Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSignsCausesEffectsTelling Your EmployerCopingMaking a Change

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs

Causes

Effects

Telling Your Employer

Coping

Making a Change

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Whether we like it or not, the majority of us have to wake up every morning and go to work. In a perfect world, we’d all leap out of bed with bushy-tailed optimism about the day ahead—unfortunately, this is a rare reality.

Whether it’s due to an upcoming deadline, or simply theSunday Scaries, work can bring up a lot of anxious feelings that can be challenging to manage.

Either way, work anxiety can have negative effects. Therefore, it must be addressed to prevent poor outcomes both for employees and organizations.

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Signs of Work Anxiety

Although there is no official work anxiety disorder, there arecertain symptomsthat are common in terms of anxiety disorders and anxiety in general. Below is a list of these symptoms:

In addition to these general symptoms of anxiety, there are also some signs to watch out for that may indicate that someone is experiencing work anxiety. Here is an overview of what to look for.

Anxiety DisordersA person with work anxiety could also be diagnosed with one of the following anxiety disorders:Generalized anxiety disorderPanic disorderSocial anxiety disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderSpecific phobiasPost-traumatic stress disorder

Anxiety Disorders

A person with work anxiety could also be diagnosed with one of the following anxiety disorders:Generalized anxiety disorderPanic disorderSocial anxiety disorderObsessive-compulsive disorderSpecific phobiasPost-traumatic stress disorder

A person with work anxiety could also be diagnosed with one of the following anxiety disorders:

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Causes of Work Anxiety

You spend so much time at work that if things aren’t going your way, it can feel overwhelming at times. This may not always rise to the level of ongoing anxiety, but it can be helpful to talk to someone about any of these issues are causing you to feel constantly anxious about work:

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Effects of Work Anxiety

If you are living with work anxiety, it has probably taken a toll on multiple aspects of your life. Below are some of the most common effects of work anxiety, which can occur both within and outside the workplace:

If you are experiencing work anxiety, you may wonder whether you should share this with our employer. In addition, if you have a diagnosed anxiety disorder, you may be unsure whether this needs to be shared as well.

Know that if you have a disorder, you have certain rights according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As far as accommodations at work, it might be worthwhile to look into those rights.

While you may fear that sharing how you feel will lead to being labeled weak or treated poorly, most employers will probably be responsive and offer help. You may be offered a referral to amental health professionalif you do not already have one, or you could be given access to something such as a stress management class.

In other words, you don’t know until you ask. Below are some tips for employers about how best to help employees with work anxiety:

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Coping With Work Anxiety

There are some strategies you can use to help you manage your anxiety about work. Know that anxiety at work can be contagious, and try to stay away from people who make you feel worse, as much as possible.

Take a break and talk to someone if you are feeling anxious. Use self-help techniques to help you calm down and seek professional help if work anxiety is interfering with your daily life both at work and at home.

Avoid unhelpful coping strategies such as binge eating, substance abuse, overuse of caffeine, abuse of prescription medications. Here are some strategies you can try during and after your workday to help with your anxiety:

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with anxiety, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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Everyone experiences work anxiety from time to time, but if your job is a constant source of stress and nothing you have tried has given you any relief, it might be a sign of a deeper problem. Work can be anxiety-provoking, but excessive anxiety might also be a sign that the job or workplace itself is problematic.

Toxic culture, excessive demands, unhealthy pressures, or a poorly matched position can all be sources of work-related stress and anxiety. If you’ve tried to manage your work anxiety, either through coping strategies or other treatments, and haven’t found any relief, it might be a sign that you need to change positions and work or even change jobs entirely.

Rather than simply assuming that the problem is you, consider things about your job that are making you unhappy and causing you stress. How would changing those aspects of your job help relieve your anxiety? This might mean:

Keep in Mind

If you are living with work anxiety, it is important to reach out for help. Undiagnosed clinical anxiety can have devastating effects while chronic stress at work can precipitate later anxiety disorders. Make sure to reach out to your employer or a mental health professional to discuss your options.

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3 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Highlights: workplace stress & anxiety disorders survey.NIMH.Anxiety disorders.DOL.Maximizing productivity: accommodations for employees with psychiatric disabilities.Additional ReadingAdvisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.Workplace anxiety and work related anxiety.Melchior M, Caspi A, Milne BJ, Danese A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE.Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men.Psychol Med. 2007;37(8):1119-1129.Mortensen R.Anxiety, work, and coping. The Psychologist Manager Journal. 2014;17(3)178-181.Psychology Today. Anxious at work:Is it me or this damn job?

3 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Highlights: workplace stress & anxiety disorders survey.NIMH.Anxiety disorders.DOL.Maximizing productivity: accommodations for employees with psychiatric disabilities.Additional ReadingAdvisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.Workplace anxiety and work related anxiety.Melchior M, Caspi A, Milne BJ, Danese A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE.Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men.Psychol Med. 2007;37(8):1119-1129.Mortensen R.Anxiety, work, and coping. The Psychologist Manager Journal. 2014;17(3)178-181.Psychology Today. Anxious at work:Is it me or this damn job?

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Highlights: workplace stress & anxiety disorders survey.NIMH.Anxiety disorders.DOL.Maximizing productivity: accommodations for employees with psychiatric disabilities.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Highlights: workplace stress & anxiety disorders survey.

NIMH.Anxiety disorders.

DOL.Maximizing productivity: accommodations for employees with psychiatric disabilities.

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.Workplace anxiety and work related anxiety.Melchior M, Caspi A, Milne BJ, Danese A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE.Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men.Psychol Med. 2007;37(8):1119-1129.Mortensen R.Anxiety, work, and coping. The Psychologist Manager Journal. 2014;17(3)178-181.Psychology Today. Anxious at work:Is it me or this damn job?

Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service.Workplace anxiety and work related anxiety.

Melchior M, Caspi A, Milne BJ, Danese A, Poulton R, Moffitt TE.Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men.Psychol Med. 2007;37(8):1119-1129.

Mortensen R.Anxiety, work, and coping. The Psychologist Manager Journal. 2014;17(3)178-181.

Psychology Today. Anxious at work:Is it me or this damn job?

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