When a person suffers from a stress or anxiety disorder, it can massively impact the way they perform in the workplace. Those experiencing chronic or intense anxieties and stress might avoid co-workers, neglect phone calls, be unable to meet deadlines, or even call in sick to work entirely. The most common workplace problems those with anxiety experience are:
- Dealing with problem-solving, meeting deadlines
- Maintaining relationships
- Participating in presentations or group work
Fortunately, many resources and methods are readily available to help a person cope and deal with these negative emotions. The following are a few suggestions and tips for managing stress and anxiety in the workplace.
Seeing a Professional
First and foremost, it is important to seek out professional help if you are feeling chronic or intense bouts of anxiety, stress, or depression. Seeing an anxiety therapist in Vancouver, for example, can help provide you with tailored treatment to help you cope with your concerns. These treatment options may include concrete exercises and coping mechanisms to help a person identify, understand, and eventually work through their anxiety triggers. A therapist will also help you get a plan for what to do should an anxiety attack arise in the future.
Talking To Your Employer
It is entirely up to you whether or not you tell your employer about having a stress or anxiety disorder. While it is entirely your business, some choose to tell their employers if they need specific accommodations, such as a reduced workload or time off during the day to see their therapist.
Sometimes, people with anxiety fear that others perceive their lack of focus or social withdrawal as intentional. Thus, they may tell their workplace about their anxiety to better explain the situation. Others tell their employers to educate them and be transparent about the situation, especially if it is beginning to affect their performance at work. It is important to note that in most workplaces across North America, an employer cannot fire you based on a mental or physical condition, so long as you are still qualified for the position.
Staying on Track at Work While Managing Stress or Anxiety
Nearly everyone knows what it’s like to have a bad or stressful day. But if your stress and anxieties are overwhelming, chronic, or impair your day-to-day tasks, it may signify a more significant problem. The following are a few suggestions for keeping yourself on track at work.
- Prioritize your tasks in order of most urgent to least, working down the list one at a time. This will allow you to organize yourself and only worry about a single task rather than your entire workload at once.
- Plan for the future. If a project is on the horizon, still add it to your list of priorities and work on it when you can. It can be easy to sit on a far-away task, only for its deadline to creep up when we least expect it.
- Be realistic about what you can accomplish. If you know you are not currently in a place to take on extra work or projects, let it be known. Don’t commit to things you know you won’t be able to finish without adding to your stress or anxieties.
- Remember to breathe. Whenever you are able, remember to take a break, stretch, or even take a short walk to allow yourself a pause and collect your thoughts. Don’t forget to hydrate while you’re at it!
- Take advantage of work benefits such as employee assistance programs, gym memberships, or health benefits, which can sometimes include therapy.
Also read: Top Tips on Becoming a Better Manager
