Major Work Anxiety

I feel a lot of pressure right now and a lot of anxiety around work. I already have an anxiety problem and take meds for it as needed. But I feel tons of pressure because I have a client I must please and do well with or else we may lose them. We’re already in hot water with them because of another team messing up from my company. My boss told me last week that the work I hand in to them this week has to be awesome. Then he’s pressured me to get it to them as soon as possible. I need to take my time with it though in order for it to be awesome. It’s not a simple project. I just feel so much pressure and anxiety over it. If we lose them I don’t want it to be because of me.

It is possible that because of what has already transpired, that client is already "shopping". They may already have decided to go but the time is not right for it yet. I think you are putting to much pressure on yourself. Anxiety motivates us to work harder but if the client leaves, it may be a reflection on your entire company, not just you. Not fun to be put under so much pressure though.....

You need to relax enough for maximum performance, especially if this is an issue of creativity. People often get their best ideas in the shower, waking up, etc. Don’t clench up, a tough order, I know. Exercise,bubble bath, pamper your inner genius and go for it!

Thanks a great point! They could be shopping. I just hate the pressure I feel. It’s not my fault that the other department messed up, but now all the burden is on me to make them happy. Ugh.

I love this! Thanks. I do get more creative and have my best brainstorming moments outside the office! Lol. I’m at lunch thinking about that project now even.

Argh. The anxiety and stress I feel is just too much. I know I do some of it, and perhaps even a lot of it to myself. But it doesn't help that my boss tells me this project must be awesome or we could lose the client. I am putting a lot of pressure on myself a as a direct result.

A co-worker of mine just coasts through work, unlike me. I wish I could be more like her and adopt her attitude, which is "it's just work".

But if we lose the biggest client because of ME, I worry I will get let go. They've done it before and will do it again, if need be. I worry so much about everything, but that's my greatest fear.

Well, I handed in my project today to my boss. He said it was perfect! So, there's that to celebrate. Now I just need the client to be happy with it too.

Thanks! LOL, those dancing chilis are too cute!!

I wish I didn't have this difficult new client. They are not helping my anxiety problem.

They picked apart my work last week, so we as a team had to defend ourselves. I feel like the director on their team is just looking for reasons to fire us already.

He seems to have a negative attitude towards us, and it's probably because another team from my company messed up their portion of the work. They're also coming off of a negative experience working with a different company for their project, so they're very skeptical of our work now, scrutinizing and questioning every little detail along the way.

So now all this pressure is on ME to perform and to keep the client happy. That is why my boss pressured me last week to get this project done asap.

I am glad I took the time I needed with it though, in order for my boss to say it was "perfect". That's music to my ears right now. I suppose that may be what matters the most? If my boss is happy with my work?

I have to anticipate that this client is going to be difficult and will probably come back with criticism or questioning of this, that, and the other with what I handed in to them. So today I am bracing myself for that possibility.

I have to manage my anxiety somehow. I don't want to take my "as needed" anxiety med every single day as a result of my work making me overly anxious. But I feel like I need to take it today. I suppose I could since I haven't in a couple days.

ARGH. Damn anxiety. It's going to make me nuts.

Just as expected, the client came back questioning aspects of my work and then demanding more work this week. I've had it. They are going to push me over the edge, I swear. I need a break.

I hope they have taken other responsibilities off you for now so that you can concentrate on this task. I definitely think this is a reflection of your company and not you if it doesn’t work out. Take good care of yourself if you can so you don’t get run down and sick from the pressure.

Thank you so much for saying this, Sisabel! I am getting sick and run down, in fact. They haven't relieved my workload yet, but it should happen in April once the new guys starts (I've been told at least).

I did push back a little today with the account manager and drew boundaries around what can and cannot be done this week. I have other clients to tend to, and this demanding client cannot take up all my time. I have to draw the line somewhere.

HUGS and THANKS. I hope you are doing Ok with your own work situation... it's tricky business, navigating the work environment!

It certainly is tricky. I’m very glad you’re making priorities and speaking up about them. I’m doing the same. I have also been told help is coming for me in April. Hang in there. Eat well and drink lots of water and get 8 hours sleep as much as possible.

Yes you're right -- sometimes it's what we have to do! And good for you! I don't usually speak up unless I absolutely have to say something... usually when I am about to break.

And thanks so much.... I do need more sleep and R&R in general. TGIF tomorrow... hope it's a TGIF for you too!!!! Take good care of yourself as well.

Sorry this is going on right now for you. Hope it turns out ok. I can relate and feel anxious at work lately and it feels like others coast through at work.

Thank you! It truly does suck... anxiety, doesn't it? ARGH. My co-worker admitted that one of our clients makes her anxious, yet you would never be able to tell. I wonder if many people who appear to coast really don't and also have some amount of anxiety? I don't know. I have another co-worker who seems untouched by stress at work. She definitely coasts. I wish I could be more like that.

I went to bed fretting about work and I woke up fretting about work. This is not healthy for me, but I don't know how to stop obsessing and worrying.

I really need my boss to take some work off my plate. I am buried under a mountain of stress.

This one client is going to make me insane. That's what I was fretting about all night & this morning.

I’ve gone through this type of anxiety about work. Sometimes I even got up and went to work early just to face it all and get stuff done. I wonder if you are able to talk to hour boss about your level of anxiety? Maybe you can’t, I don’t know. He or she may not be a reasonable person. You wouldn’t have to get overly personal if you did have a conversation. Just something like the level of stress from this client is taking it’s toll and something has got to give. Maybe something else can be taken off your plate so you can at least relax a little bit. I understand that not all work situations are conducive to straightforward communication though. I hope this gets better for you soon.

Aw, thank you so much! It helps so much to have a voice of reason talking to me right now!!!

I have told my boss before that I deal with anxiety. And I have a meeting with him this morning. Perfect timing. I think I WILL tell him this client is causing a lot of stress for me and is exacerbating my anxiety. I think it would be OK for me to be honest and straight forward.

I also told him yesterday that something's gotta give because this client has asked me to do more work. So there's that.

I just need to maintain my composure. When I get overly stressed, I can crumble and it shows. I need to make sure I don't cry.

I do not handle stress very well. I can manage it up to a point, but then when it's too much, I fall apart. I hate that. I wish I could just manage it all better... but it's what I deal with.

Thank you, Sisabel. You're an angel!!