What are the top 3 things anxiety holds you back from doing in your working life?

What are the top 3 things anxiety holds you back from doing in your working life?
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Anxiety statistics worldwide show that anxiety disorders are common across the globe. According to the World Health Organization, 3.6 percent — or about 264 million individuals worldwide — have an anxiety disorder. Women are also more than twice as likely as men to get an anxiety disorder in their lifetime.

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, or which we think could happen in the future.

Anxiety is a natural human response when we feel that we are under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.

So, I’d recommend just asking yourself, “What are the top 3 things anxiety holds you back from doing in your working life right now”?

Learn more at the HRDQ-U Webinar:
Dealing with Your Imposter Syndrome

Here are some suggestions from my own experience of how anxiety used to really hold me back in my work life/ corporate career:

Just Cannot Face New Challenges/Get Going

Firstly, it is perhaps a feeling of being just not being able to get going, to face a new challenge such a new position, talk to a new colleague or do something new.

This can often be because you are gripped by uncontrollable fear in some situations or around certain people where you feel fearful to the point of not being able to face whatever it is, maybe you freeze and cannot handle it.

Anxiety in this way over time can often lead to a loss of interest in anything outside of your comfort zone and you may keep your distance from everyone else, input less into work conversations and just get through the day with as little fuss as possible, does this sound familiar? While the lack of interest can limit your exposure to new ideas and create a barrier between you and colleagues that could help further your career.

Moving Forward with Confidence?

Secondly, you may also have a loss of confidence as anxiety creates strong feelings of worry, this can negatively affect a person’s self-esteem, leading to a total lack of confidence. It’s hard enough to compete with other people for recognition, find solutions to overcome new challenges and speak up when you aren’t confident, it’s even more difficult, wouldn’t you agree? Loss of confidence leads people to hide in the shadows, trying not to be noticed, just getting by until the end of the day. Any negative reviews, criticism, or negative input from others further erodes the confidence, causing even further withdrawal, in a vicious cycle.

Learn more at the HRDQ-U Webinar:
Dealing with Your Imposter Syndrome

Missing Opportunities?

When people are anxious and afraid, opportunities are often perceived as threatening situations that should be avoided. Rather than seek a promotion, try for a higher paying job, take classes, or change careers, anxiety sufferers prefer to remain in a safe spot. They settle for the pay they can get, don’t make any waves, or draw attention to themselves.
Left untreated, anxiety can increasingly hold you back, impacts your health, puts your career in jeopardy and can have a negative effect on your relationships both at work and at home and the fulfilment in your life!

So, to summarise, here are some suggestions for how anxiety may be holding you back from doing in your working life, I’m sure you have your own things holding you back:

● Not being able to face new challenges
● Not being able to really enjoy moving forwards with confidence
● Missing out on opportunities to progress your career

Symptoms of anxiety, worry, feeling scared, not feeling good enough and very down often accompany and fuel feelings of imposter syndrome. You might have imposter syndrome if you find yourself consistently experiencing self-doubt, even in areas where you typically excel. Imposter syndrome may feel like restlessness and nervousness, and it may manifest as talking negatively to yourself.

Impostor syndrome is an issue faced by many professionals who are successful in their careers and have the expected things in life BUT their happiness, relationships & health are so often sacrificed, undermined by feelings of anxiety, self-doubt and not experiencing success internally, often bringing up feelings of imposter syndrome.

If you’re so fed up of anxiety holding you back in your career and life and want some help, just email or click here to book your free 15-minute clarity call. I’d love to chat about where you are and what you need to do to get to where you need to go fast!

Email: steveandserena@expressingyourauthenticself.com
https://calendly.com/expressing-your-authentic-self/clarity-up-call

 

Written by: Steve Brookes

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