Downward Spiral At Work

[Fraser46]

It is really difficult to tell me my behaviour and anxiety is beginning to deteriorate. I am unable to tell when I am getting anxious and I dont feel my emotions.

I have just gone back to work after being signed off for two weeks, I had a back to work meeting with my boss and she said that I need to stop and rest when I can feel my anxiety getting higher. I feel anxious all the time and find it very difficult to regulate my anxiety. Does anyone else have similar difficulties?

My boss (Headteacher), has said that sometimes my anxiety appears to increase as the day goes on, as I tire over the week or if something specific triggers it. She has suggested that when she sees that I am struggling (change in posture, eye contact, increasing obsessive/frantic behaviour), she lets me know and I take a break (listening to relaxation music, listening to favourite songs, colouring in, going for a walk), to try and prevent my health deteriorating. My parents are quite good at telling me when I am struggling (they live a few miles away from me), but I am unsure of how comfortable I would having some else telling me - although it would be for my own good.

 

[ghotiff]

This is something I am currently working on. I too struggle to be able to notice when I am going downhill and need to do more self soothing.

I have been trying to spend time each day being aware if my body. I have also been trying to come up with a list of indicators that I am going downwards. So far all I have is that my "risky" behaviors increase. This is quite subtle but it's things like not parking my car as neatly as I normally do, eg parking further out from the curb.

 

[Namenotdiagnosis]

I have the same problem at work, my only prob is I'm the boss to 38 ppl and I have a chief exec who's my boss!!!
With my boss I can b really honest but it's really hard trying to cover my anxiety stress triggers and flashbacks with my team!!!
I do believe though on a very personal opinion that my flasback are a lot worse at the latter part of the week when I'm very tired due to insomnia and also my stress that's work related , this hasnt helped .

I do try and stay focused though as hard as it is , I take regular breaks and always close my door during lunch to be able to switch off , my chief exec is aware of my condition but sometimes is more of a hinderance than help!!!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

What you should perhaps try is keeping a log of your symptoms and reactions. I had to do this while in the hospital so that I could identify stressors/triggers as MANY are not apparent to the sufferers themselves. You can log such things as date, time, location, preceding events, symptoms, how you calmed down (grounding or self-soothing tools used), etc. I think this would be a good thing for you because you'll start to see patterns emerge after you've kept the journal for awhile and you'll know that after you start experiencing XYZ symptom, that you need an immediate time out. In the meantime you could ask your parents to say something to you if they notice you going downhill, but ultimately you'll need to learn how to do all this for yourself, so that's why the log can really help.

 

[Fraser46]

Thank you for the great advice. I will start a log and look at that is causing my symptoms to increase. Work is understanding but it is difficult when I cant judge myself sometimes what is increasing my anxiety.

 

[Suzetig]

I feel your pain, I've both supported staff at work through periods of stress and been treated for work related stress. If your boss is supportive and offering to let you know when she sees change in you, I'd accept that support. She may notice signs you don't and if you keep a record of each time she signals to you that things might be getting too much, and what it is she notices in you, you can start to train your body to notice for yourself. It's great that she's so supportive but I also know it's not easy to accept support.

 

[Fraser46]

It is difficult to accept help, but it is something that I will need to do. Hopefully with others noticing changes in my behaviour then I will be able to try and work out what some of my triggers are and now to help calm myself.