Do any of you suffer from an anxiety disorder? I feel like it's affecting my job performance.

5 Comments

1. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdMay 15,2025 at 1:11PM UTC

   Hello!

   To begin, I am truly sorry you're facing this. It's challenging for certain.

   I was diagnosed with the trifecta - Depression/Panic/Generalized Anxiety Disorder - in 1997. Of these 3, suffering with a Panic attack at work is the hardest. But I make use of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, breathing exercises, and pacing if need be. In fact, I often do these when I start feeling overly anxious.

   You are under no obligation to tell anyone at your work about your condition. I chose to do so, because when I have full-blown panic attacks (thank you God... I've only had 3 the 22 years I've been here!), I can't hide them from others. That's how much having one can impact my work.

   As you've noted you feel it's affecting your work, if you can talk with someone, I do encourage you to do so. At the very least, if you have a diagnosis from a medical professional, perhaps you can share it with HR (to be kept in confidence) for the times when it may seem overwhelming.

   In 2018 I had to pick a new professional to manage my D/A/GAD and came across an amazing nurse practitioner. Together we decided to have me try a different antidepressant from what I'd been taking. For me, this has made all the difference in the world.

2. AnonymousMay 15,2025 at 6:25PM UTC

   Hi! I'm a professional coach who is working on my 3 Principles certification. Here's what I have learned about anxiety that has been life-changing for me!

   I'm going to offer a different perspective on anxiety - and that is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with people who feel anxiety. This physical response is the human body's very natural warning system.

   Go with me on this. You just got on the highway in your brand new car for the first time, and you are driving down the road. You veer out of your lane a little, and the whole car starts vibrating and making a terribly loud noise! It is very concerning. That never happened before.

   You take your lovely new car to a mechanic and tell them, Hey, as I was going down the road, the whole thing started shaking and felt like it was going to fall apart! The mechanic is visibly concerned and looks over every part, takes things apart, and lets you know it is 100% good - you should not have any other issues. Everything is perfectly in order.

   But then, you jump back on the highway. It's all good at first, but when you speed up and start to veer out of the lane a little, the vibrations and terrible noise comes back! It's awful! And you are super annoyed with your new car at this point.

   Here's the thing - those rumble strips on the highway exist to alert drivers that they are getting out of their lane. They indicate that people need to pay attention and get themselves back on track. They are supposed to work that way. There is nothing wrong with your car when it starts shaking like that. Diagnosing the car is ignoring the real cause altogether.

   So, if we know the physical response we experience when anxiety is high is a very human rumble-strip response to our thinking. What is to be done?

   Well, we have to look at the root cause. And that cause is generally our thoughts about the past and the daymares we have about what the future may hold, taking us out of the present moment. And it is the worst when the speed at which our brains give us these thoughts spirals out of control.

   Another metaphor - let's jump back in your new car and drive along at 35 mph. At this speed, you can easily look around as you are driving. It's a comfortable speed to appreciate the names of the stores you are passing, the decor in your neighbor's yard, and wave at your friend going the opposite direction.

   Now, we speed up to 70 mph, and we have to focus on the road more. We don't notice the little things - we have to make sure to watch for other cars and what is going on in front of us. We aren't uncomfortable, but we aren't enjoying the scenery as much.

   Now, we speed up again to 200 mph. We can only focus on the road right in front of us. The warning lights on the dashboard are coming on. We can't exist here much longer - this car isn't made to go this fast for this long. Those blinking dash lights are our cue to do whatever we need to do to let up on the accelerator.

   So, yes, if you walk into work and your thoughts are going 200 mph every day, this will absolutely affect your job performance. How could it not? You can't get nuanced work when your thoughts are speeding by. You don't get great decisions when you feel like you are in fight or flight mode. And that's OK - it's so good that you realize this connection now! Most people never make this connection!

   So, now, if you are still with me after my short novel of a post, what will it take to slow down your thinking so you are able to do your job? Is it that you are in a job situation that isn't right for you, and that is causing thoughts that make certain feelings come up? Or maybe you can focus on ways to purposefully slow down your thinking in a way that works for you and your brain? Some people meditate, or work out, or sleep more, or watch funny shows, or write, or do whatever makes their brain slow down. To improve your job performance, you must care for your brain more.

   To start, examine what you are thinking about at work when you start feeling that old friend anxiety well up. And, what can you do - even at work - to intervene when your mind speeds up and your body is telling you to slow down?

3. AnonymousMay 18,2025 at 4:39PM UTC

   Anxiety is very normal, if it is getting to a point where it is interfering with your work you should look into taking a medical leave. With a therapist/primary care doctor you could potentially qualify for FMLA which would give you time to focus on managing your anxiety. I was able to take 5 weeks for my anxiety disorder, best thing I ever did.

4. AnonymousMay 19,2025 at 3:33PM UTC

   I've had anxiety since I was a child and it got so bad about 15-20 years ago that it was affecting my quality of life. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and started on paroxetine which was the best decision I ever made. I think it's even helped with menopause now as I haven't gotten the irritability and mood swings that are common.

5. AnonymousMay 23,2025 at 12:59PM UTC

   Anxiety can be managed well with therapy, coaching, and sometimes requires medication. Start with your company's EAP and then check your insurance provider's directory for a good psychiatrist and therapist if the EAP can't provide one.