So there is the stress ball. That one I know. Does anyone have any other ideas for dealing with nervous energy from stress and anxiety in the office that won't bother people around you so much (esp those moments when I can't just go for a long walk or to the gym, etc).
It’s a fairly routine problem for me that even after the stressor is long gone, the nervous energy sticks around. I don't so much need the 'take a deep breath' or 'think positive' type of thing, I might not even be actively thinking or worrying about anything; and I already have a good doc for the long term aspects. Just looking for some ideas about the tactile and physical side of this thing, which tends to stick around for a while and can be pretty uncomfortable.
posted by shimmer
on Apr 23, 2013 -
33 answers
I'm going through a bout of depression and while it isn't affecting my work, it is affecting how I behave at work. I realised today that some of my colleagues have picked up on this change in behaviour. How can I maintain my dignity and privacy?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 19, 2013 -
7 answers
About 8 weeks ago I sliced the flexor profundus tendon that allows the tip of my right pinky to function. I had surgery and have now subsequently re-severed the healing tendon, requiring ANOTHER round of surgery to try to repair again. Should I go through with this? Issues related to post-operative depression, unemployment, and general existentialist angst inside. See
previous.
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posted by jnnla
on Apr 16, 2013 -
11 answers
Looking for lifehacks to help me thrive in a stressful high-pressure job working 50+ hours a week long-term. I am special, find out why..
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posted by f3l1x
on Mar 18, 2013 -
21 answers
What are your strategies and best practices for being a cog in an inefficient bureaucracy? How do you compartmentalize the frustration and leave it in the office?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 11, 2013 -
14 answers
I have on-going problems with work anxiety and impostor syndrome. The worst part? I’m starting a new, high-demand job in two weeks and need help now.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 8, 2013 -
4 answers
Need some career advice:
Internet Brands has had me for a few interview for a Project Manager, but
Glassdoor has some really bad things to say (and good, but those can be phony placements). Has anyone ever worked or know someone that worked there? What's it like?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 20, 2013 -
5 answers
I am trying to process a period of professional turmoil in my life that occured over a year ago. Things are okay now but I am still dealing with painful emotions and memories from that experience. How can I go about finding closure?
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posted by rasselas81
on Dec 16, 2012 -
17 answers
So I'm on a performance plan at work due to dishonesty. Please help me turn this around.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 14, 2012 -
53 answers
Nearly everything I liked about my current job has evaporated, and I am left with stress and anxiety. In addition, I've always been indecisive about what my career should be. At this point should I try to build a career at my current company or leave and try something else?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 19, 2012 -
11 answers
I do NOT want to come in to work today. My shift begins in 3 hours and I'm seriously considering just not showing up. One week working there and I already want to quit - HELP!
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posted by HiphopAnonymous
on Oct 21, 2012 -
39 answers
My husband has just gotten a new job in his dream company at much higher pay/benefits after a long and stressful search. That's the good part. The bad part is this job involves a lot more responsibility, longer hours, commuting time, and a much bigger project to oversee. How can I help him deal with the increased workload and stress when he is clearly having trouble adjusting to it?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 12, 2012 -
13 answers
Anyone have any positive stories to share involving simultaneous end of marriage, job departure and moving?
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posted by DuckGirl
on Aug 20, 2012 -
24 answers
Back in May I cosigned a lease for an apartment with a friend of a friend running from July to July. Thanks to changing circumstances since then, I can't afford it and I have no choice but to get out of the whole arrangement by September, before university starts back up again. The province I'm in has extremely pro-tenant rental laws, so transferring the lease will not be a problem. What concerns me is dropping this bomb on the cosigner, who is 4000 km away until, well, just when I'd have to leave. Since we were introduced in April for the purposes of being roommates, he's also shown himself to be far more naive than he appears when it comes to stuff like this. But I've also committed a huge error in judgement by signing for this place, and I feel guilty for helping to convince him. I've accepted I'll have to burn more than one bridge. But I'm way too overwhelmed by the hundreds of responsibilities have piled up on my shoulders, and need to tell him very soon. How do I make this as quick, painless and guilt-free as is possible? More on the "changing circumstances" inside: read just the bold bits if you're short on time.
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posted by denmarkstreet
on Jul 21, 2012 -
6 answers
I got fired from two of my three jobs for absenteeism. For some reason, when I get stressed out in life, I get so down that it's hard to go in. I get sick to my stomach and anxious, it's like I have a panic attack at just the thought of going in.
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posted by Autumn
on Jul 14, 2012 -
22 answers
I'm being asked to engage in business practices that are probably bad for my company in the long run and driving me nuts personally. I'm also a new temp and not in a great position to rock the boat. Is there any way to make this situation more bearable?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 29, 2012 -
14 answers
Panic attacks are killing my self employment. What (work) should I do?
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posted by b33j
on Jun 11, 2012 -
13 answers
Within the last month, I've been diagnosed with two autoimmune disorders. I'm tired, everything hurts, and my life is pure insanity right now. What are your hacks for getting what you need when life simply isn't giving them to you? What about from the ones you love?
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posted by your mom's a sock puppet
on Jun 1, 2012 -
27 answers
Help me get through a toxic and stressful situation (revolves around work) and successfully get some coping mechanisms (and cajones) for the first time ever.
After a couple years of amazing- work has gotten tough-and I need help getting through it- and I respect you guys on MeFi a lot... I'm getting support but there must be some other things I could be doing. I've attempted to write in order of: context, challenge, question.
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posted by misspony
on May 6, 2012 -
14 answers
In the past three weeks I've gone from working 23 hours a week to 53 hours a week, and having 2-3 days off a week to having maybe one day off every 3 weeks if I'm lucky. How do I handle the resulting stress?
