Anxiety surrounding work

Basically, I've had a job in telesales for around 11 months, and at first, I enjoyed it. But for the past 5 months, I've hated it. And for the past 2 months, I have felt extreme anxiety over going to work. I will lie in bed the night before, dreading work the next morning. I will spend all week worrying about going to work and feeling very anxious and sick to my stomach. On the morning of work, I will get so anxious it nearly blows into a panic attack, and I have been getting quite a lot of suicidal thoughts and feelings just thinking about going into work. Last week, I had a panic attack at work. I do not know how on earth I lasted the 7 hours there, but I made it and immediately started to dread the following Saturday (the only day I work).

Yet again, I am absolutely bricking it with regards to work tomorrow. There is also a work Christmas party that I really really do not want to go to but I have no idea whats happening or if I'll be made to go...

Any opinions or advice would be really useful.

If you've gone from loving the job to hating it it's definitely time to look for other work. As long as you do that while you still have your current job you'll be fine. The thing you have to ask is, is any job worth your mental health and peace of mind?

I get that all the time as well. It usually subsides after 4-5 hours. Maybe 12

The problem is, I really don't want another job at this point. The way my mental health is going, I need to focus on that and college rather than work. I'm not reliant on earning money for financial stability as I still live at home, so that's not at issue.
I have been asked that question by someone else actually - is this job worth my mental health? I certainly don't think this job is worth my mental health, or rather, the decline of it. But there are a lot of pressures from home to stay in this job, especially as my sister has just quit hers. Its a soul-sucking job, and I just have no idea what to do about it.

Hey ahdm,

I understand your situation. In fact, I can even relate to that - I am currently on a sick leave because my job ate my sanity. Last night I was awake at night thinking about the first conversation with my boss after I come back. Which is in a month or more!

What I am trying to say is that if you do want to keep this job that is obviously making you unhappy, you have to learn how to separate yourself from it. A job is a job, nothing less and nothing more. You should not worry too much about it because the worst thing that will happen is that you will lose your job. And since you don't like your job already, it is not that bad. I know it is easier said than done. Also try to identify the main stressor at work. Is it the boss? The people? The working hours? The task that you have to do? What would you change in that job to make it less stressful for yourself?

Another thing you should probably do is start applying for other jobs without quitting your current job. It will be much easier to quit if there is another job waiting for you in the meantime.

I have to agree, you have to just go into work and just do it. Detach yourself from the job just be a robot if you will and do it. If you stop caring about other people and what they think it will take a load off your shoulders. If they let you go, they do. If not they will leave you alone and it wont bother you anymore. That is the attitude you must have, just punch in and punch out the time clock. Just see it as an obligation for a paycheque and nothing more than that. You owe no explanations to anyone at work, for they are acquaintances not friends. And one more thing, very important: When you punch out for the day don't keep bringing your job home in your mind and dwelling on it. Treat yourself to a nice hobby or something special to enjoy when you get home and do it. tc