Wanting to go BACK TO WORK AND FACE MY MORNING ANXIETY

I am attempting this tomorrow. I am a support worker and start at 8am (right in the middle if the worst part if my day!!!) I can't sit at home any longer as I truly believe it is making me worse. Not sure what I will do to cope but I have to do it

Hello circus and Babz,

Just wondering how did it go for you? Tell us about it... We're you able to get through the day okay?

I had to quit my career and stay at home, because like you the mornings were hell. Let us know how you are doing and we can support you. I give you tons of credit for pulling thru.

One of my first really bad panic attacks was in Walmart. So I avoided Walmart at all costs by ordering online and using other stores. I finally realized it was stupid to keep this act up and I had to face my fear. One day I went. Probably sat in my car for 30 minutes before going in but I forced myself to go in. Once in there and shopping the anxiety was following me and trying to get the best of me but I kept going and it was one of the hardest things I've had to do. It wasn't fun or easy by any means but the accomplishment afterwards was the best feeling.

Work has always been the hardest thing for me to get through. On my way there, during the day, and on my way home is when I'm at my worst. But I learned staying home makes it worse! Facing it and going in and making the effort is the best way to deal with it. You have to have a positive attitude and tell yourself that it's going to be okay. Try to focus on everything else but the anxiety.

Good luck to everyone

The question becomes "Do you really want to go back work tomorrow or not? I am hoping that if I want to go back bad enough, I will get myself there with lots of deep breathing and maybe even some swearing at myself. I don't have the option of unemployment. I don't go to work, I don't get paid.

I am currently subbing. It helps to keep stress and worry down for me. But, I am one of those people who needs to be engaged mentally. The more time I have, the worse I can convince myself to feel.

A schedule of the morning, perhaps? I have a very regimented morning routine. I also pack everything the night before, as I have learned from experience that if I do not, I will forget something. This keeps me focused and moving forward. It helps, IMO, that I mostly do high schools and so am out of the house by 6:30. I am not a morning person, and am barely awake/groggy.

O contacted my boss and told her I was ready to sub today. So, I woke up at 3 a.m. and lay there until 5:30. 5;30-6 a.m. is the calling period. No call. I was a nervous wreck those 3 hours but i did it. Hopefully, tomorrow will be less stressful and I will get called in to work. I will still go to school later this morning and do some of my own work to get me back in the routine. Being there makes the prospect of working less stressful.

Good for you. Now what? look for a job you enjoy. There will be much less anxiety.

Circus Dog said...
Good for you. Now what? look for a job you enjoy. There will be much less anxiety.

Yes, ill be looking for work. Which might bring about new issues. I work with military contracts. I am on the civilian end, so work pays great, but the pace itself is a roller coaster ride. And like this year, lay off after lay off. I am wanting something more stable, which means government work. But less pay. Actually, I am still kicking around opening my own business again. That idea is almost a bust though....capital is almost nil which means loans, and working with the public again. Talk about anxiety, the public will work you over...haha. But I can set my own hours, vacation, and pay. Insurance is quite a bit higher, but manageable. Freedom and anxiety vs gov work and less pay. Too many variables to list, but honestly it is an extremely tough decision to make.

Morning anxiety is the worst. They say it's excess Cortisol hormone in the brain but one of the only ways to beat it is to get up, get out, walk, run, work whatever....no magic pill here but it's good to know that if we face the fear of going to work, we actually might be defeating our anxiety at the same time!

...and we will be thinking of you!! :)

Great job on going after it, and getting the job...you can do it!

Let us know how it went.;)

S.C.

Well I can see how that puts you in a constant cycle of anxiety if you don't know from one day to the next *if* you're going to get that early morning call or not! That would make me a little uneasy (no,...a lot uneasy, let's be honest).

The last club I worked at (aka: high falootin gym), I had to arrive at work, ready between 4:30am and 4:45am to get the gym opened and operational with doors open for 5:00am (and believe me, there was always a gaggle of early-morning aficionados grouped in the parking lot waiting for my arrival!)

I agree, those early morning hours are the pits.

Can you shower the night before instead of that morning? Get your basic stuff out the night before? Do as much prep work as possible in advance?

I eventually learned that there were some things I really did not need to fuss over at that hour, and that I was putting undue stress on particulars that were not particularly related to my ability to function at that hour.











M.