26 Clear Signs Your Job Is Causing Too Much Stress

signs of stress at work

I have seen an increasing amount of posts on social media regarding stress at work at the moment. This is excellent news, because at least people are talking about it. We have a lot more to learn about stress at work including how to manage it better and just how detrimental it can be to our health. Nothing is more important than your health. No client, deadline, promotion or presentation is worth more than your health and happiness.

One of the main problems with stress at work is that people don’t accept it’s happening until it’s too late. They let stress grind them down for so long that they crumble completely, which makes it harder to recover from.

If people could get the help they need earlier, they may not tumble so far down the cliff. They just might be able to climb back up again. 

Sometimes you can experience subtle signs of stress and not really notice. You carry on as normal and try and battle on. Then your symptoms get worse and you don’t want to admit you are stressed/depressed/anxious because you think your colleagues and boss will obviously think you are weak.

Although there is definitely still stigma around mental health at work, you can get the help you need. The people that judge you are not worth your time. Don’t let it get to the point where you feel like the world is going to end.

Trying to put on a brave face won’t get you anywhere, it will only make things worse. Instead, you need to make some serious changes.

I experienced severe anxiety at work, and it temporarily caused my mental health to take a huge nose dive. I let my determination to succeed and drive to climb up the career ladder get in the way of my happiness.

I have now discovered that what I thought would make me happy (getting promoted, rising in the ranks, getting paid more etc.) was in fact partly what made me miserable. What motivates me these days is enjoying what I do, delivering excellent work and achieving a good work life balance.

I think back to when I wasn’t coping at work and was doing something that made me miserable and shiver. It wasn’t a great time in my life. However, I want to try and help others, so I have tried to remember, in considerable detail, what it was like. I’ve also done a little research on the signs of stress at work and added a few extra things in that I didn’t personally experience, but a lot of people do.

Hopefully a lot of people can relate to these signs, and maybe even a couple of people who won’t accept they are ridiculously stressed will read this and realise something needs to change. Here’s 26 signs your job is causing too much stress:

1. You have that sick feeling in your stomach whenever work crosses your mind.

 

2. You have panic attacks on the way to work, at work and after work.

 

3. You have nightmares about your job most nights, and wake up every morning feeling a bit sick and terrified.

 

4. You become ill a lot.

 

5. You constantly have a racing heartbeat and butterflies in your stomach.

 

6. You hide in the toilets at work just to escape the stress for a little while.

 

7. You become miserable outside of work, because you can’t switch off from your job.

 

8. You consider pulling a sickie but you can’t because you are too scared/you have too much work to do.

 

9. You don’t enjoy the last few days of your holiday away from work because you are feeling anxious about going back to work.

 

10. You have Googled ‘stress at work’ or something similar.

 

11. You have regular emotional breakdowns at work because you simply can’t cope.

 

12. You start experiencing health problems as a result of your stress (stomach issues, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, skin problems).

 

13. You are starting to show signs of depression and you are pretty sure it’s because you hate your job and you feel trapped.

 

14. You can’t sleep at night and wake up feeling exhausted every day.

 

15. You begin to rely on that glass of wine each night to calm you down and you drink ridiculous amounts of caffeine to get you through the day.

 

16. You become withdrawn and don’t have the energy or time to socialise with your colleagues. You skip lunch just so you don’t have to talk to them.

 

17. You work your ass off and spend way too long in the office, but you can’t leave on time because you’re totally swamped with work.

 

18. You have developed nervous habits such as pacing the room, shaking your legs, sweating excessively or biting your nails. People can see that you are visibly rattled.

 

19. You can’t concentrate on your work anymore because you are so stressed and unhappy.

 

20. You start thinking negative thoughts and begin to feel like you are terrible at your job.

 

21. You can’t cope with simple tasks anymore such as participating in meetings and presenting to clients.

 

22. You become moody and short tempered with your colleagues and also loved ones at home.

 

23. You constantly feel completely overwhelmed and get confused easily.

 

24. You completely lose interest in doing your job and each day drags so badly you think it’s never going to end.

 

25. You have tried all sorts of herbal stress remedies such as Rescue Remedy sweets and calming scent sprays (I recommend this Neil’s Yard roller stick).

 

26. You spend every minute you aren’t working looking for new jobs.

 

*Image courtesy of Monochromia Photography. I am not a health expert. If you think you are seriously stressed, contact a doctor. This is not an official diagnosis for stress.

