Choose Your Career Path
The first step to finding the best job for you will, of course, involve some introspection. What types of jobs have you had in the past? Did you enjoy them or were you good at them? Consider volunteering a few hours a week in a field to see if it might be a good fit for you. There is no sense of committing to a career and following through with the necessary education only to discover that you can’t stand the work.
Assess Job Demands
Once you’ve assessed your personal affinity toward different careers, it is important to also think about the level of stress that you will encounter on the job. While managing your anxiety through medication and/or therapy is critical, as a person living with GAD, it may be helpful also to choose a career without excessively high stress or job demands. It’s likely that some happy medium exists between low and high levels of stress. Some research suggests that working outside the home may have a buffering effect on stress, for women at least. On the other hand, a 2007 study tested the influence of work stress on depression and anxiety in young adults who were working. The longitudinal study took place from 1972 through 2005. Results suggested that work stress was related to a twofold risk of major depression or generalized anxiety disorder compared to those without the same job demands, even in people who were previously healthy. This suggests that learning how to cope with work stress or reducing work stress levels will be helpful as you move forward with your career.
Look for Key Features
As a person with GAD, your ideal career will likely involve:
Mentally engaging work that will help prevent you from worrying obsessively. In other words, if you have a job with too much time on your hands, or without a lot of responsibility, you might find your mind wandering to your worries too often.Work that gives you separation from what causes your anxiety can also be helpful. Careers in which you work independently often meet this requirement.Work that makes use of your penchant for gathering information. You will likely excel at a job that requires you to investigate, be suspicious, or analyze data or other information to make decisions.
The following careers are not necessarily “low stress” occupations. However, careers that keep you interested, preoccupied, and stimulated may serve as good stress, but this will vary among individual cases. Any new endeavor requires monitoring your anxiety symptoms closely. Keep in mind, many careers have schooling or training commitments you must complete to become certified. Remember to investigate the requirements of a job on your own, or maybe ask friends or family if they know anyone who works in the field you’re interested in. It may also be helpful to discuss your concerns with someone who has the job you want. As you begin to investigate careers, consider the level of job demands, the stress you are likely to face in each role, and how you will cope with it. Keep in mind, however, that this job involves speaking in public. You will want to make sure you overcome any stage fright related to your anxiety disorder.
A Word From Verywell
It’s important to work with a physician or mental health professional on managing symptoms, identifying a job that is a good fit, and determining the healthiest number of hours to work for you. Regardless of the career that you choose, remember to have a backup plan in place. Perhaps begin by working part-time if possible, to ensure that the job is a good fit. As you work, try to build up an emergency fund so that if anxiety becomes overwhelming, you won’t be tied to a job you can’t leave, even if only for a temporary absence. When you do find a role, explore these strategies for helping you cope with GAD at work. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
