Work anxiety

I thought that getting a job would help with my anxiety, but it's only made it worse. I am so tempted to walk in to work tomorrow and give my two week's notice.I took this job as temporary summer work. The pay is good and I get lots of hours including overtime almost every weekend. The environment has been horrible, however. It is a factory job where I work in quality control for half the day and packing/shipping the other half. Quality control is very much mindless work and I find myself constantly ruminating while working there. Packing and shipping, while not challenging mentally, requires me to move very quickly as the product comes off the conveyor belt continuously and I have to check it for flaws missed in quality control, fix the ones that need repaired, then pack them while also finding time to label the boxes they are shipped in and keep track of orders.

I am not a fast efficient worker. I am a slow, methodical perfectionist. Some flaws are not significant enough to take out and most people don't even notice them so they just pack them, but I notice every little flaw and have a tendency to repair things that most others would just let pass. I find myself always being slower than everyone else working here and as a result most of my co-workers hate me because they have to pick up the slack (though I honestly can't tell if this is the truth or if it's just how I perceive things). Lately I've been faster but when I do this I worry that I've let too big a flaw get packed and that I will get yelled at by my supervisor for it. I basically talk to no one unless I have to, and even when I have to for something job-related I have to really force myself to do it.

I keep waking up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding and my stomach squeezing and when I finally do get back to sleep I have nightmares about my job. I spent my days constantly stressed and feeling literally sick to my stomach about messing something up then being judged for it. Today was particularly rough and I had to bite my cheeks to keep from crying a number of times because I just wanted to leave and be alone. Even when I'm not working I finding myself dreading going back to the place. I feel stupid for being so miserable over this, not to mention guilty that I'm complaining what with the economy the way it is. It's only for 7 more weeks so I should just tough it out. Every day feels like an eternity however and all I can think about is how much I want out as soon as possible. I've had jobs I've disliked before (telemarketing one semester, which was useful in getting me over my fear of phones somewhat) and managed to stick them out. I am ready to give up with this one though.

I'm not sure what the point of posting this is other than to blow off steam and maybe get some encouragement/advice. I just don't know. =/

Hi,

How long have you been working there now? If it's only been some weeks, then please give it more time until you make up your ind. It can take us a while to become adjusted to a new environment. Once you get into a routine thugh, it will be easier, don't you think? I have studied QC and QA and know how boring they can be. That's fine, but this is only a summer job, right? Just stick it out for owever long is left. If you do, then you will feel very proud at the end of the summer.

Take care,
Kevin

It sounds like the packing/shipping part is hardest for you. Is there a way you can arrange to do just QC?

if not, I think it just sounds too stressful for you. Best to just get out. That much stress can be really bad for your physical health too.

I don't know what else to tell you. i'm in a job that is doing the same thing to me. i'm a great worker but there's massive corruption all around me. Now they are giving me workers who won't work and I just can't deal.

There really isn't any way for me to just do QC. I've been thinking about it though, and I think what I will do is stick with it, but until the end of July rather than up until right before I leave to go back to school. My parents have been wanting our garage and basement cleaned out and told me that if I did it and had a yard sale they'd give me part of the money from it, and I think I'll do that during the few weeks before I go back to school in August so I won't just be sitting around doing nothing.

Somehow thinking that I will just have to make it through the next month makes it feel more surmountable.

...and that's the trick to things like this: Look forweard to the time when the difficuilt situation will be over, and then take a deep breath and wait for it to come. We can't always be in an ideal situation, right? Man, I've been in some awful places for long periods of time but you just have to do it. I suggest that you just start thinking about your life after this job finishes. When you get to that point, you will (i'm sure) look back and be delighted that you got through it all.

Kevin

youd be better off getting a job where you are working with people more often,

Don't worry you can work through it. Anxiety is a normal part of life, do not feel ashamed, this will only add to your anxiety. There are many ways to work through anxiety. Some are more common than others. The best way is to work through the process until you feel the anxiety lessening. Don't give up.When you get home and are still feeling a bit anxious, take a nice warm bath. Add some bubbles and take a long soak. Play calming music and light a few scented candles. Don't focus on your day, but instead focus on a dream or goal you have. Think about relaxing on the beach looking into a clear sky.

Well, when I told my parents my plans to quit at the end of July they really pushed me to stay through the first week of August. I suppose I will, if for no reason other than it's just one more week and then I can say that I stuck it out for 12 weeks.

A few days last week there weren't enough people on vacation for them to need me in the department I normally work in so they had me working in the stockroom. The people there are a lot nicer, the radio was playing, and I actually didn't mind work those days. When the one lady heard where I normally work she told me she feels bad for me "having to work with those bunch of b*****s", and asked if [this one lady who is particularly nasty toward me] has made any of the summer help cry yet. This actually made me feel better because it reminded me that it's not just me who thinks it's an unfriendly work environment.

So, just five more weeks to get through.

That's interesting, wildsage, because it's something that I've experienced/noticed too in workplaces. The 'lower' down the corporate laddder you get, the friendlier the people and the more they enjoy life. There's omething inherently wrong about trying to be the best in a company, when it costs you yuor sanity and happiness getting there in the first place. Monay? - It's a perceived benefit in life. In my opinion, the happiest people are the ones who are middle-to-lower class who resort to going out with their friends to pass the time (as opposed to staying at home in your mansion watching digital TV alone).