Stress and Burn-Out

[Soggybaps]

I am at my wits end.

I started a new role earlier this year which was a promotion but within a different department to where I was.

Well from day 1 it has been a disaster. there was no induction really (unless you can count a half-hour whistle stop tour of where offices and departments are), met colleagues via teams (some of which never turned up) and didn’t get a handover from the person who was doing the role before.

on top of this, my manager was also new in post and subsequently went off on long term sick and I was expected to pick up all of the work with little to no experience (the stuff my boss would be doing but not necessarily me) and very little support.

I expressed how I was feeling to my boss’ boss who took over line managing me whilst my manager was on sick. Was told things will get better and to give it 6 months and things will start to make sense.

it’s been five months and I’m feeling so overwhelmed , stressed and anxious.. I am tearful, the thought of going to work and feeling like I have no idea what I’m doing just makes me want to scream. My workload is unrealistic and I feel like I’m spinning plates all the time. I am competent and in my old role I was at the top of my game. I take pride in my work but in this new role I just feel so out of my depth and rubbish. I feel like everyone thinks I am crap and how the hell did I get this job.

I don’t know what to do I feel so lost and helpless. I need to leave and find another job but there’s nothing at the minute and I have a 12 week notice even if I did get a new job tomorrow. I don’t know how to fix this mess I am in and I can just feel the panic in my chest and throat all day.

has anyone else felt like this before and if so how did you overcome it?

Anyone? :(

Have you had a subsequent conversation with anyone about how you are feeling/coping, other than boss’s boss saying ‘give it 6 months’?

Can you break down exactly which elements of the role you are struggling with?

I understand it’s generally overwhelming, and it does sound shit. I’m so sorry. It’s definitely not you, it’s them.

The way to climb out is to ask for specific support. That’s why you need to break
down the overwhelming anxiety into ‘this thing really stresses me/I need more training on X/ I need clarity on Y’.

Perhaps you need to take some time off - work a short week - and use a day or so to really think about what you need from them to feel better.

My workload is unrealistic and I feel like I’m spinning plates all the time.

This is a good place to start, btw.
It sounds like you’ve been given extra duties on top of the role you were employed for. Look at your initial job description and identify what shouldn’t be your job.

Remember that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. They aren’t going to want to lose you on top of their current recruitment emergency. Be vocal in asking for what you need. You have nothing to lose, because you want to leave anyway if nothing changes.