41 Comments

  1. Stephy
    November 13, 2017 / 6:25 am

    I am experiencing 20/26 for my current position as a marketing executive. I join for 9 months but couldn’t perform. Management suggest me to switch role as sales coordinator or remain in existing department with basic tasks. More marketing tasks will be given if I perform. I under a senior who is stringent and scold me everyday for months. I am so scared of her. Wanted to stay in marketing department but scared eventually I can’t perform. If change role, i worry how others perceive me. The role however seems suit to my ability. Especially those salespersons. I have no problem getting along with others. But i just feel so sad and useless.

  2. Alan Roberts
    March 1, 2018 / 10:24 am

    And then on top of that getting bitched at by your family if you ever even have the notion to quit. I mean what a lazy worthless person can’t even get up at 345 everyday and run on five hours of sleep for days on end and work a measly little corporate job? Your not sick you drove to the store so you can’t be sick you kids these days are so lazy. I don’t care if you wake up and h heart rate goes from 50 to 200. If you don’t go it even take a week off to find a new job you are worthless and we will be passive aggressive and ask what’s going on and act like the world just ended.

  3. March 30, 2018 / 12:39 am

    6 years and 4 months. Two different manager grabbed me by the throat. Another manager threw a punch at my face that was not caught on camera. She didn’t make contact but I felt the cool breeze from her fist across my face. She came very close. Had a subordinate (yes, I’m a manager) throw punches to the back of my head. Again, no contact. Another manager stalked me in the store threatening to take me to the parking lot. Filed a police report on him. Young lady indirectly sprayed me with cleaner. Man fired for sexual harassment, and another young man touched my boob twice before rebelling against my instructions in an angry way. And he’s a big guy. So many people cold shouldered me, refusing to say a word to me. Not even good morning in return. I can’t tell you what this does to a person when it’s one after the other after the other. I was nicknamed “PepperAnne” and the song was sung at me by a manager (before I was one) to mock me. She would give me random dirty looks. Something others seemed to suffer from as well. People glared at me to tear me down. And then the constant belittling, humiliating me, mobbing me. I’m also overworked and nobody lifts a finger to help without being directed to, which is also very stressful.

    I finally had the first anxiety attack I’ve ever had and thought I was having a heart attack, and ever since then my heart hurts at work the moment conflict comes up. I now think I’m a terrible manager. I had another job offer, put in my two weeks notice and about 3 days before my time was up….I walked out. Some subordinates showing resistance and it just broke.my.heart.

  4. Katieh
    April 4, 2018 / 6:32 pm

    Wow…. I have EVERY ONE OF THESE!! Never in my adult life have I hated working somewhere until now… customer service on the phones is HELL! People on the phone are SO evil to you for NO reason. AND to top it off, I deal with PTSD too! NOT a good combination.

    • Malaya
      August 6, 2018 / 4:33 am

      I have every one of these symptoms as well. I also suffer from PTSD from being a veteran. I actually work from home doing customer service for a large corporation. I am so miserable that I have even thought of hurting myself to get time out of work. I can’t find another job and it’s been scary because no other job in my city pays as much and I have to pay my bills. I do not have family or any support system so it’s all on me to make this work. I struggle with bouts of guilt because I know that there are homeless people in this world who would love my opportunity and it makes me feel bad. Most of the day I am daydreaming and wishing that I was back in Afghanistan because I truly More calm and happy there. This is tormenting me and I hate alcohol but I drink When I work. I’m not lazy or weak, but every other job I applied for either pays too little or will not hire me. Co workers are constantly on stress leave or quitting.

    • Alice
      October 20, 2020 / 2:06 pm

      I completely understand how you feel – I’m on a customer service job too and hating it! The constant stress, on-the-spot problem solving, messy systems, information overload and being an emotional punching bag for people, dealing with co workers and politics and being thrown new information in a haphazard way, having to keep numbers up… it’s all so overwhelming and exhausting. It’s affected my mental health but I don’t have the courage to quit… It’s making me feel miserable :(

    • SC
      December 15, 2020 / 7:05 pm

      Yep me too only 13 years as a tech support advisor.

