7 Tips To Manage Workplace Anxiety
Having an anxiety attack at work can’t always be avoided, but there are ways we can prepare for it.
Many traditional working environments are not conducive for maintaining sanity for those struggling with mental health problems. Often it is discouraged among those with mental illness to speak up about their condition due to fear of losing their jobs or having to manage the stigma that comes with it from peers. Very few employers have or see the need to invest in mental health services for their employees, there are no leaves for people on the verge of a mental breakdown and therapy sessions and medications for mood disorders are often not covered by company sponsored health insurance.
This article is to help those who are still in the closet about their mental health conditions and don’t feel comfortable sharing their situation with their co-workers who may not understand. If you’re looking for help during an anxiety attack, you can check this article.
1.Find a safe space.
Find a spot inside your office building or near it wherein people will be least likely to find you when you don’t want to be found. It can be the building roof top, a balcony area, a handicap bathroom, or a janitor’s closet. Make sure it’s a safe area that is easily accessible from where you usually work.
2. Identify one workplace friend you can trust.
Find at least one person that you feel will understand your condition who can keep note of the things you may miss when you don’t feel emotionally stable. They can also cover your back when you have to leave to go to your safe space and don’t want people to know where you really went.
3. Prepare a managing tool.
Some people use fidget cubes, do breathing exercises, listen to a calming playlist, or make lists. Find what works for you and make sure it’s within reach when you feel like you’re going to have an attack.
4. Make plans that you can look forward to after stressful time periods.
If you know you’re going to be undergoing an intense week at work, schedule a leave after it or activities that you enjoy like eating out with friends or a date with a significant other. Make something to look forward to so you can focus on that when you’re in a tough spot.
5. Go to therapy regularly, even when you think you’re okay.
Even if you feel like you’re doing well, schedule a regular appointment with your mental health professional. Avoid bottling feelings up as much as possible. If you soothe your demons regularly, the chances of them attacking all at once are less.
6. Establish habits that bring out endorphins.
You can make it a habit to have a relaxing makeup or self-care morning routine, hug people who are you important to you before you leave for work, exercise after work, set a night out drinking with co-workers once a week, or bookmark a website that makes you laugh that you check for 5 minutes in the middle of the day. Find things that can be easily integrated into your regular day.
7. Keep something that reminds you of a positive memory on your desk.
Whether it’s a shell from a recent vacation at the beach, a golf ball from a recent match that you won or a drawing from your child, find something that you can touch and focus on when everything seems out of hand.
Hopefully these tips can you prepare for possible anxiety attacks from occurring at work. While we all know that we can never tell when an attack happens, having things like these in place when it happens can help make sure that you can manage.
If you have any more suggestions of how you deal with workplace anxiety, leave a comment and I’ll add them to this article.
