therapy expenses. My question is, how can I hide anxiety while working? I'm going to try to apply for jobs that aren't customer service related because that's a big trigger for me. Are there any other people out there who have anxiety and go to work? How do you manage to keep it together during that time? Any tips?

[kaliope]

im fortunate in that I can dissociate easily, so I just box up the anxiety or rise above it or something and keep on working for the most part. it is there, driving me up the wall, but I keep telling myself that I cant fall apart just now, I have to finish what I am doing, I have to keep it together and be professional. I was with my boss picking up a van and all these people, three actually but it seemed like a lot, joined in and were introducing and chatting and I thought I was going to go out of my mind and I just needed out of there. but I just stood there and smiled and did the appropriate things as my mind went crazy. so when I got out and alone I took the time to breathe and let all that pent up energy out. so basically, I hold it all in and do what is expected and then fall apart when I am alone.

[radioactive1]

I just focus on my day to day tasks on the job. I've found I get comfort and feel safe in the rhythms of my workplace because they take my mind off the anxiety.

[lostfeeling25]

I recently started a new job and am really struggling with my anxiety there. I hate being new and not knowing what I'm doing. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I left a previous job I had for 6 years because this one offered better money and more opportunity, but now I'm really missing the comfort of that job and my old co-workers. This new job makes me almost have panic attacks daily. So I guess I have the same question as the original poster. How do you get through the day at work with anxiety??

Planning, well-timed breaks, lists, working ahead and music while at work seem to help me a ton.

[Little Lulu]

Lots of great ideas here. Focusing on the work as hand helps me also. After all, that is why I am there and why they pay me.

[brainhi]

Not sure "what your anxiety looks like"...but I have had anxiety issues most of my life. With time, the right medication and learning better ways to "think and cope" have helped me so much. Breath breath breath - for some, learning meditation techniques can be helpful - but it still will take time. It took a long time for your brain to learn to function the way it is now (also possibly some genetic stuff thrown in)...it will take a while to learn a different way. I am able to afford my mental health care at a clinic that has a sliding scale regarding income. There are many free support groups that can help as well.

[wotchermuggle]

One piece of advice a friend gave me was "fake it until you get it" in reference to being confident in your work.

I have a lot of pre-work anxiety, but once I'm there, I switch gears into that "fake it until to you get it" confident person.

[CosmicRose]

I've often heard about people who have anxiety about work beforehand, but once they get there their anxiety eases or goes away. I wish I was like that, I think I end up feeling on edge the entire time I'm there. But maybe it's as simple as finding the right environment to work in and feel comfortable in. Maybe the other places I've worked just didn't feel right to me.
This one guy even said after 32 years of being some big shot manager, he retired, but said every morning before work he felt terrified. I think this problem is more common than most people realize.

[cremedelacreme]

Originally Posted by lostfeeling25

I recently started a new job and am really struggling with my anxiety there. I hate being new and not knowing what I'm doing. I feel like I'm losing my mind. I left a previous job I had for 6 years because this one offered better money and more opportunity, but now I'm really missing the comfort of that job and my old co-workers. This new job makes me almost have panic attacks daily. So I guess I have the same question as the original poster. How do you get through the day at work with anxiety??

I actually got some great advice/reminder from my boss on this. When I first started I had a very rocky couple of weeks due to some things beyond my control. I ended up crying in the bathroom... A lot. My boss said "when you get a new job it may take you a good six months to really settle in. At first you think what the hell did I get myself into but give it a good six months to get settled." It will be as comfortable as your old job in no time. I've now been in the position for a little over a year and it feels like second nature. Good luck!

[radioactive1]

Originally Posted by rouge198

Planning, well-timed breaks, lists, working ahead and music while at work seem to help me a ton.

Both listening to music at work and playing music in some bands on my off duty time help to distract me from my anxiety. I've found I have to keep my mind busy so I don't start worrying.

[radioactive1]

Originally Posted by CosmicRose

I've often heard about people who have anxiety about work beforehand, but once they get there their anxiety eases or goes away. I wish I was like that, I think I end up feeling on edge the entire time I'm there. But maybe it's as simple as finding the right environment to work in and feel comfortable in. Maybe the other places I've worked just didn't feel right to me.
This one guy even said after 32 years of being some big shot manager, he retired, but said every morning before work he felt terrified. I think this problem is more common than most people realize.

I'm that way. Sometimes I worry about what might happen. However, when it does I find myself relaxing.

[unjollyrodger]

I work in maintenance at a plant and have anxiety at work daily. It usually starts when i get my first trouble call. Ill start thinking about things like ... what if i cant fix this ... or what if i fall off the ladder or drop a heavy part on myself and end up dead. I only have two ways to get through it. First i just tell myself to do my damn job, get it over with and then i can go freak out because every couple of minutes the equipment is down cost about half a million dollars. Then when i do get it fixed i go tell someone in the shop to cover me for 10 or 15 mins so i can go outside and wig out.
Everyone there knows i have panic attacks which also makes me a little anxious when i worry about what they think about me. But i have found that if i just let go and completely flip out for a few minutes it all goes away much quicker. I used to worry about passing out but then i read that with your heart racing your brain is getting so much blood that its almost impossible to actually pass out.
So basiclly im just saying force yourself to fight through it. I have read many times that if you just accept the panic attack and let go that they will end up disappearing forever. But mine have yet to do that and i have learned to just completely let go during them.

