ANXIETY AND THE WORKPLACE

information and support for family and friends of those with anxiety disorders

The material presented here was gathered from panic and anxiety sufferers as well as mental health professionals. This information is intended for educational purposes only and the general site disclaimer applies. For the purpose of clarity, the use of she has been adopted to include both he and she.

What employer wouldn't want an employee with these qualities?

• Shows extraordinary job commitment

• Pays strong attention to details

• Exhibits a high degree of selflessness

Yet many mental health professionals agree that it is often people with these same perfectionist traits that have a tendency to suffer from panic and anxiety disorder (PAD). PAD manifests itself in sudden attacks of anxiety and may include such symptoms as trembling, difficulty breathing, rapid heartbeat, sweating, numbness and nausea. During an attack, the employee may fear she's having a heart attack or becomes so overwhelmed by panic that she feels compelled to escape to a place where she feels safe.

Workplace stress can initiate or heighten anxiety, but even tension outside the job sphere may harm the employee's performance. Ashamed of and isolated by the disorder, she is constantly terrorized by thoughts of having an attack at in the presence of a boss or co-workers.

So what can an employer do to retain a valuable employee and reduce the possibility of a workman's compensation or disability claim? According to mental health professionals, both employers and employees stand the best chance of surmounting problems arising from panic disorder if they educate themselves about the condition and communicate in good faith. Lack of candor on either side can be quite damaging in a business relationship. A worker who inflates what she's realistically capable of handling at the present time for fear of "letting the company down" may sabotage the relationship as much as the boss who agrees to lessen workplace tension and then continues to impose rigid deadlines.

"Part of the problem is distrust," says a former panic sufferer who works with others with the disorder. "For instance, a person with panic and anxiety went back to his job and was welcomed with open arms. Then he accidentally discovered they were keeping a file on him in preparation of firing him. That shattered him enough to put him back on sick leave and in a worse state than before."

With a variety of methods, including relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy and medicine, PAD is highly treatable. Therefore, the chances for a positive work outcome are high if both parties are willing to be honest, flexible and realistic. "I found what helped me most at work was the complete acceptance of my disorder," says an anxiety sufferer. "My co-workers asked me to explain it and what they should do if I started to feel uncomfortable. If I needed to leave the room in a hurry, they were very accepting. It only took a couple of weeks working in this atmosphere before I was very at ease at work and didn't have any problems."

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