  5. Ethel
    May 11, 2018 / 2:01 pm

    I have been at my job for 30 years. It’s a non profit and we keep growing and growing. As we grow, I get more and more work and cannot get everything done sometimes. I get phone calls and emails from other sites asking if I did such and such. I already had a mini breakdown 3 years ago and just didn’t go to work for a month. I went to a shrink who said I suffered from anxiety and put me on meds. I was on meds a few months and got off of them and everything got better. Now for the past few months my anxiety is through the roof. I can’t even afford to go the the shrink now because our health insurance changed and the copays for that are very high. I can’t sleep, eat or function. I am 60 years old and not getting any younger. I thought about looking for a new job and missed an interview a few weeks ago because 2 people called out and I had to open the office. I am at my wits end. What should I do?

  6. Drea
    June 22, 2018 / 3:11 pm

    Customer service jobs really can break you down. I work at a very fast paced call center taking back to back calls all day. I’m an introvert, so talking is very draining. This is definitely not the job for me. But what other choice do I have when there are not very many other jobs out there besides customer service. My supervisor is always asking us to work overtime and I can barely make it through the day during my regular work hours. I will be so relieved when I can get my degree and get the heck away from this call center for the sake of my mental and physical health.

  7. Laura Robbs
    August 28, 2018 / 6:37 am

    I have all 26 symptoms. I am seriously struggling physically and mentally. Honestly I’m 53 it’s too much. If someone could please help me.

    • L C D
      November 29, 2020 / 6:29 pm

      I feel for you. I’m 62 but still too early to retire. I won’t have a lot of money when I retire, but I’m planning my escape soon. My job is so stressful and I get treated like crap by everyone, bosses, clients. very hard industry. but reading all these posts actually gives me relief. LAURA ROBBS IT WILL BE OVER ONE DAY! I pray alot. And the Lord comes through! I ask Him to help me deal with difficult bosses and clients and co-workers. I ask HIm to give me patience and love for everyone. I pray for their souls that they would know HIm and spend eternity with Him and myself and that they would repent of their evil deeds like being mean to me! LOL

  8. Alan Walsh
    November 11, 2018 / 6:34 pm

    Great post, I can identify with this. Changed my job and working with people I don’t get on with. Also the job itself sucks, getting aggressive email after email. i have this nervous stomach feeling which gets worse the day before i go to work. Management talked me into going for this role, when I was already happy in my previous position. Will give it two months, if i cannot get a transfer will change jobs. Worried about the long-term health implications.

  9. Anonymous
    March 19, 2019 / 4:26 pm

    I have like 30 of the 26. My life is hell. Not living at all. Working and sleeping, eatimg if I have the stomach for it. What should I do? There is too too much to do with no end. It goes on for months with no respite. Cant even take a vacation right. Should I tell my boss that? I am thinking of quitting every single minute.

  10. May 5, 2019 / 5:59 pm

    Im done with it. I absolutely hate my job and my life right now. I can’t stand my co-worker or the work I do. It’s so unfulfilling. Here I am on a Sunday I can barely enjoy beacuse i have to go into this hell hole tomorrow. wish me luck :(

  11. August 13, 2019 / 2:23 pm

    I am so sorry for all of you. I hope and pray you bet better.

  12. C
    January 19, 2020 / 12:19 am

    I totally resonate with this. I’m in a customer service call center doing support/operations and it’s burning me the f out. Mental health is so pushed. I have no life. I need to find a better fitting job.

  13. Andrew
    May 3, 2020 / 5:36 pm

    While reading these comments is painful, I am so glad to know that I am not alone in feeling as I do about my job. I’m 50 years old. I thought I’d be in the prime of my career by now. Between budget cuts at one former employer and the closure of another, I landed another job with a 90 minute commute each way. Sure, I’m paying my bills, but I’m the oldest one there, the only one with a family, and I feel so lonely and out of the loop. Some say I should be grateful just to have something, others say I should quit. Is there hope for career changes after 50? Where can I learn new skills that are marketable without breaking the bank or taking up all my time? Help!

  14. Andrew
    May 3, 2020 / 5:36 pm

    While reading these comments is painful, I am so glad to know that I am not alone in feeling as I do about my job. I’m 50 years old. I thought I’d be in the prime of my career by now. Between budget cuts at one former employer and the closure of another, I landed another job with a 90 minute commute each way. Sure, I’m paying my bills, but I’m the oldest one there, the only one with a family, and I feel so lonely and out of the loop. Some say I should be grateful just to have something, others say I should quit. Is there hope for career changes after 50? Where can I learn new skills that are marketable without breaking the bank or taking up all my time? Help!

