Struggling with Anxiety at Work

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By David Welham

I am writing to ask for help and advice with something that I struggle with. I’m suffering from anxiety at work.

I do a lot of work to help those who struggle with mental ill-health, I write, give talks and raise awareness. But I particularly struggle with my own mental health at work and at times it overwhelms me. You might ask yourself how come I don’t have the answers for myself, when I’m good at giving advice and support to others.

I am hoping that someone out there can help me with this, and I am sure that you have great advice, so I am reaching out.

I read every one of the articles and blogs here and find that so useful, so here’s hoping. Obviously, I won’t mention specifics, but I don’t feel like I’m a good fit for my job, and I know that you could say, why don’t I just get another job? It’s not easy. Because I doubt myself in my present job, I lack confidence that I can get another job.

Do you know the answers?

I know what I want to do and what is my calling. But it’s getting it that I am struggling with. I struggle with workload, with everything. This just brings me down further on the slippery slope of depression. I know I over-analyse and take things personally, but I can’t help it. Things just overwhelm me, as I said.

I can’t just leave my job, as I have responsibilities. Things would come crashing down around me if I was to do so. I don’t have time off as I am worried that this will be set against me. I’m not brave enough to say why I’d have a day off and would just say I am sick.

I’ve read about the stats that say about people who are unable to say how they feel at work. They know that I have mental health challenges but don’t know how I feel, really. I get retrained, but just feel that I will never feel I fit in and be able to cope like others do at work.

I’ve won lots of accolades and been applauded for what I do around mental health, but just struggle with my day-to-day job. I always put 100% into spreading awareness and supporting others, but really don’t have the answers for myself.