If you were stressed before, it is only natural to surmise the events of 2020 – a global pandemic, thousands of deaths, and economic, social, and political unrest – only make that worse. These times are a fertile breeding ground for anxiety, but help is available through psychotherapy or medicine like ketamine.
What Is Anxiety?
Being worried or stressed at home, school, or work is a natural part of life. For most people, those feelings go away or are easily managed. But for others, persistent stress or worry morphs into symptoms of anxiety, interfering with daily activities such as work performance, academic pursuits, and relationships.
Tips For Managing Anxiety At Work
There are many ways to manage workplace anxiety, little steps you can take that will create a positive outcome and possibly carry over to your personal life. Here are several tips to consider:
Know Your Co-Worker’s Names
Having a good working relationship with your co-workers makes it simpler to mediate problems with someone instead of venting or gossiping to others. This begins by knowing people’s names and responsibilities.
Asking for Help Is Not A Character Flaw
The pressure at work to succeed, get a promotion, and navigate relationships bordering on juvenile are immense, making it easy to say “Yes” even when you should not or do not know what you are doing. But asking for clarification about something even when it is uncomfortable will go a long way toward reducing workplace anxiety.
Avoid Work Gossip
Workplace gossip is a natural part of having a job, but it is really nothing more than a diversion or temporary entertainment. Gossiping or venting by others, if taken to the extreme, can build tension and stress, creating a veil of negativity falling on you but eventually your entire workplace. It may be difficult at first, but you can possibly reduce anxiety by approaching your co-worker in question, subtly airing your opinion, and perhaps even find common ground.
Be Realistic with Deadlines
If you are frequently anxious at work, you may find yourself automatically agreeing to a deadline without having all details to provide an estimate, or the knowledge or resources to get the job done. Of course, some deadlines cannot be negotiated, but being honest about what can be accomplished in x-hours or by a certain date is better than hiding from reality.
Use Neutral Language
Try to use calming and neutral language in the workplace whenever possible to help reduce everyone’s anxiety. Disagreements are natural and can be handled better if you are not using aggressive or inflammatory words and phrases.
Stay in Touch
The American workplace, especially in the era of COVID-19, is rife with stress, elevated emotions, and unique situations. But that does not mean anyone should work in seclusion unless it is necessary. Human companionship is vital to your overall mental and physical wellbeing, so stay in touch with co-workers as often as possible.
Foster In-Person Conversations
The true meaning of someone’s words can easily be misinterpreted in electronic format, especially if there are language or cultural barriers at your workplace. If a problem is making you anxious, pick up the phone or talk in-person to get clarity.
Just the Facts
Stick with what is known, especially facts, and communicate as clearly as possible how you understand a problem and how it can be resolved. Try to explain what specifically is creating your anxiety and ask that others share their views.
How To Treat Anxiety
In the past, anxiety at home, school, or work was treated by psychotherapy, self-help, or group counseling, hospitalization, or antidepressants to help treat anxiety symptoms and return you to productive living. It is a mental health disorder that was largely misunderstood, but thanks to ongoing research, doctors and scientists better understand its causes and triggers. This has led to innovative new treatments worth exploring, including a drug – ketamine – once used as a battlefield anesthetic during the Vietnam war.
Final Thoughts
Ketamine has been shown to treat anxiety and many of its symptoms. The use of ketamine for anxiety treatment or other medicine should first be discussed with a provider that can give you all the information necessary to make an educated decision. If you or a loved one would like to learn more about the clinical use of ketamine we can help. Contact us today to learn more.
