Advice on anxiety at work.

[coolchicka]

Ive been having anxiety off and on sense I was about 17. Now when I seem to go to work I start getting panic attacks. I started the job in like November. And I havent had any attack there for the first 3 months. Then all of a sudden once in awhile I get panic attacks while im taking peoples orders on front counter. Sometimes there light and go away fast like within like 10-15 seconds and sometimes they make me feel so bad I start messing up on the order. And I cant consentrate at all on the customer. What should I do about this? I mean I dread working 8 hour shifts because of it now. What if I cant take time out and I have to keep taking orders one right after another? And I am having a bad panic attack?

I like never have panic attacks at home. Its always when im in a public place. And it makes me feel worst working front counter at work knowing that I have to finish the order no matter what. And that the customer is counting on me to finish it. Thats when I really start having problems.


I need advice. I work at McDonalds.

 

[Amhacajo]

I wish I had the answers for you but for me this is something I'm only starting to deal with myself. My anxiety is to do with new situations and places where I have to be social. I send big hugs your way and suggest that maybe you ask your boss to put you on duties where you aren't required to serve anyone for the time being. Am not sure of the McDonalds work structure and whether this is possible. This may give you the opportunity to seek some counselling and help.

I'm praying for you.

 

[coolchicka]

I do know other workstations other than front counter. I know how to hand out the food orders in drive thru. And I know how to run the fries station. And I know how to run drive thru. And for somehow drive thru dont seem to bother me sense id be right by the window I dont feel as trapped. Cause the McDonalds I work at they take orders through a headset. The Mcdonalds I work at is I believe owned by a christian family. I know the owners son is the store manager and he also comes to my church on Sundays. And another manager there I know too because he is one of the pastors sons His dad is the pastor of our church and he also comes to my church.

So I know the store manager and the shift manager from my church I go to.

 

[Amhacajo]

That is something positive. I hope that you are able work it out with your managers in some way. The important thing is to not hide behind it. If you can get some relief from the panicky situations you might be able to get the counselling you need to overcome and go back to normal work.

I myself need to work the courage up to tell my pastors about my issues.....

 

[CarlenePryor]

Pray for the strength to get through your shift each day, I ask got for strenght on my way to work every day.

I used to be a waitress, I tell you my anxiety levels were high then, as you get comfortable in the job it will ease, breath slowely, relax before you start work, do everything you can to make your day easier, always be ready for work well in advance and don't ever be late or rushing to work, if you start your shift calm it will help.

Always remember that you are only human and so are customers so if you need to take it slow as your taking orders just explain that to them.

I have to say though, try not to give in to it, you don't want to be someone who can't work front desk. I have given in to my anxiety when it comes to driving (I won't drive hardly anywhere anymore) and it makes me feel so stupid.

If you need to look at medication to help then do, I would make that a last resort.

Let us know how you're doing.

God Bless
Carlene

 

[castlesinthesky]

i also get panic attacks in certain places if you want to be pen pals let me know god bless

 

[ANN2626]

i know what you are going through. i used to wait tables and my panic attacks would just trigger when i was there. i would feel like i was trapped and be terrified of having a panic attack in a public place which usually made it worse. i went through a lot of jobs since my anxiety. i finally found a job i could hold down! im a nanny now. its stress free and im not near strangers. i hope you can overcome this and if you cant maybe you should look for a job where you feel comfortable.

 

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[gracealone]

So sorry you are having these debilitating attacks. My Panic attacks are triggered by the strangest things sometimes... but the trapped feeling, where you can't just walk away from the situation definately makes you feel worse. Have you messed up orders because of it yet? Or do you just feel miserable and think you are going to mess up because it's so hard to focus during the attack?
One thing about panic attacks is that they can begin to rob you of the ability to do some things you did before they started. I, like the previous poster have to really battle back about the driving thing.
If you can still do the your job without lots of errors you might want to stick it out a bit longer to see if you can get your brain used to the trigger to the point where it stops throwing a tantrum on you. But if it's really affecting your job performance than it might be a good idea to work another position for awhile.
Sitting in my church, which has a large auditorium with a very high ceiling can sometimes trigger attacks in me... but I'm determined not to be driven out of my pew by a panic attack, I can't let it win.
Praying for you.. and understanding just how rotten it feels to endure these attacks when you are just trying to function normally.
Blessings,
Mitzi

 

[katautumn]

Hey there, Coolchicka. I'm sorry you're having anxiety attacks at work. I know I had to deal with that. It ended up costing me my job. I don't say that to frighten you, but I do want you to know that I understand completely the frustration and humiliation that goes along with anxiety attacks, especially in front of people. You say you work at McDonald's. That seems like a pretty stressful job. Have you considered switching occupations to a job that doesn't require you to constantly be interacting with people, a quiet job perhaps at the local library? Have you considered working from home? Right now I am working on handmaking stuffed animals to sell online. I'm hoping it will help bring in some extra income for my family.

