Every time someone mentions to me about getting a job I just get ready bad anxiety till the point I start crying.

i told my dad that i think im afraid to work because i find it overwelming being around ppl..didnt know there was actually a name for it tho

I didn't know this was a phobia and thought something was wrong with me. I have been off of work and have green light from doctor to go back. I struggle with fear. I get dressed and drive there then can't walk in. I am seeking help. PRAYING for others. This is REAL. Sometimes I can't leave the house.

Living with this now...I only work 2 days a week and even those two days are hell. No one in my life understands, just attributing it to laziness.

I haven't worked an actual job for eleven years due to what I now conceptualize as ergophobia. I've had periods where I volunteer, but I find that even when I enjoy the position, I find myself dreading the process more and more the longer I go. Exposure therapy has allowed me to better rationalize my condition, yet the more I am exposed, even over a period of months or even years, the more I feel the inescapable compulsion to hide from it. It is only desperation of this declining state brought about by inactivity that causes me to reach out into the job market now, and before my first day of work, I would have described my anxiety as only moderate and not debilitating. But having attended but one day of full work, I am now filled with so much nervous energy I cannot concentrate on mundane things or activities I would ordinarily find enjoyable. I can't stop thinking about the nightmare that awaits me tomorrow and the next day. Even the knowledge that my position is only a temporary 4-day one brings me no reassurance or relief. It's not even really anything that happened today, I just have this irrational fear of becoming trapped and living out my days in drudgery and repetition. Wasting away in the opposite extreme. It appears that I much prefer the devil I know to the devil I don't.

It is as if I have heard the story of my life! All the little details that push us to the edge of despair and fear. I am from São Paulo, Brazil, I'm 36 years old, I am a history teacher, but I can't enter a classroom since 2009 !! I enjoyed your videos so much, it's desperate to feel unable to do something that should be simple, but we can't. No one understands our situation and label us as lazy, depressed and accommodating who like to depend on other people. The emotional pain increases and we cannot force ourselves to even try. Thanks so much for the video and hope you do more

I’ve been unemployed for a little over 2 years now.… and I fucking love it. The thought of going to work makes me tremble with panic and anxiety. It sucks being on government benefits but I would rather top myself rn than find a job

Dear Little Blue Spot, I came across your video by searching 'fear/phobia of working', and I don't regret it. I am very sorry to hear about your struggle. Yet I feel 'less alone' as I also could not work anymore for now, for about two years now (I'm 30 and used to be a speech therapist for two years). I listened very closely to all you've said in this video, and then you told you have BPD -I've been diagnosed with BPD as well, some months ago. It has been crucial because it made so much sense, I could finally understand why I feel so strange and miserable since my childhood. Before that I've been told I was depressed/anxious, but I felt it was not really depression. I thought I was losing it and have to deal with that for the rest of my life. For now I can have panick attacks just to think about work. It is too much responsibility, too much pressure, fear of messing up and being judged, fear of dissociate (it happens when I'm tired or too stressed out, which you can guess is quite often), acting weird (I cannot eat in front of people for instance, or sometimes I make up 'lies' just to look normal), yet I know it has something to do with poor self-esteem and social anxiety/generalized anxiety, both linked to BPD. Even without a job, we have so much of emotional struggle to deal with, don't you agree? I remember that when I used to work, I buried a lot of my emotions and was a tired wreck, so when I had free time I fell into alcohol, food, drugs, and self-harm to feel numb. When I feel bad, which is more often than not, I cannot even leave my place. Also, everything would be easier without social pressure about work... Some people around me told me to go back to work to feel better, ah! the delicious guilt! It might sound awkward and lame, but I send you a virtual hug. Thank you, and I wish you to be well :) (and excuse my poor English, as it's not my native language!)(also excuse my bizarre train of thought, it is really hard for me to organize them)

I think this is what I’m struggling with. But if I told my parents they would just call me lazy.

I do not know if I have this, but everytime before I go to sleep I get scared of waking up and going to work and then when the day starts and I wake up i get super anxious.

This video hits home for me. Everything you say are thoughts and feelings I’ve experienced and still experience to this day. I feel so inferior and I feel isolated because of this. So thank you for sharing your story. It helps knowing there are others who feel this way. I wish none of us did, but it’s important to know that it isn’t our fault and doesn’t reflect on our character.

