How To Manage Anxiety in Work: My Experience at PureCyber
Anxiety and its causes are not always easy to explain, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be discussed in the workplace. Over 8 million people in the UK experience some type of anxiety disorder every year.
For Mental Health Week, I have been reflecting on how I cope with anxiety at work and how my colleagues at PureCyber have helped me to start overcoming it.
As an individual with high functioning autism, anxiety can sometimes seem an endless battle and something I have often struggled with in my personal and professional life. This is why having a supportive and inclusive workplace is so important to me.
I am very fortunate to work in a workplace that recognises anxiety, and the impact it can have on mental health and wellbeing. Sadly, employees in other organisations may not always feel as comfortable sharing their mental health issues. According to a 2023 survey by Telus Health, 50% of 20–29-year-old UK workers have expressed concerns that speaking up about a mental health condition could stint their career progress. A 2021 study by MHR also found that 47% of all employees believe that disclosing mental health issues to their employer would negatively impact upon their career.
Since starting at PureCyber, I have settled into a warm and friendly workplace environment that supports everyone, and where people with or without anxiety can thrive. I find that communication is key, and by talking with my line manager, we have come up with adjustments to manage my anxiety so I can perform at my best. By trying to find what causes anxiety and tackling it, rather than viewing it as a performance barrier, employers can boost productivity and foster a diverse, motivated and happy work culture.
Maintaining good levels of communication is key to ensuring that an individual feels supported to optimise their mental health and manage anxiety, and able to apply their best efforts and perform well in their job.
At PureCyber we have discussed support measures to help my anxiety. These adjustments include things such as flexible working times which is particularly helpful if I am anxious in the morning. Flexible starting times may also help if, for example, an employee is anxious about travelling in crowded transport, so that they can avoid rush hour.
Another way we manage my anxiety is by going for 5-minute walks if I become overwhelmed and taking regular screen breaks. Promoting self-care is a great way for employers to support employees. This can include providing resources on self-care practices such as exercise, healthy eating, and stress management techniques, and encouraging employees to take regular breaks within the workday to get fresh air and stretch. I also have access to employee benefits which includes access to mental health resources and support which I find useful.
Despite my social anxiety, I have also enjoyed social events with my colleagues. These have allowed me to increase my confidence and get to know my colleagues better in a more relaxed and fun environment, even if I do have a bit more work to do!
Being able to talk about anxiety and mental health issues in the workplace is critical to managing anxiety. This is where creating a policy to ensure information is kept confidential between an employee and line manager is important. Constructive feedback can also help manage an employee’s goals and objectives keeping in mind that raising targets and KPI’s with someone who has recently experienced a severe episode of anxiety may not be beneficial.
By maintaining an open dialogue between managers and employees, and being open about mental health issues, employers and employees can work together to prevent anxiety from restricting someone’s potential.
My experience at PureCyber so far certainly proves it.
Author: Maxwell Dean, Marketing Executive