Anyone else have this problem? When I'm even thinking that I might get chewed out

[raccoon]

at work, I just freeze with anxiety. The way most people would do if they stepped outside and
encountered a stranger brandishing a knife.

I hate this, and it's been this way for a long time.

Any experience with this?

[laylah]

1. Regularly and it

sucks! Then again, getting fired from my previous job for eating a french fry (true story, I have the documentation to prove it :rofl: ) will do that to a person.

I am sorry you experience this, raccoon. It is no fun at all. :hug:

[raccoon]

5. That sounds similar to stuff that's happened to me.

I feel your pain. :hug:

Care to tell about it? PM me if you want.

[Chan790]

10. French fry?

That's absurd...I have to have a hearing tomorrow to contest a termination for failing to lock an empty drawer that I was never out of line-of-sight of.

[MiddleFingerMom]

2. No, but I'm a VERY honest man and when I even THINK that people think I'm lying...

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... I start to look and sound like I'm lying my ass off.
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Stuttering... avoiding eye contact... defensive.
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It sucks.
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No, it doesn't. I'm just bullshittin' ya.
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[Lady Freedom Returns]

3. I live with this motto, it helps some

" Easier to ask forgiveness than permission"

[givemebackmycountry]

7. LFR - That's a VERY good philosophy.

I also like the Eric Cartman school of business.

"I Do What I Want!"

and

"Respect My Authorotie!"

[raccoon]

4. Could some others share here? nt

[dawg]

6. I don't freeze-up completely, but I really hate confrontation.

Back when I was an employee, it was much, much worse. I felt helpless, and didn't really feel like anything I did short of 100% dedication to the employer was going to make them happy.

And I know we're supposed to give 100% all the time anyway. But that sometimes means putting them above your family and your own happiness and peace of mind. I've never been really good at that. It makes me feel exploited, and I'm not willing to trust that somewhere down the line all that hard work will be rewarded. I'm old enough to know that sometimes they can just arbitrarily give you the shaft.

I'm much happier being self-employed, even though the money isn't as good.

[Bake]

8. Lexapro can help with that

:hi:

Bake

[raccoon]

12. thanks,

but I'm already on Prozac.

[FSogol]

9. Some advice: Get yourself a little notebook / notepad for work.

Every time someone at work or a client compliments your work, make a note with the date, time and details.
Be fair and list any problems or complaints also.
Whenever your boss asks you into the office or have a review, slip the pad into your pocket.
You then have a detail back up of anything you say or to prove your aren't a screw up.

I never get anxious about work. I used to do a lot of high altitude mountaineering, rock climbing, and travel thru the 3rd world. I had a bunch of real life or death experiences, so when someone in middle management or some blowhard contractor starts bellowing about their idiotic problem, I have a tendency to laugh at them. I know that I do good work and know that if they laid off 75% of the company, I'd still be there. This confidence allows me to not sweat the small stuff.

I know that this economy is nothing to sneeze at and that having a job is extremely important in this economy, but try to adopt these attitudes: Be serious and professional about your work and how you treat others in your company. Don't allow people to adopt unprofessional attitudes about you or your work. Recognize that there are jerks, bullies, and idiots at every company. Be better than them.

Hope that helps.

[fizzgig]

11. i have terrible anxiety problems

a lot of it is me being my own harshest critic, my own (occasional) crippling lack of self-confidence.

breath, remember that what your mirror shows you is complete bullshit sometimes and do your best. you're going to screw up sometimes, just make sure the reasoning behind what you do is sound and you didn't screw up out of laziness or malfeasance.

i didn't think my shifts went well friday, saturday or sunday and spent monday and tuesday (my days off) in a panic that i had screwed everything up and was going to hear it from my boss when i walked in today. guess what? walked in today and not one word. i'd sent him an email before i left sunday laying out where i think things went wrong and why i did what i did.that's all he needed.

trust yourself.

[Nikia]

13. I have very high anxiety at work right now

I have always had anxiety, but lately it has gotten out of control. I have more work than I can handle. A new boss that has made a lot of changes. I have even more work since they haven't replaced a coworker that quit and they fired another a few weeks ago (This is in a five person department). I got a "final" warning a week ago. "Do better or you'll end up like Fired Coworker." As in the other times that I have been "talked to" I could not manage to say anything to defend myself.
I am trying to make peace with the fact that there is a strong chance that I will get fired. I don't think that attitude is very motivating but neither is shaking in fear every time I see my boss or praying that there won't be a problem that I have to deal with.
I guess the key to having a little less anxiety in your situation is to realize that getting yelled at is not the end of the world and that you will survive it. Being a fellow anxiety sufferer I realize that you will still feel anxiety but maybe it won't be so paralyzing.

[Generic Brad]

14. No one deserves to be chewed out at work

Everyone makes mistakes. It is how we respond that sets us apart.

If you work for someone who makes you feel intimidated or powerless, then you need to seriously consider changing employment. Life is too short to be stressed like that.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

15. all the time

so many backstabbers and aggressive, ambitious, political ladderclimbers where I work. They would throw their own Mother under the bus.

my stress level stays at 9-10 thanks to this.

I will die early because of it.