Thank you for speaking openly about this issue called ergophobia. You are so brave! I am also suffering from ergophobia and wish you much success in your efforts to overcome this real problem!

Oh my God. I suffer from this bad! My very first corporate job I was constantly targeted for my performance and was on the brink of termination before I switched to my second job (in a completely different field) where I was fired after a year due to unsatisfactory performance. (Causing me to come move back home with my parents) I was always on the receiving end of criticism and workplace bullying and harassment. I would have full blown panic attacks by doing the most mundane tasks. 3 months after that I took on another job where I was once again negatively targeted by superiors and I just got up one day and walked out and never came back. 4 months later i have low confidence and thinking about working gives me grave anxiety and stress. However, I’m 28 and also feel like a failure for still living with my parents. I want to be independent but this is really crippling me. 😔😖😖

I have never had anyone understand me the way that you do. This describes me a lot, but I haven’t been diagnosed with anything. I love this so much because it explains what my fear is and that I’m not a lazy person and that I do want to get a job, I just have a fear of messing up or disappointing someone etc. I would send this to my parents but they would just say that I’m coming up with excuses. I really wish they would just understand where I’m coming from. Thank you so much for making me feel so understood and that I’m not crazy. I have told them that I would like to go to therapy but even that scares me so I don’t know what to do.

I have this condition. It's not fun to have. I wish I was like normal people just driving to work then working on a job. I think my fear started with my first two jobs. My very first job I got fired. Then the next job I was in fast food... my boss was very strict and yelled. Ever since then I haven't kept a job longer than a month. I'm currently on social security income. I still live at home with my mom. I'm 31 now and haven't had a job in 7 years. Things could be worse. I dropped out of college at 23. This is one of the most painful experiences of my life. I often feel ashamed because money is everything to people. Me Working causes cry spells and anxiety.

ik this video is old now, but I just found it after doing some google searches. I'm almost 26 and the longest I've held down a job is 7 months, I haven't worked in almost a year, I feel so crippled mentally and I feel so alone. Being able to put a name to what I'm going through is kind of scary.. I hate working, it makes me so anxious and scared. I feel like a burden because I'm not helping with money, but the thought of even looking for a job, let alone applying and doing an interview, it keeps me awake and gives me full blown panic attacks. It helps to know other people know what this feels like...

I can relate and judging from the number of comments, this phobia is far more common than I thought. I actually just heard the word 'ergophobia' today, March 2023 and looked it up and found your channel. Subscribed, Thank you for your courage and honesty!

Now I know what's wrong with me. I've been wanting to tell my parents about my struggle but Im scared that they might not understand.. I keep looking for a job and everytime I got one, I was so happy but then, later on, days after, I feel so stressed and anxious all the time. I kept holding back myself from doing my very best performance for the job.. I dont know what to do. Im 25 and still living with my parents, still relying on them financially and I feel so ashamed

This helped my understanding immensely. I want to help someone who suffers from this, someone very dear to me, and I have not been able to grasp this concept for the life of me. Even a lot of your explanations here completely clashed with my ideologies, which I'm trying super hard to combat for my own self-improvement. This video helps immensely. Thanks for explaining it all.

I didnt know it was a phobia really I quit my first job only after a month of employment because it gives me anxieties ever since the first day and I can't just take it anymore to the point where I thought that I'd go crazy if I continued. That's why I told my parents that I want to quit but when they ask me why I can't answer because I thought that being afraid or anxious is not a valid reason to quit, they'll just tell me that "You'll really feel all of that for the first time but it'll get better with experience", but its different when you're the one experiencing it, its really hard for me to even imagine continuing that job, I can't even sleep without crying my eyes out everyday. In the end they accept my decision and up until now I am unemployed but the problem is people, my parents always ask me when are you going to find work? and that alone gives me anxieties

This is awesome to know that there are other people that has the same issue. Am afraid to meet new people especially in a work setting. I perform better when left alone. I thaught it was because i was an introvert. I do really like to hang out or work with very very select people only. Thanks everyone for sharing your experience

Your awareness of toxic work places is worth pursuing. These social issues are REAL! Brené Brown is an amazing author and speaker. Being vulnerable is courageous. 💛

Oh my god I’ve just been crying watching this video because I relate to absolutely everything you said. I’ve been out of work for 11 years due to having children and having back problems. Now both my children are in school I have been applying for jobs and then avoiding phone calls and panicking thinking I can’t do it, my back is going to stop me, I’m not good enough. I am very anxious and feel so worthless. I want to be able to contribute but physically and mentally I don’t think I can!

