Struggling with work.
 

Life in general really.

I've been back at work, full time, since November. My workplace have been great, fully supportive of anything I need, I've been honest about any additional support I need.

My manager and higher management always make time to see me if I request it, and have been adding the pressure I need to get back to my previous position in a positive, "don't worry if you're not ready we'll do what you want" kind of way. So it's kinda perfect I suppose and a lot more positive than other people's experiences.

I'm really struggling with my anxiety at the moment, I had a panic attack in work last Saturday, and ended up on another floor in a stockroom begging another manager to just let me go home because I just couldn't do it.

I work in a really busy retail environment, my department alone took 20k today and the store took over 120. Not really the kind of environment that panics attacks and anxiety are great for.

I don't struggle with the work, I can do it with my eyes closed, I've stepped down from management until my managers think I can cope with the stress. (I had a breakdown in May last year) I'm struggling with finding a coping mechanism for my anxiety in the workplace? Not the workplace causing anxiety?

I don't even know if this makes sense. I'm just so fed up of going forwards to go backwards that I just want to give up and disappear because I can't go through last year again, and I'm so afraid that it will happen again. So so afraid.

You could try access to work and see if they have any suggestions. What sort of support have you got to manage the anxiety?

What's that?

I don't have anything, hence the issue? I need to find some, but have no idea where to start!

Have you been to your GP and asked to be put on the waiting list for CBT? Access to work helps people with disabilities to stay in work and can help fund reasonable adjustments e.g help with getting to work if you can't cope with public transport.

I too work in a busy store but for me it's something to do with work that makes me anxious and although I have panic attacks aswell although my managers don't handle it well so I've resigned myself to asking going to the toilet and having my panic attacks. I go through stages of having loads and then going months without an attack.

Can you tell when they are about to hit? I can tell because I get all hot and anxious and my breathing gets shallower and shallower untill it's hyperventilation. So when I feel it coming on I take deep breaths, do some clearance or converntrate on standards (size ordering encase you call it something different) so that hopefully customers or colleges won't talk to me and repeat to myself in my head "calm" as I blow out.

Are you currently seeking any professional help? Perhaps you could see a doctor, and even see a counsellor/therapist and learn some coping skills. I work full time in a busy/stressful environment and I fully sympathise with what you're saying, I really do. I go to a DBT therapy group once a week and it really helps. If you could get some support behind you and learn some coping skills/look at your options with your doctor, then you should hopefully be able to deal with work a lot better. :)