If this is your only option right now and you need the income, then if you feel comfortable speak with your manager. I was too embarassed to go to mine, so they assumed I was just a slacker when, in reality, I would be pulled over on the side of the road sobbing and trying to catch my breath and calling my dad to come get me. There were many days I couldn't make it into work. I made the mistake of not letting them know I have Agoraphobia. Had I told them, they may have been able to work through it with me. Don't make the mistake I did. Just about everybody on this planet has one form of anxiety or another. Some people have full-blown panic attacks. Other people are claustrophobic. My sister is deathly afraid of spiders. Some people are germaphobes. Some people have social anxiety. Just about everyone has fears, some that even seem irrational to others so I'm sure your manager would be understanding if you asked for a position that gave you the freedom to work through your panic attacks when they come on. Right now it's kind of difficult because you have customers in your face all day long.

I hope you get through all of this. I know how hard it is. Please keep us posted on your progress and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[silvergriffen]

Do you have anyone that you can talk to about this as soon as you start to feel the anxiety? It also sounds like your managers are really nice people, maybe you can solicit their advice on what other positions they can put you in when you start to have the anxiety attacks. Also, have you gone to the doctor at all? Good luck, BIG HUGS and keep us posted!

 

[WhiteRain]

God bless and I will pray for you.

I know exactly how you feel - I used to work checkout at K-mart, and it was not good...
I love the job I'm at now, though, because the most I get is a few phone calls and mostly emails. I just interact with my internal team, who are great to work with. But every now and then I still get flustered and feel it 'coming on'... I take a deep breathe (while screaming to God in my head for help), and suprisingly, it seems to help. I've also learned that everyone makes mistakes, and worrying about making one is worse than making it sometimes..

I also get anxiety over new events, people, and driving (and life in general). In fact, I have to drive somewhere tonight by myself that I've never been to, and I feel like a child for wanting someone to take me instead, but I'm determined not to let it beat me.

I don't know if there's a permanent cure, but God will heal us in His own way and time I guess. You're so not alone, and prayers are with you.

Rain~

 

[jream]

You are very strong to keep taking an order during those arising feelings. Something is causing your adrenaline to rush - What is it? Is it not being in control, the thought of no escape?

Because you do have an escape, you CAN leave if you have to, or tell your boss what the problem is. Your health and mind is WAY MORE IMPORTANT than a job, do not look at it as the end.

I think all the people and beeping and noises would get me wound up pretty tight! It sounds like your anxiety is either from the social problem or from the workspace or being "tied down".

Do you get panic attacks when you go out to the grocery store? Is work the only place? If it is, then it's your job causing them. You will get more confidence when they come, you are ALREADY standing in the storm - thats the HARDEST PART! I would always fall down and cry feeling so helpless. But the more you just FACE IT - it will DIE!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mrs. Enigma]

Ive been having anxiety off and on sense I was about 17. Now when I seem to go to work I start getting panic attacks. I started the job in like November. And I havent had any attack there for the first 3 months. Then all of a sudden once in awhile I get panic attacks while im taking peoples orders on front counter. Sometimes there light and go away fast like within like 10-15 seconds and sometimes they make me feel so bad I start messing up on the order. And I cant consentrate at all on the customer. What should I do about this? I mean I dread working 8 hour shifts because of it now. What if I cant take time out and I have to keep taking orders one right after another? And I am having a bad panic attack?

I like never have panic attacks at home. Its always when im in a public place. And it makes me feel worst working front counter at work knowing that I have to finish the order no matter what. And that the customer is counting on me to finish it. Thats when I really start having problems.


I need advice. I work at McDonalds.

I don't have any advice. I just wanted you to know that I have the same problem, so I really feel for you. It so stinks to have to deal with that. (hugs)

 

[purplecloth]

i know what this is like, im self employed and so i have to deal with it...

only last weekend i had a panic in the middle of taking an order from someone at a fair... it started to get complicated and this part of my business is all new...

but ive learnt many coping techiniques from other jobs.

the main thing i tell myself is that it is not a matter of life or death. if someones order goes wrong, its not the end of the world. if i get flustered its cos i care, and i want to get it right, so i use it to my advantage.

ive never worked anywhere like maccy d's but i imagine the pressure to get orders done fast is high, but its more important for you to get the order done while staying calm. if someone is going to fast for you, then you need to calmly ask them to take it one bit at a time, but you know you can do this, cos you do it on the drive thro... its no different, you can just see the person.

getting your boss to move you to another station is one solution, but to me that is not dealing with the situation, and if you can overcome this issue then it will be better for you.

i second the suggestion to pray before your shift and during it, and praising GOD for getting you thro it...

this is important in every part of our lives and even more so when things are hard...

last friday i didnt take a sale, but i went home and i praised GOD for the positives that had happened that day...

but thank GOD for getting you thro all these trials cos with him there is nothing you can not do...

but if this is really making life hell for you, then maybe you should think about whether this is the right job for you.