I can so relate to a lot of your fears . thanks for being so honest x

Thank you so so much for this video, I feel so alone, my family don't understand and sometimes I don't but this is what I feel, my fears have built up from my school days and now I associate social situations with negativity, bullying and all sorts of fear. I feel so bad and I feel like a failure but I've learnt to find any way to avoid social interactions and it's become a habit and a phobia. I also have constant negative thoughts about myself. I also have social anxiety. It's an incredibly lonely experience.

i thought im just alone, and my mindset is just about im a loser, im a coward. i even laugh at my self almost everyday cause my inability for work. like when start a job, i will just feel i wanna die and feel like this my last day. this kinda scary but i found u here. and yea, the world soo noisy as much as my mind even so i already got this channel❤

anyone who feels they are suffering from this should speak with their doctor about counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy.

I thought I was alone on this. Every time I go to apply for jobs I get panic attacks reading the jobs descriptions and minimum requirements. I had to stop today because I could not breathe, and felt the pressure building in my chest and head. I don't know how I'm going to survive like this. I also have $30,000 in student debt.

you are not the only one in this world who have ergophobia. i think i have same problem like you do. trully i feel shame to my self. being pushed by my parent and elder brother to have a job in city. but if i don't have job, i will dishonor my family. more i think about work more depressed i will be.

I have this fear of work also and don't know what to do I also have anxiety and depression well probably it goes hand to hand

Thank you for sharing this. I thought I was alone. I'm so hard on myself and I couldn't stop faking sick. I get panic attacks everymoring and once I have days off, trying to get back is near impossible. It's so irrational! And so frustrating!

Thanks for talking about this! I am 21 and i am really scared of the work environment too. I just always feel like i don't belong there, like that company got nothing to do with me. It always feels like they're forcing themselves into my life and trying to change who i am or steal certain character traits. I'm just scared to be just another part of the machine.

I have had this for a number of years now, I'm 27 years old, I was a college lecturer and suffered a form of bullying. I went from being a confident, athletic person to having extremely low self esteem and my social skills have suffered dramatically. A simple task such as picking up the phone to potentially new employers and even friends I haven't spoken to in a long time. I am still in this position and struggling, I am terrified of going in to a new job incase I end up in the same situation and struggle with money as benefits is the only thing that is keeping me to survive from home at the minute.

My heart went out to you. It’s such a shame that more people in the workplace aren’t more sensitive to these issues. You don’t have to know how it feels to spot that someone is struggling and offer some support or even just “put yourself on someone else’s side and it would make so much distance. And like you say - anyone who’s had even a week or two off has probably felt at least nervous. I wish you kind line managers going forward - they are out there :-)

Just even trying to apply anywhere is stressful. I cant work online either. I just cant do it. I found this term by myself and told my therapist about it, like .....THIS!!! Idk how tf ppl have been in such n such career for 10,15,30 years and whatnot. How? Because the other terrifying thing that sends me into a spiral besides working, is when soneone tells me to just choose and focus on one thing. Lmfao! How on earth? Im way too talented! I just cant DO anything with or about it. Im glad to know this shit is real tho, and im not a lazy, crazy, bad mom. It feels so good to even just learn that sonething IS real and its not just you.

Due to the same issue, I have only four years of experience since graduating and a gap of five years in my career. Even though every day I pray to god to get rid of this, it is not happening as I expected. Because of this, I'm falling behind in my career, my future, and my beloved family, friends. Nevertheless, it slowly destroys me with every passing day. The thought of outcomes is horrifying to me. Ergophobia and social anxiety ruin my life too much. I badly need good change in my life. It is still my hope that I will return with a clear mind and a stronger outlook one day.

