The Path to Peace: Managing Anxiety in Today’s Workforce
In today’s world, many are struggling with the pressures of late stage capitalism and anxiety brought on by the stressors associated with the current economy and inflation. Return-to-office has meant that many folks are dealing with re-integrating themselves into the workforce and trying to find the time and energy to get it all done. Even more, corporate pressures and looming layoffs make day-to-day work in America feel like a pressure-cooker. It can be difficult to stay grounded and emotionally regulated when it feels like the world around us is burning.
If you’re feeling this way, know that you’re not the only one. It’s possible to view workplace anxiety as a beautiful opportunity – if you can figure out how to regulate yourself amidst the stress of modern life, then you can handle any challenges life brings.
Therapy can be a helpful way to build skills to cope and self-regulate when dealing with anxiety in the workplace. Some ideas you can explore with your therapist are:
Setting boundaries – We all know that we’re supposed to set boundaries, but even the idea of setting boundaries can be intimidating and cause more stress. Some ways we can start setting boundaries are: choosing what information to share, protecting our time by choosing when we are and are not available to our job, taking breaks, getting outside, setting priorities, and learning to say no.
Practicing self-care – Carving out time during the day or before and after work is a way of prioritizing our own well-being. When we intentionally spend that time walking outside, drinking water and eating healthful foods, connecting with friends and family, practicing hobbies, or exercising, it can feel like we have more control over our experience. Earmarking time for restorative activities as opposed to draining ones (like scrolling TikTok or binging Netflix) is a powerful way of taking our time back.
Effective communication – Healthy communication is crucial, both with our work colleagues and with friends and family. At work, being able to express your concerns and share your feelings in a constructive way will help to build a better relationship with your work and the people you interact with. Clear communication with colleagues and supervisors will go a long way in helping to manage your anxiety at work.
Seeking support – Identify what help you need and then seek it out. This can include social support from family and friends and also connecting with people at work who you can lean on. And of course, therapy, which can be an amazing resource for processing the challenges of work as well as skill building for ways to make it more bearable. This can also allow you to reflect on your relationship to your work – identify areas for improvement – and together with your therapist you can build new ways of managing this path.
Searching for “Anxiety Therapists Near Me”
If you’re struggling with anxiety at work or are seeking anxiety counseling for women in Illinois or online, please reach out to Dr. Sarah Van Nostrand at Moonrise Therapy. Sarah is a depression and anxiety therapist who can help you navigate your relationship with your career. Moonrise Therapy offers anxiety therapy in Evanston, IL and online via telehealth.
