Stressed but fears losing my job

I don't get to exercise regularly these past few months. I'm always on the rush at the office and when I get home, all I want to do is curl up in the couch and watch TV. I just feel tired, stressed and burnt out! I wish that I could just throw everything and do fun stuff! I've been living in the fear that if I do that, I will lose a lot: my career, the financial stability, the comfort - things that I have struggled so hard to achieve! I think that at my age of 47 I will have a hard time of finding jobs in case I lose the one I currently have.

Living alone makes me fear of things: getting sick, losing my job, not able to wake up, etc. Throwing myself to work makes me busy enough not to dwell on self-pity but then going home can be depressing sometimes when you have no one to talk to. If I lose my job what will happen to me? I don't want to give in to depression but I don't know how to handle the stress without the probability of losing my job. Can you please give me tips on what to do?

Post Edited (Valenh) : 10/15/2015 9:31:43 PM (GMT-6)

Remember the saying, "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."? Try changing your routine of just curling up on the couch after work. Go to an art gallery on the way home, or a book store, or the library. You don't have to do it every day, start with once a week, see how it goes.

Do you have a pet? A goldfish? A cat? A lizard? Sure, they can't talk back but it's nice to have 'someone' to come home to! And sometimes, the fact that they can't 'talk' back is a good thing! My pets help me be a bit less self centered. I have to think about someone other than myself. They help give my live a rythym, a routine.

Power, Valenh,

So to hear that you are in such a tough place at the moment.

there are skills you can use to pull yourself out and change the cycle.

I do not claim it will be easy, difficult maybe a better word, you will be able to do it!

Here is a link to mindful.org and their articles on stress and work and skills to handle and change the effect on yourself. I urge you to take a nice long browse.

www.mindful.org/?s=stress+at+work

We have all been in this situation. I did end up loosing my job and am currently on disability. I can tell you that 99% of what I worried about did not come true. I made a list of what I needed to complete and did it one at a time. Yes, it was stressful, however I did it, I am surviving and even feeling productive!

I go to a depression support groups 2 times a week most weeks, it is extremely helpful to know other people feel the same emotions as I. You may want to look for one and see if that helps you.

Peace
Trina

Hi guys! Thank you for sharing useful tips on how should I combat anxiety and depression.

I took all your advises to heart and it's helping me a lot. I got a pom pup three months ago and having her at home makes life more meaningful. Now i have someone to talk and cuddle to when I feel stressed and anxious. I really appreciate the tips on handling stress at work especially the bedtime strategies. Although I still don't get 7-8 hours sleep but it's longer now than what I used to have in the past.

With regard to the finances, I'm trying to avoid using credit cards as much as possible. I''m still on the process of organizing my monthly budget; trying to trim down stuff that I don't really need so I can save money for my future.

I am not on medication and therapy yet and I hope that I will not resort to them in the end. Talking with friends is my form of therapy. I'm also saving money for a week-long holiday in my hometown to reconnect with relatives and childhood friends. Again, thank you for all you advises. With God's grace I will be able to overcome the anxiety and depression that have been bugging me for years!

V, such wonderful news! Oh, so proud to hear that you are working so hard, we know how hard this is, and you are learning the rewards are worth it.

Great Job!

Thank you so much for let us know. We rarely hear the flip side, so nice to know.

Love and hugs
Peace
Trina