No matter if you’re new to your job or have had the same job for years, you may have good and bad days. Some days may feel boring, while others may feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day to get all of your work done.

You may have your dream job and the career you’ve always wanted. Despite that, there will be days that may bring on more feelings of stress and anxiety. Sometimes, this anxiety can get in the way of your work and creep into other areas of your professional and even your personal life.

Is anxiety holding you back at work? This is how you can tell if anxiety is holding you back and what you can do about it.

Lack of Focus

Anxiety can cause disruptions in your daily life and routine. One of the areas that it can impact negatively is your ability to concentrate, pay attention, and focus. When it comes to your work life, these skills can be especially important. When anxiety creeps in, it can make it seem like your brain is all over the place. But it can also seem like your brain is never where it needs to be. The lack of focus that anxiety brings can make it difficult for you to focus on the tasks at hand. This can make it harder to concentrate on your to-do list, complete projects, and answer emails in your inbox.

Not Engaged

Anxiety can be the body and brain’s natural response to stress. When anxiety is present, the body and brain tend to be in flight or fight mode. Since the body and brain aren’t functioning normally, it can make you seem less engaged in your work. Your coworkers and managers may feel that you aren’t interested in your responsibilities or don’t care about your work anymore.

Fear of Failure

Anxiety can also cause someone to doubt themselves and their own abilities. They may feel like they aren’t cut out for the work they’re doing or the role that they’re in. Imposter syndrome can be common among people who are dealing with anxiety. Struggling with anxiety can make it difficult for someone to start a task or project. They may be worried that they won’t do a good enough job or finish in time to meet their deadlines.

Difficulty Managing Emotions

Anxiety can bring on feelings of irritability and impatience. It can be difficult to push these feelings aside and to put on a happy face when dealing with anxiety. When you’re struggling with anxiety, you can feel on edge, angry, and annoyed. These feelings can cause issues in the workplace, especially with your coworkers or clients that you speak to day in and day out.

Prefer Being Unnoticed

People tend to want to move up in their company. This is done by having their work recognized and getting promoted to bigger and better things. People who struggle with anxiety tend to want to lay low and not have a lot of attention drawn to them. Anxiety can be a huge downfall to a career.

It’s important to have your work noticed, network with coworkers and other like-minded individuals in your industry, and speak up to give your thoughts, opinions, and ideas in meetings. When these actions aren’t being done, your coworkers and managers will have a difficult time recognizing and justifying that the work you’re doing deserves you a promotion.

Next Steps

Anxiety can definitely hold you back at work. While this is true, it’s important to not let anxiety have control over your life. Your anxiety doesn’t control you. We’re here to help you take back that control again. Reach out to us today to learn more about anxiety therapy.