To a large extent, treating those with anxiety disorders is a process of educated trial and error. Needless to say, severe cases of anxiety disorders can affect your performance at work, making it difficult or impossible to hold down a job for any meaningful period of time.
If you find yourself asking “should I quit my job because of anxiety?” then it might be time to reevaluate your work situation. No one wants to admit this, but here's the truth – if your job causes you severe anxiety, it's important to prioritize your mental health over work.
Considering that anxiety is commonly linked to stress, it's no surprise that many people can't get a job due to anxiety or struggle to keep their positions because of conditions like social anxiety or generalized anxiety disorder.
Can You Get Disability for Anxiety? Yes, the SSA considers anxiety to be a disability as long as you are able to prove that you are unable to work full time because of it. You will need to prove that you qualify for disability with anxiety.
You might be eligible for DES if you're: living with a mental health condition, treated illness, injury or disability that makes it difficult to find and keep a job. This includes living with anxiety or depression, a physical or intellectual disability, learning difficulties, visual or hearing impairment.
Mental illnesses can be covered by the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act. It is against the law to discriminate against a person because of their disability.
The ADA and FMLA do not specify which medical conditions count as disabilities. There is no comprehensive list of mental illnesses that qualify for sick leave. You can call in sick for any mental health reason, diagnosed or not, including: anxiety disorders.
Making the decision to step away from a job is not always easy or feasible. But when your physical or emotional well-being is suffering and your stress isn't eased by the occasional mental health day, experts say it's generally best to start looking elsewhere.
If your employer cannot accommodate your needs, or your needs are too great to continue working, then quitting your job might save your mental health. This is a tough decision so do not make it alone. Work with a physician, counselor, or psychotherapist to determine how you can proceed down this path.
Examples of anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. You can have more than one anxiety disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPDs) become overwhelmed and incapacitated by the intensity of their emotions, whether it is joy and elation or depression, anxiety, and rage. They are unable to manage these intense emotions.
You are no longer able to fulfill your job responsibilities. Whether as a result of a physical illness, recent changes in your personal life or structural changes within the organization, if you are unable to fulfill your job responsibilities, you should consider quitting.
“I recently learned about this term called quiet quitting, where you're not outright quitting your job but you're quitting the idea of going above and beyond,” Khan says. “You're still performing your duties, but you're no longer subscribing to the hustle-culture mentality that work has to be your life.
Yes, doing something you hate every day can take a toll on your body, but a dislike of your job is less likely to manifest itself in your body the same way true burnout would. If symptoms like headaches, backaches, panic attacks, or stomach issues are weighing you down, it's likely burnout that you're dealing with.
Remember, you're not legally required to tell your employer about your mental health condition, unless there's a risk to yourself or others.
To qualify for the stress leave, you must be suffering from a serious medical condition. Not all stress causes an FMLA-eligible condition. But, if your doctor agrees that you are suffering from a severe condition and that you are unable to work during this time period, you will be eligible for protected leave.
It's entirely up to you how much you want to disclose - you don't have to "name" your condition but be careful about words like “stress” which can mean many different things and is often misinterpreted. If you have seen your doctor, and have a diagnosis, then let your employer know you are ill.
3 million Australians are living with anxiety. Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. 1 in 4 people will experience anxiety at some stage in their life.