Anxiety attacks are starting to affect my day to day life

Hi there

I've been suffering with Anxiety and Panic attacks for a year too. And work is mostly now the trigger for my attacks, I went on leave for about 2 weeks and like you thought it would do me the world of good but after I went back, I was still having attacks and having trouble of my colleagues hasn't helped much at all.

I am currently thinking about handing in my notice also, but the thing is all jobs can be stressful at times, I'm considering things carefully.

Have you been to see your GP? Xx

I know where you are coming from , I too have an anxiety problem . My only advice is to visit your doctor and get started on whatever treatment he offers you.

hi Dan. my sympathies are with u in this v. difficult time/situation. u sound v. strong & resourcesful to have withstood the situation for so long.

for starters, i'd suggest a visit to ur GP for some help in the form of meds to help break the viscous cycle of automated anxiety response. follow this with taking some time out from the work place. is it possible to take a couple of months out from work whether for 'stress leave' or sick leave. accessing some counselling in the form of CBT or other approaches to help manage the stress response, and to retrain your body/brain to respond to the stress/pressure more productively. CBT can be accessed by self-referral or via ur GP from the Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) national program.. just google it and u should be able to connect with your local regional department. meditation is also a good means of focusing the mind. getting a much help/support from family/friends/colleagues etc. as it helps to put things in perspective. i wish i could help more. remember this will pass. and be kind to yourself during this very difficult time.

best wishes

Caitlin.

From what you say it certainly does seem that you have a problem with stress, anxiety or some other related problem.

I would certainly not hand in your notice and try to find another job at this time, as that could be like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

I realise that when we feel we are letting our colleagues down that can put us on an unwelcome guilt-trip, but it may also be syptomatic of an underlying mental health issue.

If I were you I would be tempted to discuss things with your doctor as soon as possible, without holding back any of the facts.

If you are ill, then you are ill and pushing yourself to the limit might make you a lot worse. 

I have similar feelings.  My job isn't overly difficult, but my employer is a text book narcissist with very bad A.D.H.D.  

I was able to get some extended time off, not health related, and now that my time is almost up I am dreading my return to work.  I've been off for 4 months but have not been able to get control of my anxiety.  My anxiety is not caused by work, or my employer, but he sure as hell makes it a lot worse.

I've been looking for a new job, and have actively been persuing an entirely new career.  I could probably get some time off for stress leave, but I feel really guilty and embarrassed about it; like I don't deserve it because everything is in my head.

Hiya Dan,

I've been in a similar position to you and im only 22.

Last year I came down with an illness (not anxiety related etc) and absolutely fought and battled at my job and had the same thoughts as you, not wanting to let anyone down etc. I loved my job etc, But I was getting horrific anxiety and panic attacks too, which was all connected to my job. I walked in one day and that was it, I had to get out of there permanently, so spoke to my boss and H.R and I was allowed to leave immediately because of the way I was. I had completely burnt myself out to the core!! It was a tough decision, but it was well needed.

you need to listen carefully to your body, I kept pushing and pushing myself, but there's only so much one can take. X

I have been where you are so I wish you all the best. The problem with simply changing jobs is that you will take the anxiety with you. It is better to get into a position where you can handle whatever life can throw at you.

Exasperated at my inability to cope with my anxieties I developed a simple technique that has allowed me to gain a sense of normality in my life. I am a different person from who I was a couple of years ago.

This technique uses a simple form of visualisation where I take myself out of the equation and work only with the anxiety. This is different to most available therapies in that it isn’t about changing my outlook. I don’t have years of research and a cabinet full of case studies to support my self-developed technique but I do have a level of inner peace that a couple of years ago I would have never thought possible. As this has had a massive impact on my life I am wondering whether it can do the same for you. I am curious as to whether this is something worth developing.

I am not selling anything instead asking whether you will give this a try before letting me know the outcome. I hope it can help. Obviously I can’t guarantee this but there is the chance that it will.

The technique is based on the premise that anxiety is an energy echo of a previous event, which will disperse when we allow it. The problem is that we deny the anxiety the opportunity to leave us alone because we think we have to be in control and have the answers.

We don't! Only the anxiety knows what it needs to disperse so my technique is based around allowing this to happen.

This is what I did:

I looked at the anxiety as separate from me and when faced with an unpleasant level of anxiety I said to it: “I don’t know what you are saying or need so I am going to allow you to do and say whatever you want”.

I then visualised stepping away from the anxiety. In my mind I separated from my physical body leaving the anxiety behind to express in whatever way it wanted. I did nothing to interfere. I gave it the freedom to do whatever it wanted. I didn’t speak with it, debate with it or try to control it. Instead I simply stood back and observed.

At first the idea of letting the anxiety run riot was scary but instead of causing more problems the anxiety had its say then went. After an initial rush, it took seconds for the energy to disperse. After repeating this technique with every subsequent anxiety attack it didn’t take long before my life became calm enough to engage again.

I am not sure whether you can visualise stepping away in the same way as I can, so I am not sure how this will work for you. I have discovered an alternative way of stepping back but I want to see how well the visualisation method works first. I am also here to offer advice.

The key is stepping back and allowing the anxiety to express in whatever way it wants. DO NOT INTERFERE!

I hope this works for others in the way it has worked for me and please let me know if you require more information.

Take care and I wish you all the best.