Need some advice please?

Yes, about 50 years ago I worked as a patent engineer for a multi-national organisation.

The pressure at work was relentless and the way that I was treated was appalling, to the point when my anxiety levels hit the roof.

I was dragged into hospital with a suspected heart attack and spent 7 days in intensive care, such was the  state I was in.

My family GP at the time was a personal friend, and he visited me one day for a chat and to see how I was doing.

It was upon his advice that I considered all my options and subsequently resigned from that job (very much to the surprise and alarm of the Managing Director), and I went on my own as a freelance Consultant Engineer.

This turned out to be the very best thing that I ever did, as the anxiety problems seemed to disappear overnight and my general health improved by leaps and bounds.

I am now 71 years of age, retired and a grandfather of some great grandkids.

Had I not taken that step in my early years I feel very confident that I would have been 'six feet under' by the time that I was 40 years of age.

In your case i would certainly consider very carefully all your options.

If the medical help that you are receiving for your conditions is not working, either the treatment is inadequate or your job is really the wrong one for you.

If you conclude that there is nothing at work that you can do to improve things for yourself, then I would design a stepped plan whereby you could leave that employment without prejudicing your livelihood or your future.

DO NOT just jump from the frying pan into the fire - plan things well so that you can be fairly certain anything that you intend to do will improve your life and not detract from it.

Good luck in your future life.

Hello .leaving your job would be the simplest and quickest way to end work problems but I know this is not always possible . If you are in a union that should be your first stop. Your employers have a duty of care to you and if your employment is making you Ill they must take steps to try and rectify this.......reasonable adjustment. At the very least you could ask for a referral to occupational health. It may be they could sort out some counselling which could be benificial to you. Re harassment.....if you have reported this and nothing has been done then you have a case against your employer. Don't take any nonsense from your employer! Not easy when you are vulnerable so enlist the help of a friend or relative. You have the right to be accompanied at any meetings. Good luck. Anxiety is a pig of an illness without a bad employer on top! E.

Thank you both so much for your replys!

My anxiety in work tonight has been sky high, palpation, flutter, dry mouth, the whole shabang. And I have let it get the best of me. It sucks!

I'm having weekly councilling and I'm still waiting to be seen by a berevment councillor.

I currently work at a busy hotel/restaurant, I'm constantly on my feet, even when I'm having an attack and about to pass out I just fight through but leaves me exhausted. There's no union here where I work, my boss just told me to keep a diary of all the things my colleague says and does. Which I have gone with them for that. But nothing.

I feel trapped at the moment, I'm considering my options carefully as I don't want to mess my future up. I'm 27, and despite the things that are going on, without my job I wouldn't be able to do all the things I've done or want to do. Caught between a rock and a hard place. Xxx

I wish you all the best. I worked in mental health for 14 years but my anxiety increased as the years went by which resulted in depression, my managers/HR/OC were really no good as I needed to get better, I did fight for my job but as I fought I just sank as I couldnt cope with the added stress. I lost my job, BUT my symptoms are better out of that enviroment. My health was more improtant. yes i loose the cash and a nice home, but I have stability within me, and that is priceless. take care and do what you feel is right.