It’s like you read my mind and put it into a video ❤️ thank you so much for making me feel like I’m not alone. I so want every you do as well but every time something goes wrong at work it makes me suicidal and I have to quit for my own life. Best of luck to you xxx

thank you so much for this video. Its so powerful to know that im not alone with this problem, thank you thank you thank you

Thank you so much for creating this video and for sharing yourself and your experiences. I've always struggled with anxiety and working, but it got worse to the point where I've had a number of breakdowns and have been out of work for nearly 3 years. It really hurts, and the shame feels unbearable. There is stress of money problems, and not being able to be of service in the world... feeling lost and useless...blocks and fear.....a catch 22. I have experienced many toxic and traumatic work environments - including bullying and harrassment. Even just people being rude, aggressive, inconsiderate and judgemental has a negative impact. It creates a feeling of not being safe, not being respected or valued, and that grinds people down. It's not ok. The process of reintegrating back into work takes deep healing and kind, compassionate people - friends, coaches, therapists and mentors - and situations where people can be seen and heard, and needs met. Reasonable adjustments. It takes so much strength to deal with this paralysing fear, but I do believe with self compassion and compassion from others we can recover... x

Thanks for making the video it's so inspiring I didn't even know what Ergophobia is until I saw the video and I can now relate to it! I too have been victim of bullying racial harassment at work to the point I quit my job but never managed to hold one properly ever since due to constant anxiety attacks with anything related to work.....You tube videos on self love and healing are helping and I'm waiting to get to the point where I'm no longer terrified to go to work !

totally related to everything you said. its the first time i could find someone that could relate to me,what i goes through. it was also not under my control, i kept on pushing myself,but people around me use to think that i hv been making excuses. i feel anxious seeing everyone working around me and earning and contributing their part. Its like full uncertainity situation. It feels like unacceptable everyday. A scary dream. Your talk was very helpful to my brain to relate to it and knowing that we are not responsible for it.

Legit me right now and i am so glad to find out I am not the only one feeling this insane amount of fear and depression from working. Started a job after about 2,5 years of having my last job and even tho it's only part-time and it's the "usual" cashier at a supermarket job, I am unable to handle it mentally and physically. Even tho my shifts are only 4 hours long so far, I am going to have my 3rd shift tomorrow and I am super terrified of it. In fact, I haven't slept well for the past 4 days and my stomach is punishing me for it too.

It feels so great to know that I’m not alone. I just turned 17 and had a job like 1 month ago and quit after a couple of weeks because I got this horrible gut feeling and hated showing up which made me quit.

I have this mental health disorder, I taking counseling at my university. I didn’t know they had a name for this.

Thank you for sharing this! I had predominantly negative social/relationship/negative attachment experiences since I was an infant and it seemed to lay the foundation of my relationships moving forward as well as my level of confidence. I am glad you mentioned performance anxiety, because I realize I have always had that, along with social. I always thought I was the only one who found normal, every-day life a challenge to the degree that it would impact my ability to survive and fulfill every-day/work/relationship/financial responsibilities, because it seemed like everyone around me seemed to manage well. So it's just really relieving to see I am not alone and that it is more normal than I thought that every-day life is more challenging to some than others. I've shared most of the fears you expressed. The most frustrating part I think, is how it impacts all aspects of life, to the point that the part of you who you know is capable of managing and thriving in life, isn't what people see and isn't where we are able to operate from - and instead, what people see and the type of life you lead reflects all those challenges, rather than the you that has overcome it. There's always a battle between the version of me that is capable and the version that's not there yet. For anyone reading: Just know, you are not weird, there is nothing wrong with any of you and many people experience the challenges you experience moment-to-moment. It can be changed, worked on, improved and can go away altogether. Although aspects of my life still challenge me to the core, other aspects like just being able to talk to someone without feeling clueless and having direction in my day, time-managing, cognitively being able to think through things, feeling competent and capable to do things, has ALL improved since I started healing the root cause of the anxieties, fears and depression I experienced moment-to-moment. It usually always stems from childhood, even if you did not have it prior and an experience later in life triggered the anxiety/fear; there is usually something rooted in childhood that manifested the trigger and if you have experienced the anxiety/low self-worth/esteem since childhood then know that is why you've experienced those challenges throughout your life. For some it also stems from past lives. Either case, there is a way through it if you're willing to invest time into healing the imbalances that manifest as anxiety, depression, fear, illness, etc. Trust me you're worth it! And when life becomes easier (even if it's just a little glimmer at first, you will notice the difference and challenges will become more bearable). I remember when every moment felt hard daily for years, now, I have many moments where life feels at ease and I feel safe in-between the unbearably challenging moments lol. But, when I first experienced moments of feeling safe and life felt at ease for the first time in my life a few years back, it motivated me to continue on my healing journey bc I was finally not living in darkness 24-7. And the same can happen for you. Self-help really helped me get a kick start. I even forced myself to do public speaking once even though I was deathly afraid of being around people, let alone speaking. (Although there were some pros to taking this risk that did help me improve some of the stage-freight I had, I would not necessarily recommend this, bc it can trigger you and go the other way - starting small, like getting comfortable talking to your neighbor, grocery store clerks, teacher, friend, etc. is better to ease yourself in) My background in psychology and clinical therapy and energy healing helped me to essentially do psychotherapy on myself as well as emotional-healing but what really helped tremendously is either seeing a counselor or energy healer, which ever resonates most with you that can help you lay the foundation of understanding how your emotions, feelings, triggers work so you can then continue to do your own healing practice as your triggers come up. Some parts of the journey we can't do alone and need some support while we continue our own personal healing journey. Thank you again for this video and I wish you and everyone the best.

