Anxiety at work

[whatamitodo]

I'm sitting here at work absolutely numbed by anxiety and don't know where to turn.

Have been back at work in my professional job for nearly a year and have had my ups and downs, my biggest down being late last year when I finally acknowledged that I was depressed and took a couple of weeks off and was prescribed citalopram (20mg). Thought all was now fine but maybe with hindsight that was because I haven't been very busy since. Now I have a decent amount of work to do I am so terrified that I can barely function. The work is difficult but not THAT difficult. I just don't understand why I can't deal with it. Too embarrassed to talk to bosses as don't want to admit that I can't cope. I need the job; the last thing that I want to do is admit that I can't do it anymore but how can I continue to live like this?

Apologies for the outpouring. I don't really expect anyone can help. I just need to release some of this tension...

Bump

Is this an anxiety attack do you think?? Aren't my ads supposed to deal with this? I feel as though I'm going insane.

Oh, poor you - my sister gets panic attacks at work too. Try some deep breathing for now and try to focus on a minute task like putting a pile of papers in order mayabe?
Dsis got beta blockers as well as ad's but not sure how much they helepd.
She also went on a course on how to cope with them

oh,no expert but wanted you to have a reply.Have youjust started on them? Can you get signed off or take someannual leave?

Don't want you to think I am trivialising this, but do you think having a clear out at work, and spending a day organising your time might help?

Whenever I get very very stressed at work, it helps me to "clear the decks" and work out what I am not going to do. There is only so much you can do anyway, so if you take some brave decisions about what you can't handle, and talk to the people that are placing these expectations on you, you can get rid of a lot of stuff.

Sometimes I have abandoned really important stuff, just battened down the hatches and done the minimum needed to get by.

Ironically I seemed to gain more respect rather than less. Everyone has been there at some stage.

As for tackling the anxiety itself, there are things you can do to get by for the short term. Medication may be one option, but gentle exercise works wonders. Going swimming and brisk walking will do. Getting out in the open air at lunch time, changing your routines can also make a difference.

Cutting down on alcohol helps even though it is the hardest thing to do when it is the only thing that helps you switch off.

I hope this doesn't sound too simplistic - these are my tried and tested tips for getting through.

Finding effective ways to switch off - meditation, massage etc can also help to mitigate anxiety.

Sometimes thinking through the worst case scenario helps. I used to think "What's the worst that can happen - they sack me, then what?" I almost thought being sacked would be a relief and a new opportunity in some jobs. And I knew they didn't want to sack me iyswim.

Thanks all. I really appreciate your replies.

I don't think you're trivialising at all CH - You're right, I do need to take a step back and appreciate that this is really not that important in the greater scheme of things.

I have a client waiting for this work and would like to get something out today so that I don't have to start Monday with it hanging over me. So, I will try to deal with it by calming down & working through the minimum of what I have to do. If I can't do it I WILL be brave enough to ask for help and I'll do the best I can do. As you say, what is the worst that can happen? I absolutely KWYM re almost "wanting" to be sacked!

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again. feeling slightly calmer now...