When Anxiety Interferes with Work

Worrying is a fact of life; it comes and goes—usually. But what do you do when it doesn’t go away? And starts to disrupt your work? Women are twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder, which can show up as physical symptoms like dizziness and nausea and as mental symptoms like repetitive and catastrophic thinking. If you’ve been worried for a while, wondering if you should see a therapist, take time off, tell your boss, or even quit your job, clinical psychologist Michelle Drapkin has advice.

She and the Amys discuss the differences between run-of-the-mill anxiety and a disorder. They also get into practical advice, like how to keep yourself from spiraling after a mistake, what to say when you wake up too anxious to do your job that day, and how managers can sensitively approach an employee who appears to need help.

Guest:

Michelle Drapkin is a clinical psychologist and behavioral scientist who specializes in anxiety and panic disorders.

Resources:

• “Women @ Work 2024: A Global Outlook,” from Deloitte
• “How High Achievers Overcome Their Anxiety,” by Morra Aarons-Mele
• “Managing Anxiety When There’s No Room for Error,” by Alice Boyes
• “How to Talk About Your Mental Health with Your Employer,” by Kelly Greenwood

Sign up for the Women at Work newsletter.

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org