  15. KIM
    January 20, 2021 / 9:35 pm

    Omg, reading all these comments is so heartbreaking and I feel for every single one of you. I am literally at home sick today with an infection, I had a throbbing headache for 2 days and body aching, I was supposed to work yesterday but went straight to the doctor`s office at work. ( I believe I am sick because I am so unhappy and unfulfilled at work ) the doctor recommended staying home for at least 3 days. Just the thought of going back to work Friday, makes me sick to my stomach :( I work at a hotel and have to deal not only with my boss and other managers with their BS every single day, but with rude ass hotel guests as well and their spoiled child like behavior. Every single day I think about quitting. I have only been there for 1 month. At first I was grateful because I got a job in the middle of a pandemic and of course we need to pay bills, right? . But now I just think that is so sad. I feel like a zombie every day. Wake up, about 45 minute commute to work, work for 8 hours, another 45 minutes to get home. 6 days a week, only half an hr. lunch. By the time I get home, I am exhausted both mentally and physically and don`t want to do anything productive. My boyfriend is going though the exact same situation. I am just so frustrated. I am praying that one of these days I get the inspiration to start something that will allow me to make the same amount of money I`m making now at least but doing something meaningful. (which the money is not much by the way. I live in Mexico, so pay is really low) I need to start working on a plan in order to get out of this. I will pray for every single one of you as well. I hope we find a job we truly love or a business idea. There is greatness in all of us and all of us have some type of talent, abilities, We just need to keep digging, help other along the way…..and I think we will figure it out. Good luck to all! I hope we all make it.

  16. Debra
    February 12, 2021 / 10:46 pm

    I understand and relate to many of these feelings. It’s the first time I’ve ever felt like this. I have found out some new things about myself though. I am not a team player, not because I hate team work, but only because I work better by myself. I’d rather work under one boss and not several. That’s a pain. I don’t like pre-planning. I like dealing with the here and now. I don’t like scheduling things down the road because I am a spontaneous person, sometimes last minute, even though that’s not good all the time. I don’t like many projects going on at the same time. I am a methodical person and enjoy a step by step process where I know exactly what I have to do and I can do it. So, I am in the wrong kind of job right now and am trying to find another one. Until that happens, I am miserable and hate it. I dread going to work and it weighs me down. It takes the energy out of me and totally stresses me out. I am 60 years old and definitely don’t need the kind of pressure it puts on me, plus I feel like a failure and often get scolded by a boss that doesn’t like the way I handle my work. Yesterday almost did me in. I have come home in tears before. That’s not life. So I have learned a lot about how I tick in a work place. I need to change soon before I stop ticking.

  17. Anonymous
    February 16, 2021 / 6:22 am

    ALL of these! Add on top of it, the knowledge that even though you do have a college degree in Elementary Education, lets be honest, that degree doesn’t translate into decent pay in the corporate/business world. So you’re stuck at your job that pays a (just barely) living wage – and expected to put the company first – and be grateful for the opportunity for the CEO to make another couple million dollars, while you just want to die.
    Aaaaaannnnd you’re the primary caregiver for an elderly parent who is still able-bodied, but has so many “invisible” health problems that you can’t afford to change jobs even if you did have a better degree/background, because the job is near home – in case there’s an emergency.
    There are six of us on my team, two have recently had to take time off for mental health reasons, another has had to go on antidepressants – and the only reason I’m still standing is that I’m already on anxiety meds – but they’re no longer enough to keep up with the steadily increasing workload and pressure. Our boss knows all of this – and does nothing about it. Just continues to be a “yes man” to the higher-ups, rather than stick up for our team.
    God I hope my company just suddenly collapses. The idea that I need to keep working here for years to come, literally makes me cry.

  18. Josh T.
    February 19, 2021 / 10:16 am

    It’s important to remember there are two realms of thought when dealing with jobs. The implicit, and the explicit. The explicit is the things you see, the cash you get, the benefits, but the implicit, that can be either a cost or a benefit as well, things unseen, fulfillment or stress. Condemnation and abuse or encouragement.

