Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone,

I wanted to ask this question to people who don't know me personally so I can get an un-bias opinion. I have been struggling this past month at my job with my anxiety. I work in HR as an administrator and it's behind a desk from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm four days a week. I assist field and corporate employees with everything to do with health benefits. I also work part time at an emergency animal hospital as an AA because I love animals so much. Since I have been struggling so much I started thinking about my future. Yes, I like this job but I think I like the people that I work with more than the actual job itself. I was thinking of maybe going back to school to become a vet nurse. Nursing gives you the opportunity to re-locate if need be pretty much anywhere. I moved out of my parents house 3 years ago with my boyfriend and we accured some debt. My parents have offered me several times to move back home and get my debt situated so that I can one day buy a home. Do you think it's a step back to move back home and possibly go back to school full time? It's something I have been thinking about for awhile but I don't know if this is "running away" from the current anxiety I have at this job. I used to enjoy this job at first but now not so much anymore. Part of it is anxiety and part of it is feeling dumped on. My boss walks by the fax machine to hand me something to fax for her or transfers me voicemails that she doesn't feel like handeling. I'm also tired of dealing with people in the field. I really love animals and working part time as an AA for the last two years at the animal hospital and seeing what the nurses do makes me want to do it too. Any have a similar situation? Do you think this is a bad idea? I guess I am thinking about my future and to have a degree to fall back on would be nice.

Seems like there are a number of factors to be weighed here. Do you get along with your parents well enough to move back in or would that heighten your anxiety? Can you afford to stop working and go back to school?

That said, one thing I'm learning is that you must be true to yourself. If you're not, you're doing nobody any favors. So if you've been thinking about a career change for a while and those thoughts are not going away (and you still have them when your not feeling anxious about your current job), I'd say go for it. It will probably produce anxiety initially (as any change, good or bad, will do), but it seems like following your heart is the right thing to do.

Hi,

I get along great with my parents so ther wouldn't be an issue there. My dad has suffered with anxiety at times so he understands where I am coming from. Luckily for him, he has overcome it. I also think that since I've been living on my own I have not pushed myseld enough. I think living with my parents they will make me go out and do things I don't want to do. There's a lot to consider. Thank you for your adivce and good luck with your career change as well.