All I think about is work

[Brendezvous]

As the title, all I think about is work, and not in a good way. It's not like I have some high powered careered and earn huge money so the payoff is having to think about work all the time. I'm just constantly thinking of what I might have got wrong, what I might be criticised for and how I might be negatively treated by management etc. I'm a fairly middle level, nothing special, employee, and it's not just this particular workplace - it's whatever workplace I've worked in. The only time I don't worry so much is when I'm actually there, as I can control things better, but that doesn't help at 5 am when I wake up obsessing.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I have a DH and kids, but my whole identity is work. I feel like if I lost that, I'd be nothing. And I don't even like it!

I just wanted to see if anyone else feels like this, or if I am just a bit broken!

That sounds hugely stressful, especially as you can't necessarily control work, colleage interactions, new projects, etc.

It must be having an impact on your family life, sleep and health?

I have a moderately challenging job and have to be available all hours but if doesn't cause me any personal stress, at least not 95% of the time.

Do you live for holidays, dread Mondays, feel depressed thinking about your job?
YOLO OP, why not change careers to something that would make you feel empowered and creative rather than drained and stressed?

Or if changing careers seems too big a move, would you be able to go part time, work from home or change companies somewhere you may feel more supported?

This sounds so stressful. As a mental health professional, it does sounds like a very negative pattern of thinking....maybe anxiety or obsessive compulsive thoughts with the way you describe it. Especially as you say it happens in every job.
It might be worth finding someone to talk to, so you can unpick it a bit because there might be other things you haven't mentioned here. Ypu can access free counselling through your GP but the waits can be long. Otherwise, does your work have any support structures that you could access?
You mention waking at 5 am, is the worrying waking you? If so, then you should speak to a GP as this is very unhealthy and quite worrying.

Curious what age you are OP? I never had this previously but have done the last three years, I think it might be perimenopause..

This is anxiety and stress. I would speak to you gp - but also seek out counselling to help.

I had this along with OCD and started a low dose of prozac - it took all that worry away, I didn't realise how much stress it was causing me until it was gone

Following with interest as I can relate. Several roles I would find myself talking the head off my husband ie what would you have done, should I not have done xyz. So much so I went back to a job I actually enjoyed (as much as you can) and have felt so much better since, somethings I worry about but not to the same extent. It's also a job I can just stay in, I don't have to confidence to progress nor do I want that stressful feeling to return.
I also found that wfh wasn't for me, I'd be checking things in the evening and could never properly switch off. Although that could have been the role and not wfh in general...as the training was abysmal.

I do think I undiagnosed anxiety however!

My friend with anxiety had this - she left multiple jobs but it made no difference. In the end she was diagnosed with anxiety/depression etc and once that was controlled she was able to work fine again.

If your job has a very toxic environment then it might be solved by changing jobs, but if you're finding the same thing in every job then it's likely just generalised anxiety disorder and if you weren't working it would latch onto something else. Go to GP and seek treatment if that's the case.

This is me! Over the last 3 years I've gone from being able to switch off to my current state of being 'on' 24/7.

I have to tell myself to stop thinking about work on my days off, as I'm not getting paid.

I am peri too, and do feel it is anxiety led.

I am trying to to remove my attatchment by becoming more present to my family and finding more outside interests.

I am middle mgt too. But feel I have the pressures of a CEO.