    When I was much younger (27 now), I job hopped a lot. I’ve found gaslighting not to be all that uncommon in many jobs, especially for younger folk, and some companies will try and drive people by means of negative reinforcement. This is usually a tell tale sign of trouble. Find somewhere you can at least some what align with, and grow from that. If you’re going different directions than your employer, your colleagues, and it’s having a large implicit cost which is too heavy a burden, perhaps it’s not the best fit, and perhaps you should source income elsewhere. Jobs don’t pay near as much as they used to, but better is a little with peace and quiet, than much with chaos and insanity. Good luck to all, and God bless.

  19. CAM
    February 27, 2021 / 6:06 am

    I feel so guilty that I don’t like my job. I keep telling myself to be grateful, and I think of all those who don’t have jobs. This is part of the reasons why I feel stuck at this job that I’m at right now.

    I have social anxiety, and finding a job has always been extremely terrifying for me. I took this job because after getting no response from other positions or getting “no”s, this “yes” made me think that this was where I was supposed to be.

    I signed a 2 year “contract”. This is a small company with an extreme heavy workload. If I were to take a day off, we’d be in trouble. I feel trapped. My boss makes us use our personal cell phones for work, and I have clients trying to contact me even when I’m off the clock. I know I can easily ignore it, but it makes me uncomfortable to constantly see their notifications when I’m trying to forget about work during the times I’m not working. It’s hard to disconnect.

    Just typing this is making me cry. I feel bad for not liking my job. I question myself on so many things whether I’m being unreasonable or not.

    • Rob
      July 1, 2021 / 7:44 am

      I can only imagine what you’re going through. I couldn’t imagine getting calls from or about work even after work hours That makes it impossible to unwind. You shouldn’t feel bad for not liking your job. I felt the same way and even now it’s hard to really get in that mindset. You should always want better for yourself though. Better things are out there, I’m still searching for mine, there’s something better out there for you too.

    • Lina
      May 10, 2022 / 10:35 am

      Dear Cam,

      Don’t feel guilty. You are not put on this Earth to suffer. The system is made in such a way that enforces bad manager and profit over people and workers.

      If you are not ok, you need to help yourself, heal yourself. Remember the airplane saying, if you dont attach the breathing mask on your face you wont be able to help and do it to your kids and others,

      I once felt guilty like that, but don’t. Things don’t work out, this world and modern society is chaotic. Many of us are lost or without choice in life.

      Hope we all find better lives,
      Lin

  20. Quitting is for Winners
    April 19, 2021 / 1:31 pm

    Hello anyone in 2021. I’m so sorry to anyone who resonates with even a few points on this list. I know how incredibly debilitating and isolated extreme stress at work can make you feel. It unfairly impacts so many areas of your life and when you’re in the thick of it , it can feel like walking through a storm not knowing which way to go, just trying to plod through the wind and rain until home time.

    I am in that storm too, but I think I’ve finally decided to quit. I’m scared of this decision and I’m not sure how it will turn out for me, but let me tell you, once you’ve made that choice in your mind, the sun comes out slightly. You remember where your life could take you and what new opportunities might come your way.

    Psychologically you are programmed from birth to believe that you NEED a job, and to an extent you do, but you do not need anything which comes at the cost of the collapse of your mental health. If you job was causing you to break a different bone in your body every week, would you even dream of continuing for one more day? Would the fear of money, bills, etc. cause you to keep breaking bones, even for a little while longer? Of course not. It is 100% just as serious to put yourself through extreme mental stress, if not more so due to the possible future repercussions this might cause your health.

    It’s not easy and I don’t have any clear cut solutions because this isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” but there is a choice. No matter what you have been conditioned to believe, YOU are in charge of YOUR life. I know society tries very, very hard to convince you of the opposite because that’s the greatest power you have.

    I am getting out. I hope you get out.

  21. KM
    May 18, 2021 / 1:43 am

    Every single one of the 26. I work in a government department in Australia which is KPI driven, manager heavy and with constant pressure to meet targets and deadlines. The work I do affects vulnerable members of the public’s lives. Last week a young child died and it might have been prevented without the red tape my work puts in the way of things. I’m off on stress leave and all I’m doing is stressing about having to return. People think I should stay in the job: it’s a government job and secure. It’s not worth it. I feel unwell all the time. Anxiety is at an all time high. Life shouldn’t be like this just so we can pay the bills. I’m 53 and just want peace in my life.

