I've been a member for over a year. I had been diagnosed with treatment resistent depression and anxiety. I have asthma and thought I was having an asthma attack. Turns out it was an anxiety attack. I take Symbyax and xanax as needed. However, every time I have to take the xanax I feel completely guilty.
I started a new job about six months ago. I was at the old job I had for 10 years and married my boss' cousin in 2004.
I have a supportive husband and a teenage daughter, and logically I don't have anything right now to be depressed or anxious about. I feel guilty for even posting here, but I need some input from others. How do you deal with anxiety at work? Some days are better than others, and I can't figure out what my trigger may be. I work as a legal assistant for a criminal defense firm, and I like my job, I just get to feeling overwhelmed.
- No one should be alone in this. We can help.
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Lheiserman - Any Help Is Appreciated
Started by
lheiserman
, Sep 07 2012 09:14 AM
11 replies to this topic
#1
lheiserman
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- Junior Member
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#2
ohmatt
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 09:26 AM
Glad you posted! Think about the other advice I gave and take it or leave it - I think you will get a lot more from the great folks here at DF.
I will think of any more suggestions I might offer, but do not feel bad for asking for help. Helping others is very therapeutic, so in asking for help you have helped me today.
- Matt -
I will think of any more suggestions I might offer, but do not feel bad for asking for help. Helping others is very therapeutic, so in asking for help you have helped me today.
- Matt -
- lheiserman likes this
#3
lheiserman
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 09:51 AM
Thanks. I am thinking about the other advice you gave. Thanks for being there for me.
Lisa
Lisa
#4
Epictetus
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 10:09 AM
Hi Lisa,
Sorry you had a panic attack. I had two in one day a couple of weeks ago. They are brutal. I wouldn't feel guilty taking medicine for anxiety. Anxiety has been linked to serious disease pathology in the brain.
A school of psychology called CBT believes anxiety is related to some deep fear we have that we are afraid to face, some thought about being trapped and being in danger. Is there some aspect of your life where you feel trapped or some aspect of your work environment?
Sometimes the trap can be some internal expectation. Some of the most common internal expectations are these: I must be the perfect son or daughter to my parents, I must be the perfect sibling to my brothers and sister, the perfect husband or wife, the perfect parent . . . I must be the perfect employee and so on. Any expectations that is unrealistic [requiring perfection or near perfection] is going to engender a lot of stress.
Usually there is some "core fear" at the bottom of unexplainable anxiety. In relationships the core fear is often: "If I don't do x, I am going to end up all alone." In work, the core fear is often: "If I don't do x, I am going to end up unemployeed." Sometimes the core fear goes even deeper: "If I end up alone, it means something is wrong with me and I am unlovable." Or: "If I lose this job, it means I am a failure." Anyway . . . this is how CBT views anxiety.
If one can face the unfaceable fear, one can overcome it through cognitive flooding. Usually there is some "expectation" behind our core fear: I must do this or my parents will be disappointed, or my family will be disappointed, or my boss or coworkers or employees will be disappointed in me." Anyway, this is CBT thinking.
Since the brain can atrophy in anxiety, the atrophy alone can also explain unexplainable anxiety. When the brain is sick it cannot regulate anxiety very well.
Anyway, I don't think you are at fault in any of this. Unrealistic expectations usually come from unbringing. And clinical anxiety comes from disease pathology in the brain. So it isn't your fault. I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I hope you will feel better very soon. If you are interested, I can show you an example of "cognitive flooding," a technique for dealing with anxiety.
Again I am very sorry. I send you all my best thoughts and wishes. Have a nice weekend Lisa!!!
Sorry you had a panic attack. I had two in one day a couple of weeks ago. They are brutal. I wouldn't feel guilty taking medicine for anxiety. Anxiety has been linked to serious disease pathology in the brain.
A school of psychology called CBT believes anxiety is related to some deep fear we have that we are afraid to face, some thought about being trapped and being in danger. Is there some aspect of your life where you feel trapped or some aspect of your work environment?
