How To Cope With Work Anxiety
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the COVID-19 pandemic led to at least a 25% increase in anxiety and depression worldwide. This is likely a result of multiple factors, including social isolation, fear of becoming ill, financial worries and restrictions on engaging with loved ones and communities. A significant contributor to feelings of loneliness stems from the sudden switch to remote work. Today, about a third of workers in the U.S. remain in remote positions.
As a result, many may experience symptoms of social anxiety, panic attacks or general distress at the thought of going back to the office. If these symptoms become excessive or cause someone to avoid interacting with colleagues, it can create issues in their professional and personal life. We'll examine why the office gives someone anxiety and what can be done to find relief.
Unraveling Office Anxiety and the Pandemic's Influence
Before the pandemic, approximately 72% of American workers reported high levels of stress and anxiety in their daily lives. Post-pandemic, the already problematic workplace anxiety levels have soared, affecting workplace productivity, interpersonal relationships and communication. Let's explore the rise of work anxiety below.
What Is Office Anxiety?
Office anxiety, or workplace anxiety, refers to feeling intense worry, unease or apprehension about being at work. Workplace anxiety differs from general anxiety because it's specifically related to a job, in or out of the office. Some causes of workplace anxiety could be pandemic-related, causing distress over the social interaction of being back in the office. It can also be caused by:
- Working excessive hours
- A toxic workplace culture
- Poor working relationships
- Worries about your job performance
- Fear of failing to meet upcoming deadlines
Office anxiety generally makes it difficult for individuals to concentrate on their job. In some cases, it can even result in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
What Are the Symptoms of Work Anxiety?
While feelings of stress and anxiety about our jobs are normal from time to time, workplace anxiety is often prolonged and can have a significant impact on one's career and mental well-being. If you have work-related anxiety, you might have symptoms like:
- Constant worrying
- Feeling physically ill when thinking about work or doing work-related tasks
- Avoiding meetings, work events or projects
- Persistent sense of hopelessness or dread
- Feeling tense, fearful or paranoid
- Feeling fatigued and irritable
- Having trouble focusing or remembering things
- Overreacting to work situations
- Losing interest in your work or career
- Having panic attacks
- Feeling trapped
- Avoiding friends and family
- Feeling like you need to be perfect
- Losing your appetite or overeating
- Having muscle tension or pain in your head or neck
- Having sweating palms
- Losing motivation
- Procrastinating work-related tasks
- Taking more sick days or time off work
- Focusing too much on the negative
- Having trouble sleeping
- Feeling jittery
- Having a racing heart
Stress and anxiety at work can also manifest in ways many might not even notice. For instance, you might turn down a job after realizing you cannot work remotely or decline an opportunity that involves traveling or public speaking.
How to Manage Anxiety at Work: Navigating Treatment Options
Work-related anxiety and stress can be very frustrating to deal with. Fortunately, there are effective ways to relieve your symptoms and improve your quality of life. Discover how to deal with anxiety at work with these treatment options.
Managing Office Anxiety with Ketamine
While there are many medications available that can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety, it often takes several weeks or months to notice results. Ketamine, however, can provide relief from office-related anxiety for some individuals. One study found that those with social anxiety and generalized anxiety experienced a significant decrease in anxiety after several sessions of ketamine treatment. In this study, 10 out of 12 patients reported a reduction of at least 50% or more of anxiety and fearfulness.
At Stella, we provide IV ketamine infusion and integration sessions as an alternative treatment for anxiety and other mental health challenges.
Unveiling the Efficacy of DSR SGB in Office Anxiety Treatment
The Dual Sympathetic Reset, an advanced Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB) protocol, is an injectable anesthetic treatment that targets the nerves in your neck. This long-acting anesthetic directly affects the main nerve that controls your sympathetic nervous system.
Your nervous system is what connects your fight-or-flight response to the rest of your body, and SGB is often used to "reset" the fight-or-flight response and provide long-term relief of chronic anxiety. Research shows that SGB treatment results in more than twice the clinical minimal difference for treating anxiety.
Stella offers safe and effective relief with DSR SGB treatment for a variety of anxiety symptoms and conditions. Most individuals can expect a reduction in nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks and involuntary functions like elevated heart rate.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS): A New Age Treatment
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy is a form of brain stimulation that involves delivering magnetic pulses to stimulate brain cells. This FDA-approved procedure is noninvasive and has been proven to be an effective treatment option for anxiety, depression and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
The brief, repeated magnetic fields target the area of the brain responsible for mood regulation, resulting in significant reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms. At Stella, we offer TMS treatment with a NeuroStar machine to regulate brain activity.
Gazing Into the Future of Office Anxiety Treatment Post-Pandemic
Many workers experience office anxiety to a certain degree. Perhaps you dread the uncertainty of knowing what to say during social interactions or feel your heart rate skyrocket when you're asked a question in a meeting. No matter what triggers you, know that you can find work anxiety help.
Though the majority of the workforce has transitioned to a post-pandemic life, anxiety and depression symptoms continue to rise sharply among American workers. As a result, clinicians have developed new and effective treatment methods to meet these needs. At Stella, we're dedicated to supporting office workers and individuals struggling with mental health difficulties. We believe that a multi-modality approach can kickstart lasting relief.
Discover Office Anxiety Treatment Options With Stella
Office anxiety can range from mild to debilitating. If your work-related anxiety symptoms are preventing you from thriving in your professional or personal life — there is hope. At Stella, we know that managing anxiety requires a multifaceted approach. Our compassionate team is ready to guide you through the challenges of anxiety and find a combination of treatment methods that work for your needs.
If you're interested in exploring medications and alternative treatments, we're here to help you regain control over your mental well-being. Stella offers ketamine-assisted therapy, DSR SGB, TMS and other cutting-edge anxiety treatment options informed by modern neuroscience. Contact us today to learn more about our care approach, or take our symptoms quiz online.