This is so helpful to see. I’m terrified of not getting my online business off the ground because I don’t want to have to work an hourly job. Not because I’m lazy, but because I’ve had breakdowns before work and during shifts at multiple different jobs in the past. And so much more. It probably has more to do with unhealed CPTSD in the past and bad memories associated with being on the job and being dysregulated, but it’s all connected.

Thanks for the video....i am having this fear for the last 1 year and I thought this is just related to me... But now I know its a phobia and there are people facing it....

OMG I'm so pleased that I'm not alone with this. I laugh saying I think I've developed an aversion to work and people laugh!!! This is not funny. It's real. It's disabling.

Thank you for sharing this. I am feeling this right now. .. I am terrified of work. I like how you broke it own because with my anxiety I have do many thought s and scenarios running through I can't make sense of things. I know people say push through but I've been pushing for years. It's like there is a little voice in my head that is telling me to stand up for myself but a million others telling me I'm wrong for feeling this way. And I'm lazy..I just feel like I am floating along but can't do this much longer because of finances. I feel like I am on a string with my current job too.its a 35-50 minute drive or 2 hour bus commute due to its location and traffic. I like the job I guess but not the commute. Sorry for the long post. I don't have anyone to talk to.

Well my parents pressure me a lot to go to work but the truth is that I get anxiety and this gives me symptoms such as having a hard time to breathe...feeling nauseous...restless and lack of sleep too....I too find it overwhelmed having to deal with people....Tbh it drains my energy until I am left with nothing....I just panic and I don't know what to do...As much as I try to convince myself, I feel better only for a few minutes and then I get the feeling back again... It's worst when your parents don't understand you and don't want to and compare you with other people out there etc... I don't like working for people and I cannot find myself there as well...I wanna work for myself...I wanna do something for myself....I don't want to work among other people...

Thanks for sharing! I can relate. I find what you say about associating work with negative emotions makes sense to me.

I quit from my first workplace after a week, and then 2 months from my secondd workplace. And 1 day for the thrid workplace. And now i don't know what am i going to do, I'm feeling worthless.

Thanks god I’m not alone, no one understands me, I just want to change but every time I try I fail, but we all will go through this

I applied at tonnes of job openings. I do get calls from them. When the phone rings, I just can't answer the call and end up putting it on silent. I can feel the difference in my breathe when I get a call from the employer.

There's a name for it! And here I thought I was just so incompetent I have trouble finding a job!

It is like I am watching myself.

I'm almost crying because you don't seem lazy at all, you seem like me, you WANT to work but this hinders you, me too. Anyone know how to fix this? I'm capable and want to work so badly (I feel so guilty for not working). I tend to burn myself out I try so hard to preform and please everyone, and it just makes it worse. I'm 26 btw

This happened to me, I feel like super anxious and big fear. I don't know how to handle this thing. I got overwhelmed by my job. Like I must be perfect, and always should be perfect everyday. But I'm always making many mistakes, then I blame my self and say "You're so stupid, you can't do like this stuff?"😭 I know my mindset super fool and stupid too. But that's how I feel. So difficult to change my mind into positive things. Im always scared of making mistakes. My job purely push me to be perfect, but I'm super tired

hello dear friends when i was watching this video i remembered my experience. in fact, I will turn 27 in a few days. I have not worked a single day because of the fear of work. When my relatives made me a job offer, I felt anxious, sweaty and wanted to vomit. making any kind of excuse not to work. very few people could understand my situation (good thing I found you). I don't know what to do, I am part of a therapy with a psychologist but it seems that it is not giving results. I need your help dear. peace in the soul. sorry for my poor english.

