Anxiety and stress from work

[Mustard31]

Heya I’ve started realising I might be suffering from anxiety and depression. I’ve recently been promoted at work and shifted to a work from home role - well done to me! Unfortunately, the initial feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment soon vanished and anxiety took over. I often find it extremely hard to “switch off” my brain, and when I have the energy I throw myself in sport activities to fight the bad feelings and negative thought. At times, though, the energies are not there and my mood swings (possibly related to PMS) make it impossible for me to react and put myself together. In the past two weeks I’ve had two “crying episodes” where I was just so overwhelmed by my feelings that I couldn’t do anything but sobbing in tears. I’m getting worried. My work life doesn’t seem to be fulfilling anymore and my biggest desire is to move back to my home country and be closer to my family, which I haven’t seen in a year. This year has been particularly though and my anxiety is reaching peak levels where I just wish I could just shut myself and put an end to it. I don’t find it easy to talk about my mental well-being, and especially I struggle to talk to my family because I don’t want to worry them. I do realise that I have put my mental well-being on the side of everything else and now I find it really hard to deal with my emotions and feelings of unhappiness and frustration. My partner keep saying that they’re here for me and to help me, but still I often feel lonely and depressed. I have a good job, rent a decent house, have all the comforts I need and still I feel something is missing in my life. At times I have negative thoughts about my parents, that something bad can happen to them and I might not be able to see them ever again. I wish I could live close to them, but my partner says there is no employment in my home country and best to stay where we are. I’ve asked at work if I could be allowed to work remotely from my home country for a limited time, to be closer to my family and get better, but the company policy doesn’t allow this. I have been advised to talk to my GP about my mental well-being but the last time I talked about my mood swings I was only given the option of antidepressants and I felt frustrated at the lack of support.

[Pugglesworth]

I'm sorry you're going through this. It's quite natural to be anxious and/or depressed when you're away from familiar surroundings. And even though you are comfortable, mental health can still suffer.

Most docs aren't equiped to handle therapy. That's why they head to pills so quick. You may feel better talking to a therapist.

[propjock]

Lots of change, a long way from home, not much support. I hope you are finding some useful things here.