Sometimes the trap can be some internal expectation. Some of the most common internal expectations are these: I must be the perfect son or daughter to my parents, I must be the perfect sibling to my brothers and sister, the perfect husband or wife, the perfect parent . . . I must be the perfect employee and so on. Any expectations that is unrealistic [requiring perfection or near perfection] is going to engender a lot of stress.
Usually there is some "core fear" at the bottom of unexplainable anxiety. In relationships the core fear is often: "If I don't do x, I am going to end up all alone." In work, the core fear is often: "If I don't do x, I am going to end up unemployeed." Sometimes the core fear goes even deeper: "If I end up alone, it means something is wrong with me and I am unlovable." Or: "If I lose this job, it means I am a failure." Anyway . . . this is how CBT views anxiety.
If one can face the unfaceable fear, one can overcome it through cognitive flooding. Usually there is some "expectation" behind our core fear: I must do this or my parents will be disappointed, or my family will be disappointed, or my boss or coworkers or employees will be disappointed in me." Anyway, this is CBT thinking.
Since the brain can atrophy in anxiety, the atrophy alone can also explain unexplainable anxiety. When the brain is sick it cannot regulate anxiety very well.
Anyway, I don't think you are at fault in any of this. Unrealistic expectations usually come from unbringing. And clinical anxiety comes from disease pathology in the brain. So it isn't your fault. I have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I hope you will feel better very soon. If you are interested, I can show you an example of "cognitive flooding," a technique for dealing with anxiety.
Again I am very sorry. I send you all my best thoughts and wishes. Have a nice weekend Lisa!!!
Edited by Ep1ctetus, 07 September 2012 - 10:13 AM.
- ohmatt likes this
Mental Illness is a serious health condition not to be trifled with. It requires treament by highly trained, experienced, qualified and Board-certified physicians, physician- specialists, and mental health professionals. There is no substitute for this professional care. I am not a mental health professional, only a fellow sufferer.
"A man is really ethical when he obeys the constraint laid on him to help all life which he is able to help, and when he goes out of his way to avoid injuring anything living. He does not ask how far this or that life deserves compassion as valuable in itself, how far it is capable of feeling. To him, life itself is sacred. He shatters no ice crystal that sparkles in the sun, tears no leaf from its tree, breaks off no flower, and is careful not to crush any insect as he walks. If he works by lamplight on a summer evening, he prefers to keep the window shut and breathe stifling air rather than see insect after insect fall on his table with singed and sinking wings. If he goes out into the street after a rain storm and sees a worm which has strayed there, he reflects that it will surely dry up in the sunlight, if it does not quickly regain the damp soil into which it can creep, and so he helps it back to the lush grass. Should he pass an insect which has fallen into a pool, he spares the time to reach it a leaf or a stalk on which it may clamor and save itself. Animals suffer as much as we do. We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. " Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." Dr. Albert Scheweiter.
"A man is really ethical when he obeys the constraint laid on him to help all life which he is able to help, and when he goes out of his way to avoid injuring anything living. He does not ask how far this or that life deserves compassion as valuable in itself, how far it is capable of feeling. To him, life itself is sacred. He shatters no ice crystal that sparkles in the sun, tears no leaf from its tree, breaks off no flower, and is careful not to crush any insect as he walks. If he works by lamplight on a summer evening, he prefers to keep the window shut and breathe stifling air rather than see insect after insect fall on his table with singed and sinking wings. If he goes out into the street after a rain storm and sees a worm which has strayed there, he reflects that it will surely dry up in the sunlight, if it does not quickly regain the damp soil into which it can creep, and so he helps it back to the lush grass. Should he pass an insect which has fallen into a pool, he spares the time to reach it a leaf or a stalk on which it may clamor and save itself. Animals suffer as much as we do. We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. " Dr. Albert Schweitzer.
"Compassion, in which all ethics must take root, can only attain its full breadth and depth if it embraces all living creatures and does not limit itself to mankind." Dr. Albert Scheweiter.