I’m so scared of getting a job and people just keep telling me I need to get a job. I hate therapy and fear I will never get over this phobia

i was suffering from ergophobia. i was always thinking about negative.then my younger sister forced me to try for job.i took beta blocker and antidepressant .then i went for interview.after 2 interviews i started feeling good. But unfortunately i did not get job . But my fear of interview gone .before going to interview i had just 1 thing in my mind... "i will definitely face my fears" if they will not like me they will say no what else they could do..out side world is colourful.but courage of going for job interview came after taking antidepressant for 1 month.☺️i was a person who saw this video 3 months ago and then i decided i would come here to write a positive review.. my english is not much good.😑

It's been 2 years I'm jobless, I'm scared to work again, and today one of supermarket that I applied last year called me, I ignored it 2 times, just thought of it make me anxious, i know i have missed the chance, my mom didn't know, for no reason I searched jobphobia and this came out, i never knew there's job phobia and sadly I'm one of them along with have social anxiety,

I relate to this a lot! Thank you for sharing. We are not alone

I think I've been suffering with this not knowing what it was. About 4 years ago I had a terrible panic attack in work and thought I was dying in work since I never had panic attacks before this. I had anxiety and found it very tiring in social situations, but I didn't yet experience an attack. This turned into something the Dr called a hyper panic attack which lasted days after and i had to take a week of time off work. Ever since this happened I've had spells of frequent panic or anxiety attacks either before work or in work. I never have them at home or very very rarely I do. But as soon as I get to work it starts. I do have good weeks where I don't really get this way during work but I always get it at the thought of going in. Even during a good week.

I can relate to everything you just said and how it feels to not be able to handle the anxiety and irrational thoughts of incompetence or not being good at anything. I feel we expect too much of ourselves and each person has certain capabilities which others don’t and knowing we will get better at building our confidence and engaging in a much more constructive manner with society would be the best first step. Thank you for putting your feelings out there . There are so many people out there who are dealing with this. We need to channel our thoughts in the creative energy we possess and always know we are valuable . Never loose hope for hope is what keeps us going and gives us the strength to get back up and face life

Yep me ,had so many failure's due to being abused in the work place with no right to defend myself up to and including being assaulted multiple times .

Thank you for uploading this video! I think I have this phobia. Growing up I rarely saw a positive thing about work. It was a thing you do because of money. Something that breaks you. My mom had to work hard for us to live and there were days where she couldn't get up because of physical pain. It terrified me, seeing my mother breaking herself just for money and I think that`s where my hatred for work comes from. I'm at a point where I should get a job and I think I found something I like but I am TERRIFED to really work in reallife. What if the environment is terrible? What if the people are terrible? I can't just leave when I want to. I'm bound to that place for hours at a day. What if I'm not good enough? Etc etc. Again, thank you! It helps seeing others go through similar challenges.

I've been out of work for five years too due to anxiety. I'm recently started volunteering doing a two half days a week, and am enjoying it. Still trying to push through anxious moments and thoughts, but it's made my week far more positive. I was just wondering, do you have you counselling/therapy through the NHS or private? I'm currently on the three year wait list for therapy :(

I am scare of working too because I have anxiety with other people outside

I don't know if I have this..but I've been avoiding to get a professional job where you need to handle pressure, communicate functionally and handling people. I'm currently working at factory where I just stand or sit assembling things and packing. And even that, I dread to go to work because I don't have friend that I really can talk to.Socialising is hard.Most of my days spent at my locker.Just now, I turned down a job interview as a clinic assistant. I've been dreading it since yesterday and have my emotional breakdown, so I cancelled it today. I feel like like I'm going to regret this.. I'm so doomed for the rest of my life :(

i feel the same. i was once hired but fear of not performing well on job got me so i quit. im not lazy i really wanted to work.