  22. Anonymous
    May 18, 2021 / 3:12 pm

    I started working at the Department of Corrections 1 year ago. I started off as a receptionist dealing with phone calls, and filing away paper work. About three months into that position, I was offered a promotion at the Circuit Office as a Staff Assistant. Eager for the opportunity and the raise, I took the promotion without blinking. The girl who currently held the position was responsible for training me. She was given about a month to try and teach me the ropes (and there were a lot of ropes). I will never put the blame on her, but even with a month of training, I was still pretty clueless. I knew the some of the basics, but there was soo much more then those. I had to learn how to order supplies for the 6 offices we had. I had to learn how to renew the 20 leases that we were contracted to. I had to keep up with 150-200 employee’s and their equipment. I had to keep up with all the certificates and over due training for all those employees, as well as keep up with mine. I had to keep paper work and equipment organized. I had to run background checks and make firearm cards, I also had to keep up with our budget, and make sure we were where we needed to be with that. I had to keep up with the Fleet vehicles and schedule appointments for repairs or maintenance. I had to keep all our spread sheets up to date and accurate, and keep updates on the different facilities that we were able to use. I was having to juggle all of that all while also cleaning up old paper work, and trying to find old paper work left behind from previous employees before me. I’ve been in this position for about 6 months now, and everyday I leave work feeling so unaccomplished. It’s also a major slap in the face when I think I took on all the extra responsibilities for $1.00 more than I was making before. I know I want to get out of this soo bad, but I feel kinda stuck. I am in the process the buying a house, and I can’t risk not having a job for one second.
    My honey has to hear about how stressed I am everyday when I get home from work, and all the employees here have to suffer simply because I can’t keep up. The people above me help when asked, but they also seem VERY bothered by it, and I hate having to reach out because of that. I don’t want my boss to know how stressed I am because she has soo much faith in the fact that I can do this, but I’m starting to think it was a mistake on my end for trying this.
    HELP!!!!!

  23. Cam
    May 31, 2021 / 2:33 am

    I’m almost 30 years old and struggle with massive anxiety and depression. All 26 of these symptoms resonate with me. I used to have optimal blood pressure but now it’s through the roof since I got this job about 3 years ago. I wish every minute that I could quit but there is a lot of pressure to stay since it’s a pastoral role. Sometimes I think, “Just put in a few more years and then you can leave with at least some dignity.” Every moment is torture. I pray I can last until I find a less stressful job for me, and I pray all the people who have commented here find peace.

  24. M
    July 3, 2021 / 7:33 pm

    i got the job because of school costs. Ive barely been here a month but they’ve called me in on almost every off day, they ask me to stay longer because one manager doesnt do any work his shift so i have to do it, anytime someone new gets hired they quit within days, and on top of that i have a chronic illness but when i need sick days its just noooo we need you here but the moment i complain to my family they get angry and tell me quitting would be a waste and that I would be ‘pushing the stereotype’ . I like my coworkers theyre great people and its a great opportunity but its slowly killing me, im literally in pain almost everyday from it, i have to take nyquil before work just so that im not crying, and i cant sleep at all i don’t want to quit and give my family any more reason to dislike and ridicule me for it but I also don’t want this job to be the reason I die at 22.

  25. Lucy
    October 20, 2021 / 11:57 am

    I work in healthcare and everyday patients ask me if I like my job. I lie and say yes because who wants their rehabilitation therapist to say “no, I hate it and wish there was an accident to make me late for work. Or not show up at all, ever.” No one wants to hear that from the person who is literally trying to help them walk. I’ve been doing my job for 11 years and “the call” has since disconnected.

    People are miserable, thankless, and abusive. Especially now. For the better part of a year, surgeries were cancelled which lead to over worked therapists for pain and injury management. Patient load doubled and when I hit bottom last year not a single person outside my mom, fiance and his family, cared.

    I was always being badgered by work with texts “so when are you coming back?” Even though I gave them a date. “We need someone in for this day can you make it work?” no my schedule is set don’t change it without my consent. “Can you cover xxx patients today? They called in sick” I’M ON MEDICAL LEAVE!

    At this point, working under the new ownership, it’s fairly obvious the owner of the clinic just sees our aging community as a cash cow of broken hips and wrists and shoulders and gives very little thought to the wellbeing of his staff or contractors. Even as I’m writing this, I’m due for work in three hours and I’m about to throw up. So, not only do I have a physical job but I also can’t eat anything because I will reject it.

