New to this!

[_Alicia]

Greetings! New to ADAA. Seeking support for severe anxiety and depression.. Also, considering a career change because of my symptoms.. Any ideas??

[thatjuanguy]

Why a career change? What do you do?

[_Alicia in reply to thatjuanguy]

I'm a cosmetologist. I work with "the public" and I don't know how much longer I can do it. My anxiety is completely out of control. I'd prefer to work from home, but don't know where to start.

[thatjuanguy]

That’s a skill wouldn’t you miss it?

[_Alicia in reply to thatjuanguy]

I'm not sure how to proceed. I have been in this industry for a long time, but my anxiety is actually getting worse. So much for self-awareness. I'm sure I'll have to go back to school..

[thatjuanguy]

What’s making it worse is it the job or just the people? Because the stress of switching careers or going back to school might not be helpful.

[_Alicia in reply to thatjuanguy]

That's very true. I suppose a career change could make things worse. I'd like to not have to deal with direct customer service. I guess my specific anxiety is "social". Also, I'm incapable of relating to co-workers. I'm just afraid of reaching my breaking point. I'm attempting to be proactive.

[ALTOV in reply to _Alicia]

OMG Alicia I'm sorry I can't help you with this because I have the exact same problem

[_Alicia in reply to ALTOV]

Idk. I'll just hang in there, I guess. I'll try not to quit. Maybe I'll go on Indeed. Maybe I can find suitable employment online..

[fauxartist in reply to _Alicia]

You may want to look into online courses at junior colleges for some sort of career that does not deal with much social interaction...I took computer courses online. And was hoping to be able to do computer software upgrades remotely....there are more and more people working from home because it's more cost effective, it eliminates the need for office space and management expense when one person can manage a number of people who work from home.

[_Alicia in reply to fauxartist]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I will definitely look into that!!

[fauxartist in reply to _Alicia]

bookkeeping, accounting, sales reports, data entry....tons of stuff can be done at home.....

[_Alicia in reply to fauxartist]

I literally just Googled "community colleges near me"

[thatjuanguy]

Why can’t you relate? Maybe you could try a shop change instead of a career change first?

[_Alicia in reply to thatjuanguy]

I guess what I mean by "relate" is that I can't have relationships with people. I don't mean romamtic. I'm constantly on edge and awkward. My anxiety make me unbearable to people and I make people uncomfortable. I don't know how else to explain that. Every day that I have to leave my apartment is agonizing.

[ALTOV]

I am totally in the same boat I am on the phone alllll day long in a call center and I definitely need a career change due to the constant back to back calls and I find myself getting more and more agitated like I find myself hanging up on some people and even lashing out on them. I know it isn't right, but it's as if I can't control it.

[_Alicia in reply to ALTOV]

I'm so sorry that your job/career is affected. That's a scary feeling that I know all to well.