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Discussion Topic: Does stress add to anxiety?
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 think_possitive |
01-03-2004 @ 3:55 PM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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All,
I have worked in an extreamly stressfull job for the last 3 years and ever since have experienced OCD. I seem to have issues with new things (travel/new job/moving). Is it the job??
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| sky |
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01-04-2004 @ 3:33 AM |
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Joined: Oct. 2003
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Hi there.
What does the job entail, if you don't mind my asking?
I'm asking this becaues if you worked at a hospital and had a fear of say, seeing blood then this would most deffinatly have an impact on your anxiety. So I'd suggest you maybe move to a different job or sector in said job.
If you can't think of any specific relation to your job and your panic. I'd say it's got nothing to do with your job, and everything to do with your attitude.
I have issues with new things aswell. It may also be to do with you fearing a change in job because of your anxiety. So which ever way you turn it would feel like an anxious outcome.
I believe everything has to do with our attitude. It's all in the way we see things.
OCD sufferers are perfectionists. I have OCD myself. Something I've learned is that the obsession, the object of fixation, what ever it is. Has nothing to do with the OCD itself. It may have triggered it. But OCD continues for other reasons. The biggest reason, I'd say, is perfectionism.
I just wanted you to see things in a different light. Hope this helps a bit.
Take care and keep us posted. 
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| hopeful |
01-04-2004 @ 11:35 AM |
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Joined: Oct. 2003
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I agree with you, Sky, unless you can find a true connection with the job, it's probably your OCD effecting your job and not the job causing the OCD. Sky is right about attitude, it makes all the difference in the world. It's been very hard for me to change my attitude, but it is truly the way out of this. Perfectionists, like to be in control, and panic, of course, makes us feel like we aren't in control. No wonder it drives us nuts. We have to accept that we can't always be in control. Fighting to stay in control only feeds panic and OCD. Accepting our symptoms and fears leads to freedom from this problem.
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| think_possitive |
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01-04-2004 @ 11:39 AM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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I'm an IT professional.... The job has nothing to do with my OCD but it's very stressfull. I love my job and the field. I never had OCD this way before the I started the job 3 years ago. I noticed my OCD first when I started travelling and getting a new apartment. Now I have again noticed it when I attempted to leave mu current job for a new one within the same company. I seem to backout of everything because the anxiety become to much to handle... I am so scared. I see medical help for OCD on a weekly basis and I am currently taking celexa(I took effexor fo the last year). I exersise and eat healthy but feel OCD has been a serious challenge for me to beat even though I am willing to try. What do you think?
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| think_possitive |
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01-04-2004 @ 11:40 AM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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hopefull,
are you still there? I'd like to talk
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| hopeful |
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01-04-2004 @ 12:06 PM |
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Joined: Oct. 2003
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I'm still here, think-positive! I think that OCD and panic are a way of releasing anx that we have about things in general. I deliver pizzas and have for 16 years. (Don't laugh!) It can be very stressful if you're trying to do a good job and run the store properly. Driving 600 miles a week has been my life for years. Then I had an unexpected horrible panic attack while driving a few months ago, and WHAM, all of a sudden I'm terrified to drive. I am getting past it now, thank goodness. But see, even though the job was stressful for all those years, it didn't bring panic. And the panic I felt while driving, had nothing at all to do with the driving or the stress at work. But it sure turned it into a work problem. So you feeling stressed is probably just the OCD in general. What kinds of OCD symptoms do you have? Do you have panic attacks, too? I have to run down to the barn for about 30 minutes and tend to the animals, but I will answer you when I return.
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| think_possitive |
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01-04-2004 @ 5:48 PM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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- I was formally diagnosed with OCD Dec 1/2003 after suffering for a few years an not finding the proper help.
My symptoms:
- when no changes are occuring in my life none.
Triggers found so far:
- moving
- travelling
- buying a house
- moving to a new job
* I have failed at all the above so far, the anxiety get's so bad I have to bad out to get back to my normal self. This is really slowing me down and effecting not only myself but my family.
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| pamela34 |
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01-04-2004 @ 7:40 PM |
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Joined: Dec. 2003
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think positive, hope you don't mind me butting in on your conversation with hopeful (she's great, gives really good advice) but I was just wondering what are you really afraid of? Have you ever stopped to think about it. Cause I doubt it's just change. Do you ever ask yourself when your getting ready to buy a house, change jobs or move what it is that frightens you? Are you afraid of failure or maybe disappointing people. If you stop and ask yourself what's the worse thing that could happen if I (for instance) take this new job and you write down all the things your panicked about maybe that will help you to see that the worse thing that could happen is not so bad after all. It's really helped me to do that makes you kind of put things into perspective as long as the panic is not to out of control and yours seems to be under control most of the time. Don't know if this helps at all let me know.
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| think_possitive |
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01-04-2004 @ 10:03 PM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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pamela34,
I don't mind at all.. I appreciate all the support I get. I have a new job offer but am afraid to just say yes as I am scared of getting more panic attacks. I tried this a few weeks ago and the outcome was severe. I don't know exaclty what I am scared of, I can't get the bad thoughts out of my head.
Thoughts:
Can I do the job.
Will I be good enough
What is I have panic attacks and can't work.
My main concern is that the panic attacks will get so bad that I will again not want to live... I am sucha happy person until I go though change.
Please send your thoughts.
