If you suffer from anxiety, it can be difficult to find a job that fits your needs. But professional options, such as photo editing, may be right for you.
Many people experience anxiety from time to time throughout their lives. But when it becomes a problem in your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or social anxiety.
Living with anxiety can be challenging because it can affect many parts of your life, including your job. Some jobs are stressful, require a lot of social interaction, or are generally not suitable for people with anxiety disorders.
But there are many careers and jobs that may be a better fit if you live with anxiety.
Many companies need guards who monitor their facilities overnight when there are not many people around. If you have social anxiety or want a relatively low-stress position, being an overnight bouncer may be appropriate.
However, there are some potential drawbacks to consider in this type of position, and that is your sleep. studies
Like other sleep disorders, it can lead to not getting enough sleep and a decreased quality of life. It can also affect your ability to function, behavior, and mood.
If you want to test your knowledge about sleep, you can try this quiz.
One of the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been an increase in telecommuting across the United States. According to the United States Census Bureauthe number of people working from home tripled between 2019 and 2024. About 27.6 million Americans now work primarily from home.
While not everyone enjoys switching to working from home, if you have a concern, it may be the perfect solution. Often you just need to interact with others through email, virtual meetings, phone calls or text messages. You may never need to set foot in a real office.
This can be great for anyone who suffers from social anxiety due to the limited interactions you will need with other people.
A potential downside is the perceived lack of separation between work and home. This can lead to more anxiety about feeling “always” or the need to be there constantly to “prove” that you’re working.
Establishing a clear work schedule and setting firm expectations with co-workers and your company can help separate home and work life.
Video editing, photography, or image editing are all relatively low stress situations and may not require a lot of social interaction. Like the other professions on this list, you’ll often work independently, which makes it good for people with social anxiety.
But a person should avoid wedding photography if they have anxiety. Wedding photography is stressful and often involves dealing with a lot of people first-hand.
There are many skilled occupations that can be low stress and require only limited interactions with others. These include positions such as:
- plumber
- electrician
- HVAC repair technician
- Hardware repair
People who work in these occupations often work independently. They may be their own boss or work for a larger company.
Freelance writing often takes place at home. A writer rarely, if ever, needs to step into a real office, which makes it another great option if you have social anxiety.
Although writing jobs can vary and have different expectations, often a writer is hired or chooses from various assignments from the company he works for. They are then given due dates for work to be done and often only interact with others via email.
Of course, expectations can vary between positions. Some writing jobs require you to meet with experts or talk to people on the phone. This may cause concern for some. You may want to double check with the company you plan to write for to see if you will be asked for interviews.
It may help to know that if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you are not alone. appreciate 18% of workers disclosed an anxiety disorder, including:
Here are some tips for starting the conversation about accommodations:
Ask yourself some reflective questions first
Consider asking yourself the following questions:
- Can I perform the basic duties of the job?
- Am I able to keep up with the treatments?
- Can I perform the job to the best of my abilities as a person with a mental disability?
If the answer to these types of questions is “yes,” you may not need to talk to your employer about accommodations. If you have any doubts, now is the time to have a conversation.
Go prepared for discussion
It can help during your conversation to know exactly what you’re asking for first, such as:
- What tasks do you need help with?
- What reasonable support can the employer provide?
The more clearly you understand and can discuss what you need, the better the conversation will be. It may also help relieve some of your anxiety about the meeting.
when you ask
Keep in mind that your employer can use the discussion about accommodations as a time to ask you some questions about your concern. They may also ask you for medical documentation about your disability.
During the discussion, focus on clearly defining your needs and try to direct the conversation to what you are asking for. Again, finding out what you need and ordering ahead of time may help.
Anxiety can make work more difficult. Some jobs may be better suited to people with anxiety than others, depending on the type of anxiety they have and their needs.
You may not need to disclose your concern to your employer if you do not think it will affect your ability to do your job. But if you feel your job performance may be affected, it may help to ask your employer for reasonable accommodations.
If you’re having difficulties starting the conversation, keep in mind that your employer can’t fire you for worrying or discriminating against you in any way, such as not giving you a promotion or raise.
You may find that talking to a psychiatrist or psychological counselor can help. They may be able to give you some ideas on how to start the conversation and how to proceed.
With the right preparation and support, you may find that the conversation about anxiety relief runs more smoothly.