HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ANXIETY HAS BECOME A PROBLEM AT WORK?

We all experience those uneasy feelings of anxiety every now and then. High stress situations like job interviews, presentations and facing financial challenges are frequently followed by worry, shakiness, tense muscles or even a pounding heartbeat. But what if you have found yourself experiencing those symptoms more often than those moments of high stress? What if those feelings have been seeping into your daily routine at your job?

How do you know if your anxiety has become a real problem at work?

Anxiety is not a simple condition, so it's not always clear when symptoms have crossed from normal anxiety over to a diagnosable disorder. So let’s start simple by becoming familiar with some of the most common anxiety symptoms. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Constant jitteriness or jumpiness

• Insomnia or sleep trouble

• Self-consciousness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Negative thinking

Any of these sound familiar? Not only does anxiety present itself in a wide range of symptoms but anxiety disorders also manifest in many different ways -- social anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks -- just to name a few.  Each of these issues have their own list of specific symptoms. So here’s a little breakdown, without all the fancy psychologist talk:

Individuals with generalized anxiety experience excessive and persistent worry, sometimes even over routine things with no apparent reason. This intrusive worry usually occurs almost daily and is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue, nausea or trouble falling asleep. Those with generalized anxiety usually find it difficult to function in their work environments, struggling to carry out even simple daily job responsibilities due to overwhelming anxious thoughts.  

Social anxiety, often mistaken for shyness, is a disorder marked by an extreme self-consciousness or fear of being judged or scrutinized by other people. This fear of being humiliated is not only about public speaking, but more often simple one-on-one interactions with others such as talking to a coworker alone in the break room or eating in front of others. In these situations, people with social anxiety often experience trembling, nausea, sweating, and trouble talking.

While you can’t diagnose yourself just based on these descriptions, there is one simple self-evaluation you can make:

If anxiety disrupts your ability to function in your day-to-day work routine, it’s a problem.

Has your anxiety ever kept you from making important phone calls, attending company social events, or speaking up during a meeting? Do you find yourself struggling to focus on daily tasks, in a constant state of fatigue through the work day, or experiencing intrusive thoughts about everything that could go wrong with a project or client?  

If you answered yes or have found that anxiety is disrupting your ability to carry out job responsibilities, it may be beneficial reach out to and discuss these symptoms with a counselor. Working with a Charlotte counselor can help you manage and relieve your anxiety in the workplace.

 If you're interested in learning more about working together, contact Charlotte Counseling and Wellness.