Work is hard for some people, stressful to most especially in the modern day lives we lead. What with long hours, increased workloads, it can be hard to switch off once you leave work each day. Anxiety in the workplace however is a whole different ballgame. For anyone who has experienced anxiety on any level will understand the overwhelming physical sensations anxiety brings but more so the debilitating mental side effects too.

The workplace for me has always been an anxiety induced setting but the majority of my anxiety centred on the people and the environment itself more so than the actual work. Of course the work bothered me, mainly because being an anxious individual, I’m a perfectionist, I want people to like me and as a result I would push myself too far in order to be great at my job. Nevertheless the overwhelming sense of pure anguish came as the result of being around others. Colleagues who I have never quite fitted in with, customers who are very quick to criticise – never a good combination when you are anxious other people are looking at you and making judgements.

In a previous retail job, I had a full on anxiety induced meltdown when I had to serve on a till for the first time. The thought of people watching me, sent my heart into palpitations and my stomach fluttering with nerves anyway, so when I was called over I was already in a state of panic. Clutching the barcode, I tried to run the scanner over it but my hands were uncontrollably shaking. So much so in fact the customer made a comment, making me even more self-conscious that I couldn’t use the till. All I wanted was to escape, I felt like a failure, but more than that I felt disgusted with myself that I couldn’t do a basic task like everyone else. In the end my colleague took over and I left the shop floor which later lead to my resignation – I just couldn’t face the humiliation.

I have faced many more anxiety moments in the workplace since from telephone travesties and not knowing what to say to attending team meetings and having to speak in front of other people, to be honest the list is endless.

The one thing I have learnt is to take my own needs into consideration. In an ideal world my anxiety would be knocked on the head but until then choosing a working environment that is conducive to what is going to make me feel comfortable is the best solution. For me being in a workplace whereby I don’t have to directly deal with people face to face is perfect bearing in mind my social anxiety, in which I can work independently or with only one or two others. I have also learnt that if I have faced a situation before and got through it then I can do it again, yes it’s scary but the feeling will pass and I will carry on.

Another helpful tip is to learn what it is in the workplace that makes you anxious – is it the people you work with, the type of work you do, the environment you work in? Once you have figured it out, the next step would be consider if this is an issue that can be changed. If applicable maybe speak to your manager about your concerns, your HR department or perhaps seek out 1-1 counselling externally to come up with techniques that will help you cope.

You need to remember you are not alone, in fact there may be people you work with right now that feel exactly the same way as you do. As the old-age saying goes ‘It’s good to talk.’