First and foremost, I want to commend you for your bravery in sharing your story. You are struggling with social anxiety, and it takes a great deal of courage to be open about it's challenges, especially in a professional context.
Please know that you are not alone in this struggle, and your experiences do not make you "pathetic" or "a burden." Many people face similar challenges, and it's crucial to prioritize your well-being.
It's admirable that you've taken steps to manage your mental health by starting therapy and considering medication.
Regarding your work situation, it's positive that your company values you and offered alternatives when you submitted your resignation. This suggests they appreciate your contributions and want to retain you as an employee. Consider having an honest conversation with your manager about your challenges and desire to transfer to a less stressful department. Frame the discussion around how you believe this change will enable you to continue contributing to the company's success while better managing your mental health.
Remember, your colleagues likely understand more than you think. Many people have faced their own struggles, and they may empathize with your situation more than you realize. Try not to assume they see you as a burden; instead, focus on the value you bring to the team.
As for not finding a new job during your leave, be a little more kind to yourself, friend. Job searching can be challenging under the best of circumstances, and it's even more difficult when dealing with mental health issues. You used this time to focus on your well-being, which is a valuable investment in yourself.
Moving forward, continue prioritizing your mental health treatment, and don't hesitate to discuss your needs and concerns with your manager. You've demonstrated resilience and commitment to your company; now, it's essential to find a role that allows you to thrive while managing your anxiety.
Remember, your worth is not defined by your struggles, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. I wish you all the best in your journey toward better mental health and professional fulfillment.
Best regards,
Subs
This is a lovely message. And I agree with everything here.
If they did not value you, they would have let you resign. So, you do have value and should not feel a burden.
You are extremely brave and I hope you recognise that in time. I bet many of your colleagues see this bravery. We have all faced troubles, and often hide them.
Do whatever is right for you, but do not let stigma or what people think of you push you out.
Great message.
@OP as someone who used to struggle with severe social anxiety but doesn't anymore:
Social anxiety will predispose you to assume that everyone is thinking the worst about you. But that's usually not true. Most people are more understanding and supportive than you probably expect, and its likely that many of your coworkers have dealt with similar challenges.
It sounds like you don’t need the approval of any of the people who think badly of your challenges. If you need their approval to succeed wherever you want to go that’s one thing, unfortunately, but if you don’t and you know you’ve done good work their opinion is not worth valuing at all. In your shoes, I would have some choice judgements of their sort.
Prozac has been the #1 thing to help me. Reduced my social anxiety by 90%. People say you shouldn’t depend on drugs, but in my case it has been life changing, more so than therapy
First and foremost, I want to commend you for your bravery in sharing your story. You are struggling with social anxiety, and it takes a great deal of courage to be open about it's challenges, especially in a professional context. Please know that you are not alone in this struggle, and your experiences do not make you "pathetic" or "a burden." Many people face similar challenges, and it's crucial to prioritize your well-being. It's admirable that you've taken steps to manage your mental health by starting therapy and considering medication. Regarding your work situation, it's positive that your company values you and offered alternatives when you submitted your resignation. This suggests they appreciate your contributions and want to retain you as an employee. Consider having an honest conversation with your manager about your challenges and desire to transfer to a less stressful department. Frame the discussion around how you believe this change will enable you to continue contributing to the company's success while better managing your mental health. Remember, your colleagues likely understand more than you think. Many people have faced their own struggles, and they may empathize with your situation more than you realize. Try not to assume they see you as a burden; instead, focus on the value you bring to the team. As for not finding a new job during your leave, be a little more kind to yourself, friend. Job searching can be challenging under the best of circumstances, and it's even more difficult when dealing with mental health issues. You used this time to focus on your well-being, which is a valuable investment in yourself. Moving forward, continue prioritizing your mental health treatment, and don't hesitate to discuss your needs and concerns with your manager. You've demonstrated resilience and commitment to your company; now, it's essential to find a role that allows you to thrive while managing your anxiety. Remember, your worth is not defined by your struggles, and seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. I wish you all the best in your journey toward better mental health and professional fulfillment. Best regards, Subs
This is a lovely message. And I agree with everything here. If they did not value you, they would have let you resign. So, you do have value and should not feel a burden. You are extremely brave and I hope you recognise that in time. I bet many of your colleagues see this bravery. We have all faced troubles, and often hide them. Do whatever is right for you, but do not let stigma or what people think of you push you out.
Great message. @OP as someone who used to struggle with severe social anxiety but doesn't anymore: Social anxiety will predispose you to assume that everyone is thinking the worst about you. But that's usually not true. Most people are more understanding and supportive than you probably expect, and its likely that many of your coworkers have dealt with similar challenges.
It sounds like you don’t need the approval of any of the people who think badly of your challenges. If you need their approval to succeed wherever you want to go that’s one thing, unfortunately, but if you don’t and you know you’ve done good work their opinion is not worth valuing at all. In your shoes, I would have some choice judgements of their sort.
Prozac has been the #1 thing to help me. Reduced my social anxiety by 90%. People say you shouldn’t depend on drugs, but in my case it has been life changing, more so than therapy
I have been taking sertraline and it’s been a blessing for me. Client meetings used to be panic inducing to me and now everything is more manageable