Work

[Pinksocks]

How do.people cope who have panic attacks/agoraphobia cope with it at work? Or having been off work returning to it?

[Agora1]

Hi Pinksocks, When I worked in customer service while having anxiety issues, I used my break time as well as lunch time to recoup. I would go to the restroom and do some deep breathing to calm my thoughts. During my lunch, I would sit alone and read or on a nice day take my lunch to my car and listen to a relaxation tape. Unfortunately, when I had agoraphobia, I was unable to work. Use what ever method is best for you.

[Devin76oh]

This is a great question. It is difficult to go back to work when you live with anxiety /agoraphobia. I did take a leave of absence (3 weeks) to recoup and get the help I needed to understand what it is that I am going through. When it started I was afraid of mental illness and became fixated on the fear of becoming mentally ill. I reached out to a therapist to help me understand the difference between the fear of and actually having an illness.

When I came back to work I was aware of things that would make me feel anxious. I had developed tools (mindfulness, positive what if's, etc) that enabled me to get through a day. Don't get me wrong, I still experience anxiety, but it only happens when I see myself thinking about and floating on the things that make me scared. So in essence I am doing this to myself.

So answer your question, keeping busy making sure I dont wander off the thinking path too much (because it will happen) but understanding that when I do, I can easily change it and know that the feeling of anxiety will go away. When you start feeding into anxiety by trying your hardest to suppress it, it only gets bigger. Logically when you think about something that you try not to you tend to think about it any ways. This is why it is hard. But accepting that your anxiety is there and you know it will pass is the best way to handle it.

Remember, EVERYONE has anxiety. It's just people like us let it build to a bigger state then it should and we OVER analyze the crap out of everything and we shouldn't

Pray when your afraid. Ask God to help you. Realize anxiety is there. And just move on. You'll see it will go away. I hope this helps.

Devin

[Pinksocks in reply to Devin76oh]

Thanks

[Stay_strong85]

Well, unfortunately, had to leave my job. I couldn't cope. Been jobless almost an entire year. Not like me either. I have been working since I was a teen. And had an 11 year career. It is just a sacrifice some of us have to make. I was blessed to be able to do so, but I will get back to my life, recovery is right around the corner. 🙄😇🤗

[1973m]

Personally , I'm so much better occupied , so work is good for me . I hate being alone and find I become so introverted I just worry constantly about my own symptoms..which makes the panic worse! If I'm busy it gives my mind time to calm from my thoughts therefore it gives my body a short rest from the physical symptoms which in turn helps my thoughts .. If you get me.. ! Keep positive!

[Pinksocks]

I have to return to work soon just getting a lot of anticipatory anxiety over it. Trying to build on my coping skills.

Anxiety is such a bully. And trying to remember its all in my head I'm safe there is physically nothing wrong.

Staying positive,

[jackie220166]

I've just made the decision to leave my work I've been off nearly 8 months. It's not been an easy choice but my health is more important. I've worked since I was 17 and I'm 50 now. I have hopefully got a job working from home as we need the money. Again it's been a long hard road I'm not fully recovered my phychiatrist says at least another year as I've chopped and changed meds so many times over the last few months and am now taking mirtazapine and venlafaxine together. Everyone is personal in their own journey with anxiety and depression but for me working back with the public in a face to face roll is not an option. My psychiatrist told me that returning to work would make me very ill again. Lots of hugs to you

[Angela15]

Hi just gone back to work after being off for nearly a year, first week worked 9 until 12, this week 9 until 1. First day,a bit nervewracking and this week been very nervous and anxious but I did it and my anxiety is over eating I want to eat but get very anxious and panic. Are you going back to work soon, you will find it okay it gives your day some structure.

[LDS32]

About 2 or 3 days a week are pretty rough for me. I don't really get full on panic attacks anymore(did for months) but I have the gnawing anxious feeling. I can deal with it but it feels like that feeling when you're about to fight someone or before a sporting contest. But it doesn't go away until the evening sometimes.

[Pinksocks]

Thanks yea returning to work shortly. On a positive note it will provide a distraction, however since I work in healthcare it hasn't been finalised it needs to go through occupational health first. Haven't been great past couple of months and just restarted fluoxetine (day 10) however switched it to evening as I need to take it with diazepam which makes me really dopey/dizzy . Just gotta keep on keeping on xx

[Pinksocks]

I'm having a phased return so should be ok