We’re Listening Series – Workplace Anxiety Post 2

anxiety-going-in-circles
Photo credit: Krsna Hemant

Here is story #2 on workplace anxiety from a project and data manager:

When I completed my degree, I moved to the US for my Masters. I was graduating in December 2018 and people started asking me about my job search as graduation day came closer.

It is incredibly difficult for international students to get a job in the USA and the pressure started to get to me.

Being an overachiever fighting paralysis and everything, everyone–including me–expected a lot from me. I was overwhelmed when I visited home during my summer break and all friends and family were like, “You have done so much, finding a job will be easy.” or “If it was so hard, why did you go there?” or “Why do you want to struggle again when you did it once already?”.

In the fight to prove them wrong and do the right thing by myself, I started dealing with major anxiety attacks.

I once got a terrible panic attack during an exam as I forgot to get my calculator (it was not even needed) and I almost failed that exam. It took me nearly 4 months to realize that instead of trying to prove myself to people, I should focus on getting back on my feet for no one but myself. I then forgot the failures and started looking only at the glories.

Today, I work as a project and data manager at a major IT company and I still suffer from anxiety.

I tend to get anxious while dealing with people from different time zones and have to accommodate everyone without being biased. Work calls at odd hours and the unrealistic workload which we offshore to India, China, etc. also make me feel anxious. To deal with my anxiety, I watch funny clips from shows like ‘Family Feud’ or Ellen’s ‘Game of Games’ during my lunch hour.

Luckily, the work culture in my company embraces the fact that humans get anxious when given too many deadlines and tasks.

So to help us employees deal, they tend to have stuff like dog day at work or a Star Wars-themed lunch. We also have centers to talk about mental health at the office.
If/when I see someone struggling with anxiety at work, I help them deal in the same way I deal with it. Also, breathing always helps.

Read workplace anxiety story #1 here. 

How do you deal with anxiety at work? Do share your tips in the comments below.

2 thoughts on “We’re Listening Series – Workplace Anxiety Post 2”

  1. Oh, here’s a story with a panic attack. Those are the worst! At my office, I haven’t told anyone that I get panic attacks and so far, nobody has noticed them as mine are quite of the hidden sort (I think), but I think it’s time I had a chat with my manager. My office has not explicitly spoken about mental health but we do have an open door policy that encourages all sorts of conversations…

    1. Hi Arun,
      I am glad to hear reading this account has inspired you to have a conversation with your manager. Go for it and all the best!

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