How To Handle Anxiety At Work

My job isn't particularly stressful, but that doesn't mean that I don't get anxious at work. Anxiety is a strange thing; sometimes it's brought on by absolutely nothing! In my experience, it can be really difficult to handle being anxious at work because I'm surrounded by people who don't understand what's happening to me, and who I'm not comfortable with (which is stressful in itself!).

Here are a few things that I do when anxiety strikes in the office:



Seriously. Get up from your chair (or from wherever you are) and get into a different space. Even if it's only walking into another room, it still helps to move your body and leave the place where your anxiety started. You don't have to run a marathon for this to help; walking a circle around cubicle land helps me.

When you go back to your space, stretch. Let some oxygen move around in your body and shake yourself out. For me, I find sitting in a cubicle very suffocating, so moving my body around and 'freshening it up' is really helpful. It helps me to catch my breath and snap me out of whatever funk I seem to have fallen into.



A nice glass of cold water is like a healing potion when you're starting to freak out.

When you've caught your breath, have a sip of water. I don't know if it's the cold that helps me, or if it's that I'm usually really parched when I get anxious, but I find that having a drink helps me to wake up and snap out of it.



Like I said before, you're surrounded by people who might not understand what you're going through, or who you want to keep a neutral relationship with. If you think hearing the voice of someone who can 'knock your crazies out' will help, call them up! Obviously you can't have a therapy session while you're suposed to be working, but a quick phone call just to hear a reassuring voice can be just what the doctor ordered.



Remember, you've obviously gotten yourself out and about, and you're at work! Those are some small accomplishments that are actually quite big when it comes to anxiety. Think of every little thing you've accomplished so far and be proud of them. Nothing is too small! I know that this might seem crazy to some people, but if you've ever had anxiety you will know that sometimes the littlest day to day things all of a sudden seem like these huge obstacles!

You've made it this far and you can always go farther, you just need to breathe, pick yourself back up and move on to the next thing.

In saying all of this, I know that these steps might not work for everyone, but they really help me. I also understand that there are days when snapping yourself out of it just isn't in the cards. That's okay too! Sometimes we all need a break, right?

Remember not to take things for granted (even the most annoying chores) because you're actually quite lucky to have those little things to be irritated with!

Hugs and poops,

Nichole