Anxiety at Work
Ever feel like you have anxiety at work? Does work cause anxiety? Is work increasing anxiety?
None of these are uncommon!
Let’s be real. We spend A LOT of time at work. When I say ‘work’ I mean all kinds of work. Whether that be out of the home, in the home, hybrid of in and out of the home, and stay at home parents. Work is work!
What happens when work and anxiety commingle? Usually not fantastic results.
What happens when you start to question ‘is it me, or the job?’ Doubt is not a fun emotion.
Questioning a career move or change? It’s hard to consider all of the logistics of that.
Did you know therapy can help with these questions and more?! It sure can!
Prior to coming to ERA Wellness, I spent a few years working in the world of employment counseling. Those skills still exist, even if it isn’t my everyday focus anymore. We can call it a sub-specialty.
Some symptoms that may come up when people have anxiety about their work include:
Feelings of dread when waking up, getting ready, driving to work, walking into work, logging on for the day, getting started, any or all and in between
Feelings of panic (heart racing, shortness of breath, dizziness) with anything work-related
Feelings of despair and/or deep sadness
Feelings of not being good enough
Short fuze or temper when doing anything related to work
Not caring about the work being done, or caring less and less as time goes on
Low motivation
So what does counseling look like when we are talking about work?
Step 1: Start to untangle.
To get a baseline of what is going on, we talk about what is going on! We talk about what is going on at work. We talk about what is going on at home. We discuss the good stuff, the not so good stuff, the things that are working, the things that aren’t working, and anything in between. Then, I help you create some distance, untangle, or separate the conflicting concerns.
Step 2: “Zoom Out”
This is a fun process of working together to look at the presenting concerns from a “zoomed out” perspective, or a more global perspective. Oftentimes, when we are in the thick of something, we get really consumed in the details. In regard to doing vocational counseling, sometimes we need to see less details and be more global.
Step 3: Now what?
We have differentiated some things, we have looked at the concerns from multiple perspectives, so now what? That is what I ask YOU! What do we do from here? The decision usually is between ‘do I change me or change the job?’ Sometimes both options are explored. The pros and cons are discussed. The risks and the benefits are weighed. It’s in this step, anxiety therapy truly gets individualized because each person has their own journey, process, and end goal. We move through those processes together, holding space for you in the session within those processes.
Step 4: Make the change
By this point, we’ve done A LOT of talking, thinking, and processing. You’ve decided on the next step from a thinking(cognitive) standpoint. So what’s left? Do it! Make the change. Take the next step. Implement the changes. This is done at your own pace, timeline, and in your control. I stand alongside you offering support in your process.
Step 5: Experience the effort
At this point in therapy, we start to increase the time between sessions so that you can experience the effort you are putting into the work. When we meet, it looks more like reflecting on what is working for you now, what final adjustments can be made, and celebrating the wins. It also looks like taking time to process any bumps that may have come along.
Step 6: Discharge
Believe it or not, a discharge session is SO important. For any therapeutic processes. Work-related included. The discharge session is where we reflect on your journey. We look at and value the work you put into therapy. We talk about how to maintain the gains. We discuss how you may look or feel if a return to therapy or quick check-in may be needed. For most therapists, myself included, the discharge session has its own meaning and beauty in the therapeutic process.
