About three years ago I started in a new and quite specific career. Previously I had been working in the private sector in finance. Now I work in a publically-funded area. At first I was pleased to have gotten my dream job straight out of my degree course, but within 18 months I had found that while I loved the work itself, I was completely disillusioned with the organization I worked for and my manager.
I was able to cut down my hours at that job and take another unrelated but far less stressful part time job. This year however, I have returned to three days a week at the public sector job.
My problem is that the team I work within has become unbelievably dysfunctional. We are all under an awful lot of stress at work and in general day to day life. I know this because we have all had to contend with a quite traumatic event that occurred in our city recently. There are constant reminders of this event everywhere and everyone has been affected in some way. At work, we are short-staffed and constantly under pressure to justify ourselves. This year, I have been working closely with someone who is extremely critical and challenges me on decisions that I make. She is not my boss, just a more senior colleague. She has now moved on to another area but she has left me feeling like I cannot do my job competently. Over the last 18 months I have developed an anxiety disorder which I mostly blame this job for.
I am leaving in a couple of months, but recent spats with colleagues (who are all probably feeling a bit like me, but take it out on others by becoming angry and defensive) are making it VERY hard to: a) stay until the end and b) keep my mouth shut. It is becoming unbearable and I am not sleeping well. My shoulders and neck ache all the time from tension and I dread going to work some days.
I am meeting with my manager (a different one!) in the next couple of days. I have asked her for guidance in hanging in there, but what else can I ask her for? I am also conscious of wanting to go in there with some solutions rather than just having an epic whinge. BTW ? my team is well-known within our (small) professional circle for being ?difficult?. Some attempts have been made at improving workplace relations, but I?m not sure there is an easy solution?
I'm not keen to make a formal complaint or anything like that - the 'machine' I work for is far too big for that! I just want to be able to make it to the end of July without further damaging my health.
Sorry this is so long. Thanks if you read this far and for any thoughts / advice you might have.