    Don’t go into healthcare unless you have a backup plan for 7-10 years in.

  26. Sad and lost
    October 29, 2021 / 1:17 am

    Work has been hell for me lately.I’m used to love my job. I only work retail but it used to be so fun. Now that we have switched management everyday feels like life or death and it gets harder and harder to deal with it. I relate so much to this article and even my own mother feels like I should quit. But I feel obligated to stay through holiday season cause I have already been there over 2 years now. I feel I owe it to my management to stick through it until it slows down. But I’m at a loss. I broke down crying in front of my store owner about it all and she didn’t help. She didn’t understand my stress or why I felt that way.

  27. Kristen
    December 21, 2021 / 12:34 am

    Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes … You get the gist. I have been out of work 4 hours and feel like I am about to explode.

  28. Matt
    January 13, 2022 / 3:03 pm

    I’m a security officer at a business I’ve been working there for about three months now. Most the employees work with are decent but theirs always that smart ass that’s been there longer than you have for six months that smarts off about how well dressed he is when he comes to work. He harasses cleaning ladies smarts off to me all time complains about his hrs saying I took his hrs. Just acting rude an nasty towards everyone I can’t even stand the asshole he’s so bad. Sticks his nose into my personal life then something goes wrong at work I get yelled at by him because the. Company we work for is a factory and I’m blamed for some trucker taking a live load from the facility when I’d done my job but it’s never good enough make second time I was bitched at. I’m new but it’s becoming too stressful especially when I’m called into work at second an shift I work second that usually took most of my stress away but lately I’m being juggled around to work third shifts. I get so overwhelmed Dan tired and the reason I’m called to work any all hrs of the week an weekend. Yesterday I got called to work third shit ten minutes later get called to work in a nearby city Ik nothing about. I’m told I’m needed to go an guard a parking structure an help assist with some kid threatening to kill herself so upon learning that I’d turned it down this dipshit I work with asks why didn’t I go down town and take the job an call? I’m not a first responder an my job doesn’t entail me to. I’ve worked holidays weeks weekends hearing people bitch an crab about anything an everything. Worked third last night now have to go back in work second. And I’m told it’s because of covid bs. I feel as if I’m worthless that I can’t do anything right an now I’m worried I’ll lose my job because I told this company I was tired an exhausted yet they have the contracts to make you work these outrageous long hrs for little pay. Put my life on the line for this security company but yet they’re not satisfied with my work I do for them slaving over them. Not to mention I’d asked for a raise because my pay wasn’t cutting it oh well we will look into it. Bs the only thing company wants is guards on sites at all times. Probably start looking for a less stressful better job that’s not going to just call me in then change schedule several times they call you in when they want you work long hrs and it’s mandatory and they’ve the contracts to make an force you to do it.

  29. corrine
    February 5, 2022 / 1:45 pm

    Not everyone works in an office or that kind of environment. For myself, I am going through menopause and get a few brain fog moment .. I make silly mistakes that are easily rectified but I also find myself getting really disappointed by colleagues at work where I cannot finish myjob and go home as I am always waiting on them to provide me with nessascery items. I am constantly run down, dont sleep and rarely eat properly. all for a wage of around £1000 a month on a good month

  30. February 20, 2022 / 4:51 pm

    I have felt and done all of these at some point. So I have spent the last 5 years driving my families cost of living down by paying my mortgage off and investing most of my income. Once I made sure all of my debt was eliminated as well I put my notice in. My last day is the 25th. If you truly feel this way you need to make a plan and execute. Trust me, i still have 4 days of work left and already I feel more free than ever before. I am 32 and that is the last 9-5 job I will ever have. If I can do it you can to.

  31. rosi
    September 28, 2022 / 6:52 am

    It’s my first job and I absolutely hate it. Clearly I didn’t think this through enough. Fast food and anxiety don’t mix. Especially when you’re a naturally slow, sensitive, and introverted person.
    Everyone around me is telling me to just quit but how am I supposed to do that when it would feel like a betrayal to my coworkers and managers? The place is very understaffed and not doing too well. If I bail at just three months of working there, how would that reflect on my resume? I’m already recovering from burnout…and this is reversing all my progress. The main reason I feel so miserable there is because I can’t handle the general manager’s criticism. I take it to heart and I fear that I’m doing a poor job, and it’s only a matter of time before they fire me. The managers get really stressed out and when things aren’t going as planned in the restaurant, they get snappy at us. It…hurts. I should be able to take criticism without taking it personally…but it always feels like I’m messing up big time…. It’s really affected my self esteem and I’m less confident in my abilities than when I started. If I’m too incompetent to do a teen’s job, how am I gonna handle a real adult job later on?