#5
lheiserman
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 10:25 AM
Wow. Thank you for the information and the promptness of your reply. I am afraid of losing my job, but I have nothing concrete to base it on. I'm just having a lot of trouble keeping up.
#6
ohmatt
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- Location:Ohio
Posted 07 September 2012 - 10:55 AM
Wow. Thank you for the information and the promptness of your reply. I am afraid of losing my job, but I have nothing concrete to base it on. I'm just having a lot of trouble keeping up.
That distraction and trouble keeping up is a physical symptom of anxiety and/or depression. I am still worried my employer is going to fire me because I have been distracted. Look at all the time I spend on DF! But they are sending me to costly training in a couple weeks - they still value me a lot. I have to turn off my negative self thoughts. I need to realize I am in a bit of downtime at work, be productive when needed and not fret when I am not buried with work. When I am buried with work - I sometimes need to take some time to gather myself to get back to work and be productive again.
Take Care,
- Matt -
#7
Woman32
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- Senior Member
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 02:17 PM
Have you tried other meds? I am on a SRNI and it works great on anxiety!!!!!!
#8
lheiserman
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#9
ohmatt
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Posted 07 September 2012 - 10:12 PM
I've tried Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro.
Hi LH,
you can add prozac since it is in your symbax. All of those medications are SSRI class. The Zoloft is thought to be best for anxiety if you hit 200 mg.
I believe it might be good for you to try another type next time, if the symbax doesn't work. Like woman 32 said, a SNRI might be worth considering.
#10
ohmatt
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Member
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- Location:Ohio
Posted 18 September 2012 - 04:07 PM
Stopping in to check in on you Lisa. 
Hope your day is going well..
Hope your day is going well..
#11
lheiserman
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Junior Member
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Posted 19 September 2012 - 05:27 PM
I started out with having to tell one of the attorneys I work for that I didn't get everything done that he wanted me to get done while he was gone on vacation. However, I survived it. The other attorney I work for is going on vacation for three or four days, so that should give me time to catch up.
I was out sick Monday with a combination of the stomach flu and nausea from anxiety. I started driving to work anyway, and realized I needed to go home and take care of myself for a change. It's the first day I have missed work since I started in 7 months. I felt guilty all day long, and I think a couple of my co-workers were a little upset that I was gone. Although I will say that one of them was out a couple of weeks ago with the stomach flu and the other one was out with pnemonia shortly after I started.
Anyway, being out put me even more behind. I am skipping lunch breaks and working later at night to catch up the 8 hours I missed.
On a bright note, the head attorney, who co-owns the firm, gave me a thank you note for getting my billable hours up last month. That made me feel a little better.
I was out sick Monday with a combination of the stomach flu and nausea from anxiety. I started driving to work anyway, and realized I needed to go home and take care of myself for a change. It's the first day I have missed work since I started in 7 months. I felt guilty all day long, and I think a couple of my co-workers were a little upset that I was gone. Although I will say that one of them was out a couple of weeks ago with the stomach flu and the other one was out with pnemonia shortly after I started.
Anyway, being out put me even more behind. I am skipping lunch breaks and working later at night to catch up the 8 hours I missed.
On a bright note, the head attorney, who co-owns the firm, gave me a thank you note for getting my billable hours up last month. That made me feel a little better.
#12
ohmatt
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- Member
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- 154 posts
Member
- Gender:Male
- Location:Ohio
Posted 20 September 2012 - 02:07 PM
I was out sick Tuesday, and had a big software upgrade today for software used to send information to CMS for reimbursement. I was pretty stressed out yesterday and today and worked through lunch both day as well. The upgrade went fine though, it is done. It might not have if I had pushed myself on Tuesday and gotten more sick. I think that taking care of your physical well-being is even more important when you have... BRAIN COOTIES!!
Isn't it great to be recognized for your effort, it definitely makes the "daily grind" better. I'm really glad you got that note.
- Matt -
Isn't it great to be recognized for your effort, it definitely makes the "daily grind" better. I'm really glad you got that note.
- Matt -
Edited by ohmatt, 20 September 2012 - 02:08 PM.
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