I am going back to work in the office for the first time since about middle May. I took a leave to take care of my mother, who is battling Stage III Breast Cancer. She just finished chemo and starts radiation today. My boss, I have worked for him for 21 years, has told me that I have to be back in the office today, no exceptions. I have been doing my work as a legal assistant from home. He is not very nice to me and I slept maybe 1.5 hours last night tossing and turning worrying about feeling "trapped" being at the office. I told my husband, if I leave my job, the family will lose financial, but I feel if I stay, I will lose all the progress I made this summer doing the program. I am already starting to crt and worried that my extreme insomnia will come back. I have attempted to find another job, but the economy here is awful and I have not been able to find other work. I just need to get this going in a positive spin and any help would be extremely helpful.
Lisa
Need Help Finding the Positive
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Guest
Lisa,
Of course you are going to feel anxious, you haven't had to go in so long and you have had a lot of stress in your life.
Here is something to remember, you are not LOSING the progress you made over the summer. The truth is, if this is something you are avoiding and worrying about being "trapped in the office", then it is actually BETTER for you to stay, not go. You will also have the chance to use all the new skills regarding expectations, how you let other's attitudes and beliefs get to you, as well as standing up for yourself.
NOT GOING is not something you want to do, it encourages avoidance and makes your anxiety worse even though not being there may make you feel temporarily better physically.
You don't know how much you are improving if you don't have to face any of the things that are difficult for you.
When I got started having problems with the panic attacks again and the agoraphobia started to try and set it, all of the sudden I couldn't go to work. (At least not comfortably.) I went through this with my first bout, so I knew that the WORST thing I could do was start avoiding. It took a little bit, but I am pretty much comfortable back at work again and am now working on other areas.
You can do it. Perhaps if it is overwhelming, could you go in part time and do the rest from home for a bit? This may help you make the transition more easily.
Of course you are going to feel anxious, you haven't had to go in so long and you have had a lot of stress in your life.
Here is something to remember, you are not LOSING the progress you made over the summer. The truth is, if this is something you are avoiding and worrying about being "trapped in the office", then it is actually BETTER for you to stay, not go. You will also have the chance to use all the new skills regarding expectations, how you let other's attitudes and beliefs get to you, as well as standing up for yourself.
NOT GOING is not something you want to do, it encourages avoidance and makes your anxiety worse even though not being there may make you feel temporarily better physically.
You don't know how much you are improving if you don't have to face any of the things that are difficult for you.
When I got started having problems with the panic attacks again and the agoraphobia started to try and set it, all of the sudden I couldn't go to work. (At least not comfortably.) I went through this with my first bout, so I knew that the WORST thing I could do was start avoiding. It took a little bit, but I am pretty much comfortable back at work again and am now working on other areas.
You can do it. Perhaps if it is overwhelming, could you go in part time and do the rest from home for a bit? This may help you make the transition more easily.
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Guest
Lisa,
Encourage yourself by using your positive self-talk. Remind yourself that this job is not your life. Right now, although you are not happy about this job, you will continue until you find another suitable position. Even though the economy isn't the good in alot of places, remind yourself that something can pop up at ANY time and to keep looking. Do not give up hope on finding another job.
The truth is, you are not trapped! You are working out of your own self-will because you WANT to make money to support your family. It may not be the job you love, but it a job which is more than some people have in this world.
You CAN walk away from it but you don't WANT to because you WANT the money for your family.
It's all in how you talk to yourself. If you see things as " I have to".... you can push yourself into a corner making yourself feel trapped with no choice. But the truth is, you have choices everday and we make them because we WANT to because we WANT the outcome.
There is always a choice. You are not trapped. You are blessed to have a job where you can make money to support your family.
Keep your head high and keep looking !!!
Encourage yourself by using your positive self-talk. Remind yourself that this job is not your life. Right now, although you are not happy about this job, you will continue until you find another suitable position. Even though the economy isn't the good in alot of places, remind yourself that something can pop up at ANY time and to keep looking. Do not give up hope on finding another job.
The truth is, you are not trapped! You are working out of your own self-will because you WANT to make money to support your family. It may not be the job you love, but it a job which is more than some people have in this world.
You CAN walk away from it but you don't WANT to because you WANT the money for your family.
It's all in how you talk to yourself. If you see things as " I have to".... you can push yourself into a corner making yourself feel trapped with no choice. But the truth is, you have choices everday and we make them because we WANT to because we WANT the outcome.
There is always a choice. You are not trapped. You are blessed to have a job where you can make money to support your family.
Keep your head high and keep looking !!!