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| sky |
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01-05-2004 @ 4:32 AM |
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Joined: Oct. 2003
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Hey again Think Possitive,
I can completely relate to not knowing what it is I’m afraid of. It’s very frightening and frustraiting.
I still ask myself on a daily basiss. “Sky what are you afraid of exactly?” To begin with the answer was always “I don’t [insert swear word of your choice here] know!” Anyway I kept it up and still do it. With me it’s a control issue. As the answer everytime now is “I’m scared I’m going to die” No matter what the situation is at the time that’s causing the anxiety and panic OCD etc. The answer remains the same. Ultimately it’s a control issue. As I can’t control when or how I die.
The only solution is to go with the flow and ride the tide, all that. It’s easier said than done and exactly not what you want to hear when you’re anxious. But it does work. So now I’m changing my attitude and I’ll say to myself before I walk into an unknown situation. “Okay, I don’t know what’s going to happen here but I trust myself to be able to cope with whatever comes my way panic attack or no panic attack” Sure I still get panic attacks and live with anxiety but it truly is getting better. Because this attitude has helped me reduce the fear of panic a great deal. Fearing panic, or anything that goes with panic, will always bring on anxiety – leading to panic.
Panic attacks have made me question my life and want to end it in the past. But the good thing about hitting rock bottom is that the only way from there is up. I’m a happy person too, so I can relate to that fear of yours too. Thinking out of character things is terrible but it’s a symptom of something change worthy.
Take care and try to remain positive.
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| trish |
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01-05-2004 @ 8:51 AM |
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Joined: Aug. 2003
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I would like to join in on this too, if you don't mind. Changes even in my homelife, husbands working hours changes, we moved 3 years ago too. It not that we know we can't do it. I boiled down to me, when we are at somewhere (present home or job) when have our plans if you have attacks. Changes in residence or jobs, the stress in finding new plans, new people to rely on or understand, if we have one. Seems we have to have the possible escape route with minimal discomfort, and the changes in jobs, or moving, you have to seek driving new roads, or at a new home, a plan to have new neighbors be apart of your life (extremely difficult) to rely on. You really can't say Hi, Im Trish, your new neighbor and just like to let you know I have panic attacks, and umm... could I call on you sometime? LOL, gosh it was hard that first few months, interestingly enough I didnt have attacks, or introduce myself that way, but oddly enough since living here, and knowing my neighbors better in just everyday talks, my next door neighbor has the same things as I do, so we have become each others "guardian angel" to help each other if needed, and I have made one heck of a new friend.
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| pamela34 |
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01-05-2004 @ 10:50 AM |
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Joined: Dec. 2003
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think positive, I sure can relate to what you are feeling, it sucks when you can't get the bad thoughts out of your head and I know what it feels like to get so bad you just don't think you can take it anymore. You seem to have your comfort zone which is your current job and area you live in and it would probably be ok to just stay there and not try to get a better job or live in a new place. But you obviously want to because if you didn't care about the new job you wouldn't be pancking. I hate it when my panic and fear holds me back. It's been holding me back for years so when I finally got really good and ****ed and I decided I needed to first confess to my family and friends what was going on in my head and then I went to see a psyhciatrist. It was the best thing I've ever done. I can't function without medication and therapy. It's just a fact and I had to face it. If you haven't sought any help yet please think about it. I hope you feel better soon. Take care and God Bless.
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| think_possitive |
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01-05-2004 @ 3:31 PM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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Everyone,
I appreciate all the replies. Today I formally applied for the new joband advised the manager that I have OCD and the reason I have been unable to apply for this job earlier is becuase of my Anxiety. He seemed to have understood and said he will get back to me.
I am currently living with about a 6-8 on the anxiety raiting form, I want to fight this time and not backout. I am very scared though. Every hour is an accomplishment. In the back of my head I want to send an email to him and say I'm no longer interested just so I can get back to normal. This is very tough and I am hopefull I will make it.
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| pamela34 |
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01-05-2004 @ 7:22 PM |
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Joined: Dec. 2003
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think positive, I 'm not sure if I should congratulate you or not about the new job. If your at a high level of anxiety all the time right now and just getting through hour by hour I think you need to really seek some counseling. I don't think you said whether or not you are taking any medication or seeking therapy, would you mind me asking if you are currently or have in the past done either. It's really hard to handle this disorder without some kind of help. You don't have to be anxious there is alot of things you can do to help it. Hang in there and continue to think positive.
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| think_possitive |
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01-05-2004 @ 9:36 PM |
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Joined: Nov. 2003
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I was on effexor for the last year and then I got proffesional help at a University/Hospital that specializes in Anxiety. The help I am receiving only started in December so I need to give it time and take things slow, this I understand. I am now on Celexa(20mg), I started at 10mg. I see an improvement from effexor as I would be completly panicing if I wasn't on Celexa. I think this job is not for me as it will add more stress and travel is required. I think I need to focus on me getting better and take the career slowly. I try so hard to keep fighting, their has been many tough days but I am still her and have a great family. I feel I was lucky to get support, this took me 3 years to find. At first I didn't know what was wrong.
Question:
Should I cut out coffee completly? I only have one a day but I see OCD and anxiety sufferers should't drink coffee.
I also seen on Dr.Phil tonight that chewing gum helps produce more serotonin??
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| Posted By |
Discussion Topic: Does stress add to anxiety?
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