It's very interesting that you also mention that you felt like something terrible would happen to someone else if you got into work. I felt the same. I wonder if it is, because we are hyper sensitive, we as women don't want to leave our houses because we always had children to take care of and now we have to go to these foreign workplaces. Some women work 100 km from home. That alone already gives me anxiety. What if there's a fire for example? I hate leaving my house behind. Honestly? I'd be a housewife any time.

For so many years I blamed myself for being lazy and not wanting to work. Everytime I used to fake a sick leave to avoid difficult days at work, I used to curse myself for being lazy and sissy.

This has helped me so much. Made me cry…I relate heavily. Lookin go for work currently after Covid and absolutely scared to death.

I found out i have GAS (General Anxiety Disorder) and major depression. So it is not just jobs, it's everything. But I certainly had toxic jobs! When you have anxiety you get into this spiral of grabbing onto any job you can get and that sometimes makes you an easy victim of toxic workplaces who can't find staff that wants to stay! What helped me so far was get therapy, read a lot of critical books about work, get a bit more into social law (i am a lawyer), join a union (it is really easy), not take AD, eat well, sleep well, take multi vitamins, fix my life, and save a lot of money.

hey Gem i have hit a bad replase so will take a while to get back to where i was i have never worked but i so desperately want to you know and it's frustrating people don't realise how much a long term goal was i remember a christian friend was like how comes you can't get a job well duh because i have a mental illness you know ypu know sadly gem as a christian i find that the stigma of mental illness needs to be spoken about just as much within the church as well as outside but thank Goodness there are christian charites.

If not being called lazy, I'd be called weak

I haven't worked for over twenty years and I'm terrified to. Alot of my fear is because I don't only have anxiety and depression. I also have migraines and painful bladder syndrome. The latter being the worst causing severe pain for two weeks at a time within a month. I have an appointment with the DWP on Tuesday and I'm terrified 😨!!!. I don't know how I could work with these illnesses. Surely if I even get a job having two weeks off a month is not feasible. I hope they agree but I'm just worried they'll push me to work regardless. So you can see why the anxiety and fear.

Everytime my parents mention my job search i feel like offing myself. I think I need to move out but i can't.

I'm on early adult stage and i think this is what i have this time. I'm a bit lazy (well, all people has that trait in different level) but i knew to myself that i'm a dedicated person in doing a certain task when i do it. I really need to apply for a job but i don't have the strength of mind and emotion to go in government offices to get job requirements and IDs. I don't understand why am i feeling so anxious just by thinking of facing people of the government offices. I'm afraid of getting scolded by manager if i fail the task given to me, afraid of getting failed in interview (it will give me such a major self embarassment and i wouldn't even be able to expose myself in public and neihhborhood with that), anxious in a very busy environment where the tasks aren't what i'm used to. I'm also embarrassed to myself that other early adults in my neighborhood has job and able to get what they want. I can't really think that it's just easy for them while me is having a hard time just thinking what they are doing (having a job). I can think that it's just a simple problem but i don't know why i can't solve it and it bothers me so much affecting my life. I even ignored my friends in social media because they have a job while me is none, just being discovered by them that i'm still jobless this time will give me such a stressful embarrassment making me ignore them for a while to avoid that because i doubt they'll understand me, i'll comeback to them when i have a job and i'm ok, i miss them so much but i don't have the courage to face them yet. Most of people are thinking that i'm just lazy and if i tell my fear to this and the reason they'll just tell i'm dramatic but i'm actually struggling with my current situation. I really wanted to have a job coz i wanted to save money for future since i'm 20 now and i hope i surpass this mental abnormality in next months or even years.

Just in case you were wondering - jobs have actually gotten worse over the past 20 years. Target driven job intensification effects all areas of employment, small companies have been bought out and absorbed into vast technocratic monopolies that enact an agenda of spite on their workers. Once an employee was seen as an asset to the company to be invested in, now they are increasingly seen as a cost presided over by a managerial class that has to try and get rid of them to justify it's existence.

I definitely have this, and volunteering helps alot. But the problem I had is that you get stuck in volunteer work because you cant do anything else.

I hate being in a position where I can be seen or around people. I'm only qualified for security work and I hate my fucking job and being around people due to anxiety and depression. I went from working 5 days a week to working 1 shift now, and largely have to rely on my 76 year old mum who's on a pension. Being a Kiwi who's lived in Australia for 20 years, it's virtually impossible to get on a benefit. I'm going to have to do the one thing I really don't want to do. Go back to New Zealand:(

Same here sis, same here. This advice won't actually help you but if you get out for work consistently, It will be less effective. Basically it's like dragging Work inside your comfort zone.