[gloamingone]

At first, I picked up smoking so I'd have an excuse to go outside for a few minutes every couple hours. When that stopped working, I just started crying at my desk.

I wish I knew how to hide the anxiety!

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One thing that will really help is making sure that when your job searching that you don't settle for just any job. Making sure that you feel comfortable with the boss that you work with makes all the difference, and that you don't hate doing the work that you do.

If you go to work and love your job, and are able to rely on your boss when things get hard, then work isn't so bad.

I agree, listening to music on my lunch and playing tetris, and other games helps me unwind on lunch and return to work happier.

[CosmicRose]

I didnt even know people were allowed to listen to music at work

[HolisticGal]

I wasn't allowed to listen to music at work as I was in a corporate setting. But what works for me is:

a) fake it until you make it (try to pretend you are an actress and you're playing the role of calmness)
b) self induce hypomania to do better at my tasks and rid the anxiety (that's if you are bipolar)
c) At lunch get OUT. Don't sit in the office kitchen. Even if you bring your own lunch, find a place you can eat it elsewhere.
d) WALK or do the STAIRS for 15 minutes at lunch or on breaks because it helps to channel all that energy out so when you return to work you are more calm
e) FORGET completely about work when you get home
f) enjoy a nice movie or do one thing that you know settles your nerves each night after work

(e) and (f) were the hardest for me to figure out but once I was able to do that, I was able to maintain a steady job for 3+ years. But whatever you do, do NOT reveal you have a disorder to anyone at work. Just joke it off if they ever catch you wigging out. And oh yes, cry in the restroom as needed.

[vorticial]

I listen to music at work but usually I have to sneak one earbud into my ear and hide it with my hair so nobody can see it. It isn't ideal but it helps. I also try to get away into the back room if I'm having a particularly bad anxiety/panic attack. There's nothing worse than trying to help a patron when I can barely breathe and I'm sweating all over the place

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

I find helping people works for me - I am am able to plan my own work to a large extent and there are always customers problems to resolve and my work involves helping colleagues elsewhere in the firm. Getting thanks is a little tweak to my confidence. Actually customers being what they are can be quite snippy, but at least they know we have tried our best.

[HolisticGal]

ConstantSorrow - I've noticed this too about myself. When people depend upon me I feel better and motivated which helps to overcome my anxiety. But I think I figured that out though from going to Al-Anon, not through therapy. But my co-dependency nature is a positive for work so yay!!

[fishrobber]

On my worst days, it's about acting and fakery. I am usually able to dissociate and put on a calm exterior when someone is watching, but under my desk my feet are twitching uncontrollably and I am picking madly at my fingers. When no one is watching, I can usually take deep breaths to let the built-up anxiety go a little, but I am still constantly twitching and fidgeting. When I absolutely cannot concentrate, I can fool around on google maps, or “search for records” in the basement for a while until I can work again.

The OP asked if there were any tips for hiding anxiety … It sounds trivial, but setting up a good workspace helps me. I have a closed-front desk and my own cubicle, which helps me have a “defensive space” where I can retreat and try to let off a little pressure. It is even better when people cannot sneak up behind you, but I don't have that luxury.

[brainhi]

Originally Posted by gloamingone

At first, I picked up smoking so I'd have an excuse to go outside for a few minutes every couple hours. When that stopped working, I just started crying at my desk.

I wish I knew how to hide the anxiety!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know that this was not meant to be a funny post - and I am not laughing at you - I totally understand - and if I do not laugh somtimes about what we have to go through to survive - I will cry and I do not know if I can stop crying sometimes.

[gloamingone]

Originally Posted by brainhi

I know that this was not meant to be a funny post - and I am not laughing at you - I totally understand - and if I do not laugh somtimes about what we have to go through to surive - I will cry and I do not know if I can stop crying sometimes.

That's totally fine! After I read it again, it did sound funny. Lol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[brainhi]

Anxiety is an issue for me. I have really progressed in the past years - but when it gets the best of me I can be in trouble at the work place. I happen to be very passionate as well...so when anxiety sets in - and I am reacting passionately I'm sure it makes others uneasy.

I received feedback from a family that I have been working with. And it hurt my feelings bigtime. We have a program to help individuals that struggle with learning. This family was told by a doctor some negative things about our program.. I saw
red - I have seen our program work over and over again and we have scientific validation studies and an abundance of testimonials - I have personally seen lives change for the better. This career has been the most important thing I have ever done in my life. I felt attacked unjustly... (but I realize they were not attacking me - I was protecting what I love).. anyway they are going to do the program. I do not repond this way in most cases - but we are all under financial pressure. The father - who has been in sales at one point in my life - told me that it was not good that I was aggressively passionate in overcoming this Drs. insults to our program.

Based on my anxiety about a lot of different things at the time - I know why my brain did that...but I can not expect that person to understand.

So feeling pretty beat up today - not just about this person's comments but it came at a terrible time for me.