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- Remote work's accessibility can have a positive impact on mental health, especially for individuals who experience anxiety. The traditional in-office setting can be overwhelming for people with social anxiety because they may feel pressure to conform to cultural social etiquette or body language expectations.
www.forbes.com/councils/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2023/07/03/how-remote-work-can-impact-employees-mental-health/How Remote Work Can Impact Employees' Mental Health - Forbes
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Can remote work help people with social anxiety?
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- Overview
- Things to consider
- Jobs to consider
- Asking for accommodations
- Finding additional support
- The bottom line
Jobs do more than pay the bills. Meaningful work can fulfill your passions, provide a sense of purpose, and help you connect with new people.
Exploring fields of interest as you narrow down your dream career can be exciting, but it can feel overwhelming, too — especially if you live with an anxiety condition.
Anxiety can complicate the search for a career that meets all of your needs. You might hope to find work that balances your abilities and interests with your anxiety symptoms, and you probably also want to be sure your job won’t add even more stress to your life.
We’ve got good news: There are plenty of great job options if you have anxiety. Our guide below offers 12 suggestions to explore.
Choosing a career involves finding work you enjoy, but it’s also important to consider what type of work realistically fits into your life circumstances.
If you have specific income requirements, you’ll want to make sure any jobs you consider offer a salary range that clears that amount.
Maybe salary matters less than other important benefits, like flexible scheduling, opportunities for growth, good healthcare, or deeply rewarding work.
Keep work-life balance in mind, too. Many people find jobs that offer plenty of time off more appealing than jobs with high salaries.
If you need a solid distinction between work and personal time for optimal well-being, you’ll probably want to avoid jobs with no set schedule, or jobs that require you to bring work home or stay on call when you’re off the clock.
It’s also important to consider any academic requirements or specialized training you need to complete. Are you willing (and able) to go back to school? If further education is a possibility, can you support yourself while you earn a degree?
Choosing a job where you can thrive often depends on the type of anxiety you experience.
Some people with social anxiety enjoy working with animals. But if you have a phobia of certain animals or germs, or if loud or constant noise tends to worsen your anxiety, another field might be more ideal.
Similarly, some people do well in fast-paced jobs that leave little time for ruminating on anxious thoughts. But if you find the lack of downtime overwhelming, you might become more anxious about your ability to manage your responsibilities. A calm job in a quiet environment might provide a better atmosphere.
Once you land an interview, you can prepare to wow them with our Anxious Person’s Guide to Interviewing for a Job.
What happens when you love your job, but anxiety makes it difficult to handle your regular responsibilities?
Switching careers isn’t your only option. You can also ask your employer for a reasonable accommodation.
This can feel a little frightening, since asking for accommodation involves telling them about your mental health. But many employers are more supportive than you’d imagine.
Pro tip
It’s helpful to talk with your therapist or another healthcare professional beforehand to get documentation that will support your request.
Let your supervisor and HR department know you’d like to schedule a meeting to request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
There’s nothing wrong with choosing a career that supports your mental health needs. That said, it’s worth considering if you might be settling for a job you don’t really want, simply because you think it won’t make your anxiety worse.
Many factors can trigger anxiety symptoms, so your job might not have as much of an impact as you imagine. No matter what causes your anxiety, professional support from a therapist can help you learn to manage symptoms and build new coping skills — so your dream job might not necessarily be out of reach.
If severe anxiety symptoms, social anxiety, panic disorder, or phobias are holding back from the job you really want, a therapist can offer career guidance and help you explore treatment options.
Your therapist can also provide documentation when you need to request a work accommodation.
Work is an unavoidable fact of life for most people. Yet, even if you have anxiety, there’s a job that’s just right for your unique personality and talents.
Having trouble identifying your options? Connecting with a therapist or career counselor can be a good next step.
Jun 17, 2022 · One survey showed 81% of under-35s feared loneliness from long-term home working, and studies have showed heightened levels of stress and anxiety among younger workers since the shift to remote...
Sep 21, 2023 · As for relationship status, remote work is associated with increased symptoms of both anxiety and depression (anxiety: 2.131, p<0.01; depression: 1.936, p<0.01) among non-partnered (divorced, single, widow), while partnered (married, cohabiting) employees are not affected by remote work. Lastly, the associations between remote work and the two ...
Oct 19, 2021 · Remote work anxiety is on the rise as people spend more of the workday at their home office. Here's what you can do to help employees facing these mental health issues.
- John Boitnott
Mar 16, 2021 · Remote work is taking its toll in the form of chronic stress and burnout. Cultivating mindfulness in our online environment is a way to combat this depletion of energy. The authors recommend...
Oct 11, 2019 · Research shows that being “always on” and accessible by technology while working remotely leads to the blurring of work and non-work boundaries, particularly if you work from home.
