[jrsone]

I have been spending a great deal of time being sick from anxiety about going to work, usually in the morning when the alarm goes off. If I wake up before the alarm goes off , I can't get back to sleep because I just lie there and worry. Most days at work I just sit there teary eyed and panicky. The evenings are just dread of the next day.

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[vans1974]

So sorry to hear...what exactly is it about your job that you don't like?

[jrsone]

It's a call center, I've been going through an especially tough time both with anxiety and depression and it stresses me out. But it pays good, I have benefits, etc. On paper, I can't leave...if that makes sense....

But I feel like I'm falling apart. I make myself so anxious by lunch that I physically hurt. I was telling my wife last night that I feel like I have lost pieces of myself, like I'm outside looking in and I don't know what to do. I'm on 3 different medications but I don't feel like it is working. I don't expect to just be happy you know? I just want a glimmer of hope, I just want to look forward to something. I want to laugh again. I have seen therapist and not one of them has helped. The last one I was referred to made me feel worse and after seeing him 3 times, I found out he wasn't covered by my insurance, so now I feel even worse about that...

[StrongerMan]

I tried call center work once and couldn't hack it. It was brutal for me as an introvert. I think I lasted all of 2 weeks after the training.

[tigerlily84]

Hi. You are definitely not alone. I also work in a call center and an introvert to boot and it is absolutely brutal. My ex therapist suggested that I change departments, which I did. Took a lot of courage and made me extremely anxious, but I don't regret it. It was better for a time. I would say try to see if you can change departments (if at all possible). In the meantime, it might be time for a new job, or to go take some online courses/go back to school. Good luck to you.

[doyoutrustme]

Originally Posted by jrsone

I have seen therapist and not one of them has helped. The last one I was referred to made me feel worse and after seeing him 3 times, I found out he wasn't covered by my insurance, so now I feel even worse about that...

Therapy takes a long time to "work" and that is only once you find the right person. Considering the amount of pain you're in, it sounds like you should probably see a good psychiatrist and take something for the anxiety. It would make it more manageable to work on yourself in T.

[Citrine]

I also work in a call centre. I didnt know that it was a negative enviroment. I thought I was being too sensitive. Its very hard work. Ive got particular problems there (Ive posted just) so I understand and I hope you find something soon.

[Bast]

I too work in a call center, and I believe it has got to be the sickest form of work environment there is~! Dealing with the calls, day in and day out is bad enough..... but when you've got coworkers that behave in such a hateful manner....it totally makes everything 100 times worse.
I feel for you, and am happy to see you posted about this. I'd love to compare notes and offer/get advice on what has or hasn't worked for you

Let's share some stories

In my office, they play this stupid game where they mimick certain persons and specific times of the day. I was the lucky person today. They walk by at 10, 12, 2 and 3:30-- and do a walkby mimick (I work in walled cubicles). They mimick a persons voice/mannerisms. It's totally juvenile, and everytime they do it I feel like I'm 5 years old again and start feeling all insecure like a child feels when they're made fun of how they talk or something, etc.....
Logically I know it's childish, pointless, lame, and that they are just trying to get on my nerves....so why I get emotionally upset every time they do it,.... I dont know.

Any coping advice?

[KC Steely]

Originally Posted by Bast

I too work in a call center, and I believe it has got to be the sickest form of work environment there is~! Dealing with the calls, day in and day out is bad enough..... but when you've got coworkers that behave in such a hateful manner....it totally makes everything 100 times worse.
I feel for you, and am happy to see you posted about this. I'd love to compare notes and offer/get advice on what has or hasn't worked for you

Let's share some stories

In my office, they play this stupid game where they mimick certain persons and specific times of the day. I was the lucky person today. They walk by at 10, 12, 2 and 3:30-- and do a walkby mimick (I work in walled cubicles). They mimick a persons voice/mannerisms. It's totally juvenile, and everytime they do it I feel like I'm 5 years old again and start feeling all insecure like a child feels when they're made fun of how they talk or something, etc.....
Logically I know it's childish, pointless, lame, and that they are just trying to get on my nerves....so why I get emotionally upset every time they do it,.... I dont know.

Any coping advice?

I know it may be easier said than done, but you can't give the idiots who do these insensitive acts the satisfaction that you're hurt by it. They may have picked on you today, but if they know they've gotten to you, you'll be on their radar to do it again and again, unless a supervisor sees what's going on and puts the clamp down on these morons. Now, another strategy you could employ would be to LAUGH with them. Try this: the next time one or more of these persons make fun of you, say something like, "Yeah, I do sound like that.... hilarious! I'm flattered by your funny impersonation." or "Yes, I do act that way, I fell out of the old tree house when I was a kid and have been wacky since....lol!" You get the idea. When you show you don't take yourself too seriously and thus, laugh with these goons, they don't get any fuel from you to add to the fire. Anyway, good luck. I'm sure you'll make good friends here who will give you the care and respect you're looking for.

[KC Steely]

Originally Posted by jrsone

I have been spending a great deal of time being sick from anxiety about going to work, usually in the morning when the alarm goes off. If I wake up before the alarm goes off , I can't get back to sleep because I just lie there and worry. Most days at work I just sit there teary eyed and panicky. The evenings are just dread of the next day.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, call center work can be rough. I've done that before and it's not easy or necessarily all that fun. Now, something that I've done at jobs I don't particularly like is to make a game of it. For instance, I've had a boring job where I've performed the same task over and over for the whole day. In my head, where nobody is allowed but me, I've pretended that each task is a zombie, alien, monster or whatever, and with each task completed, I've killed another evil, ugly beast! Make up a super-hero persona in your head. If you're not into super-heroes, pretend you're a fighter pilot and you've shot down an enemy plane with each task completed or phone call answered. May sound silly, but it works. Give it a go for a day and see what happens. Let me know, friend.

[Harmacy]

I've worked call centres before and they sure are nasty environments for an introvert. I was usually glad of taking a call as it provided a distraction from the office. I used to feel more anxious between calls than during them (and I'm someone who finds using the phone anxiety inducing so that shows how awful it was).

Do you work for a big company? If so could they shift you into another job role, perhaps more admin based / in a quieter office?. You may be surprised how much they value your work if you talked it over with them and they may want to keep you in another role rather than see you leave due to stress.

[Marshellette]

You could ask them if they have a work from home option, take a few sick days and think about if the job is really worth it or if you'd rather do something else.