I have anxiety doing work from home. I had had a breakthrough today realizing it is my brain protecting me and getting out of hand. It is not so easy as all that sounds. I've been a wreck for over three months. I have horrible panic attacks. My throat goes closed and chest pains. In my own house. Unbelievably disappointed in myself anyhow. Love from USA. I really need some tranquilizer but they won't give them to me. Before my shift my hands shake. It's terrible.

I try doing food delivery last year but one month in and my fear kick in and the second month I was crying every day I came back home, that I finally quit because it was too much for me.

Thanks for the video, i hope your doing well. Im in a similar situation, i would like to go back to work. My CPN says im still unwell though

I wanna work for my family but everytime someone comes to me with some job opportunity, I feel overwhelmed. And feel relieved when I don't have to take that job. Recently knew this problem has a name. Really wanna overcome this cause I am feeling Useless.

I am in stable job but every task, every day fills me with dread and I have palpitations just sitting at the computer. I'm under performing massively, but am scared to bring up the subject with my employers as it sounds so silly.

I became a truck driver to get away from people. My feelings have only compounded. I dont know im gonna do. Im tired of trucking and I don't want to go back to the regular world.

I love being alone by myself

I finally found mine people like me, I finally found there is a name to it too, I felt so lost not know knowing what I have. Now knowing there is a term for it, I can tell my doctor.

Im litterly an extrovert...but I get really nervous about work. I feel like I can’t do it and I’m gonna fail.

Little Blue Spot, I feel the exact same way you do. I've had Ergophobia this since 25 and recently found out about it, it's not diagnosed, I have told my doctor but they seem to poo poo it, though I made sure I was diagnosed for Aspergers which came back positive after 2 years. I was scared to tell anyone because they might not understand. I always found it hard to find work or even try looking. I did work for 12 years but then got crohns and found after it had increased exponentially. In the 12 years I worked some days I would be physically sick every morning, tight chest or just want to take sick days even when not ill, partly due to the bosses at my first job and the tension of being in a stressful position of having to create things for clients. I think that is what led to my crohns... Anyway, when I was feeling a little better I went back to uni part time and I've never felt so relaxed because I was not feeling pressured to create a product for someone or having to prove myself for money. But after I got work again through a friend luckily, and although I loved it, people and bosses were great, What I went through with my original job left me with a phobia of management. I had an insane fear of the bosses coming in and would try to avoid days they might be there. Like I said I have been diagnosed recently with Aspergers which I thought was causing it. Now the Ergophobia has hit hard, harder than ever and although I am reasonably clever, have a 1st degree honours in Games Design, I have not worked or even gone out of the house since 2017, and instead do models to sell online. I can't even work for people online it's that bad. Worst thing is when I told my doctor the first thing they try is tablets that made me really ill. Just getting sick of this not being taken seriously but my lovely work coach understands and my medical diagnosis has proven I have aspergers and other things. I am so bad I can't go into a supermarket for the last 15 years by myself.

Thank you I'm appciate you and your honesty

Hiya. I have this phobia mainly due to the shitty people I have worked with (I have adhd and aspergers - high functioning) but I have my little quirks, adhd and apergers are very misunderstood. But people pick up on it. It is hard to maintain friendships or mix within the work place. However it all started about 10 years ago. Depression and anxiety and external factors, relationship breakdowns and going from a decent job I enjoyed to working shitty warehouse jobs where people judge you as being dumb for working in a warehouse or not fitting in because the language barriers or sensory overload - background noise. Hustle and bustle etc. Its rubbish

To all of you like me who came here after searching fear at work, I would like to say just one thing, dont think what others will think or say about you. Because, it's for everyone. Each and everyone at work wilo be talked about, mistreated, ignored and let down at one point or the other. Just think of it like a game that you are playing with other contestants. Just think you are here either to do what you like yo do, or simply think you are here to make money that's all. Just don't overthink. Remember everyone makes mistakes, everyone.

This is happening to me looking after my mom and 25 in debt but literally trying to cope with this and come out of my shell a lot more and just get on with it hopefully 2022 will be better for me

This really helped me. Thank you

Hey great video ...I really liked your channel