  32. Winston
    October 18, 2022 / 1:59 pm

    I was happy in my previous role and was approached about a promotion into management a couple of years ago. I had reservations because I am NOT a manager type. I never really wanted it but took the promotion anyways. Huge mistake. I am exceedingly uncomfortable in the role and it has caused me tremendous anxiety. I absolutely hate the position and an seriously considering requesting a demotion back to what I used to do. Either that or I’ll move on to another company. I am just not a manager type and I have experiences everyone of the above symptoms except the wine part.

  33. cheyerra
    December 2, 2022 / 5:47 am

    My job is despicable. It is so stressful.. it’s like a pressure cooker. I work in a public charter school classroom with 4rth and 5th graders mixed together. I accepted a position as a teacher’s assistant, after working many years as a preschool teacher. The lead teacher is about 26 years old, 5 ft tall with a tiny voice. There is absolute chaos in the classroom every day. The kids don’t even have any desks and there is only enough table space for half, of them, so half the class is sprawled all over the floor, with all their stuff everywhere, talking, playing and fighting with their peers most of the school day,. A majority of them are off task continuously in that chaotic environment, and when asked to do their work, they are very disrespectful and usually non compliant. They will tell me that the lead teacher said they don’t have to do it , (which may actually be true), I don’t really know.. ( there is a dysfunctional type of good cop, bad cop type dynamic with the kids thinking of me as the “bad cop”, since I expect them to actually do their school work and they see the young lead teacher almost as a peer). The administration assigned me to teach PE, Spanish and Music ,social studies and science and to do aftercare, in addition to being the teacher assistant in the classroom. I don’t even speak Spanish, and literally have no training or education in music or in teaching PE. It is like hell on earth. I did try really, really hard to make it work, and I actually feel I may of helped a few of the kids, a small minority that actually care about learning .. I do like my coworkers who feel just as overwhelmed.. I also like the lead teacher in my classroom, but she is very young, inexperienced and often stays by herself until 9 pm grading papers etc, and is thinking of resigning as well. I actually resigned today, and gave them a week notice, but I have now decided I will not go back, as it has all been too much stress on me. I plan to go back to preschool teaching, which is also stressful, but at least I’m used to it, and the younger kids are more excited to learn and much, much less disrespectful. At first I actually felt guilty about my decision to quit, but the Lord knows I truly tried, and He knows I put in a lot of my own time, money and effort into trying to make the best out of an impossibly stressful situation. I think I had developed a similar phenomenon to “battered woman syndrome,” I stayed way too long with unreasonable job duties, a horribly dysfunctional environment, and often blamed myself for not being able to handle it. Ultimately, I decided it was not in the best interest of my spiritual, emotional and physical health to continue. I am 60 years old, and reasonably healthy and fit, but I feel like the stress was taking it’s toll on my mental and physical well being , affecting my sleep, and I honestly felt total dread every time I even thought about that hell hole. Prayers for all of you, I am so sorry you are in the situations you are in, may God help you and give you peace and comfort and may your find a better job that doesn’t exploit you.

  34. David Carpenter
    December 2, 2023 / 11:25 am

    Hi everyone. I am a deputy manager of a nursing home and my manager is off on holiday, which means sole responsibility is mine. My anxiety had really shot through the roof. I’ve read some of the comments which have really put things in perspective for me. A job is just that! It’s a job that allows us to live the life we want to live. We should work to live not live to work. People will always use guilt and shame to control you. Don’t let that happen, you control you, nobody else does. Emotional and physical abuse is disgusting and should definitely not be happening in the work place. If your manager is not dealing with this then go through employment law or a union that will support you. You got that job for a reason, so believe you are good enough for that role because nobody else will if you don’t. Always remember to say to yourself “is the world gonna end”? There is always a solution and a door will always open.
    I hope this helps someone like all your comments have helped me. I feel those butterflies flying right out of me .
    Thank you

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