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posted by Autumn
on Apr 20, 2012 -
4 answers
Give me your best tips and strategies for combating work-related stress, particularly how to not let the stress leak into time when I want to be decompressing, not worrying.
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posted by peacheater
on Mar 22, 2012 -
9 answers
I am meeting with my District Manager soon to ask for a demotion. Hivemind, what are your experiences doing so? Probably too many details inside.
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posted by jeffrygardner
on Feb 2, 2012 -
4 answers
How can I motivate myself to work? What did you do to help kick yourself in the posterior and get going? Special snowflake details inside.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 31, 2012 -
12 answers
I panic at work when the stress is on. Can you help me handle the fire more gracefully?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 24, 2012 -
5 answers
"I'm a Pantera's box you do not wanna open."-filter:
Looking for work advice about not reacting to my perceived stories about the intent and methods of communication of my peers. Details inside...
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posted by Draccy
on Jan 10, 2012 -
17 answers
I have developed work week insomnia. I know YANMD, but what have you found effective for managing this.
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posted by burlsube
on Jan 3, 2012 -
20 answers
I am running a project at work which is causing me a LOT of stress. Please give me some tips on how to keep calm in the face of a lot of pressure, conflicting demands, and lack of experience on my own part.
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posted by Ziggy500
on Dec 14, 2011 -
12 answers
Would I know if this is as good as it gets? I know I've got it pretty good, better than most I bet...but I feel a little, I don't know, perhaps unsettled. But maybe that isn't even the right way to describe it - physically it's more liked stressed with a side order of tired. How do you know when you're at the top of your game and when you are in the place that is best for you and your family?
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posted by YukonQuirm
on Dec 13, 2011 -
14 answers
I need advice on surviving the ultimate type-A job. I've had a job at a small company for 2.5 years now. In my time at the company, I've accomplished a meteoric rise through the company ranks, from a skilled non-management position to an executive level position, supervising nine employees (seven of them international) and several divisions. I've started one division for the company, and I recently was promoted to the director of what we hope will be a multi-million dollar new division.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 19, 2011 -
13 answers
I tried starting over. It failed. I am feeling hopeless. I have a small group of friends in my new city, but I don't want to wear them out by being negative or constantly in crisis. I've been in therapy off and on for 15 years and am not in it right now because I don't know if more of it is even what I need.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 19, 2011 -
15 answers
My new job is really stressful and demanding, and it's making me unhappy, but I don't want to leave after only a couple of months, because it would look really weird on my resume and I would feel like a failure. Please help me stick it out for the medium-haul.
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posted by Ziggy500
on Aug 1, 2011 -
12 answers
We are having cut backs at work. One of the office staff was laid-off and I was told directly I would be expected to do her duties along with my current duties. This starts Monday, I and everyone else in the office knows I will not be able to be as efficient as I have been up to now. How can I not stress about this? If my boss jumps on to me I have decided I will just tell her I am doing the best I can. Has anyone else been in this situation and what are some words of advice you can give me to help me through this? (I live in a small town and jobs are scarce, I need to try to keep this job unless something better comes up.)
posted by anonymous
on Jul 24, 2011 -
14 answers
I'm responding to work stress by becoming (secretly) emotional and non-communicative. I can tell that my reaction is out of proportion to the situation - there is a lot of work and not enough bodies, and everyone in my group is overwhelmed - but I still feel very threatened. People get in my face - I act like I don't care, tell them "yeah, that isn't getting done." And after they leave I cry at my desk (again, secretly). How can I be more calm, cool, and effective?
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posted by bunderful
on Jul 19, 2011 -
7 answers
My job has a lot of responsibilities and some of them are more interesting and appealing than others. Sometimes I find myself blocked on some of the ones I like less, especially when they have stressful consequences. For example, I often need to write detailed reports for higher-ups (stressful and not enjoyable!), but I'd rather be designing new CSS stylesheets. Sometimes I just stress out about writing for a whole day and don't get anything done. I've thought of doing something more enjoyable and lower priority but I'm worried that when I'm done with that, the high-priority tasks will still be there, and they won't be any easier, appealing, or less stressful.
Has anyone had any success breaking up their work like this? Have any strategies for success? How do I know how much time I can afford to spend on the low-priority stuff? How can I avoid just procrastinating on the important stuff while doing the things that make me love my job?
posted by rwatson
on Jul 4, 2011 -
6 answers
If I have made a mistake at work (or in general), I am much, much more likely to make another mistake soon afterwards. How can I get focused and correct a problem without making yet more mistakes?
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posted by Elysum
on Jun 2, 2011 -
12 answers
My annual review at work is coming up in three days. I’ve messed up, really bad. I feel like my life is about to be over. How do I get through this?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 12, 2011 -
39 answers
I'm starting a new job. What are the weird little things you do on a daily, or weekly basis to a) get up to speed in a new workplace, or b) 'get your game on' to be worky/professional at your job, or c) quite literally, not go crazy from work-stress?
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posted by Elysum
on Apr 4, 2011 -
13 answers
I'll soon be working from home full time. What are some "policies" I can enact for my home office to keep my productivity, sanity and health intact?
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posted by Diplodocus
on Mar 31, 2011 -
21 answers
How can I better deal with stress and manage my workload? I work part time, and go to school full time and I am having a hard time coping.
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posted by mister-m
on Mar 2, 2011 -
14 answers
All of the places I trust to provide comfort and security, in any form, are imploding. I've already been existing in coping mode; what can I do now (particularly day-to-day)?
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posted by Madamina
on Feb 15, 2011 -
10 answers
