I worked for 20 years at the same job-took the same 9 mile drive there, went to lunch and shopped at the same places. I decided to retire from there and start cleaning houses fulltime and it has only been a week but I have this horrible anxiety and panic since I am out of my routine. It isn't like I had to do everything the same way everyday-I guess I knew I had to be somewhere on the dot 9-5 and now I have a more relaxed schedule. I feel lost, even though I am pretty busy-not packed with customers but enough to get me started. I thought I was going to have fun since my job got to be so miserable and before I quit I was planning things and just really excited about it. I can barely get in the car and drive anywhere with these panic attacks I am having. Is it all going to blow over when I get into THIS routine?
2006-09-28 00:20:48 · 7 answers · asked by Pesty Wadoo 4 in Health ➔ Mental Health
You have taken a big step and should be proud of yourself for doing so. its only natural to feel anxious as you have stepped out of your comfort zone but if it was so comfortable then you wouldn't have wanted to change.
you probably miss all the social interaction that you had as well as feeling a little daunted by the new challenge but this will ease over time. You will meet new people and form new bonds with people.
i think you should give yourself a pat on the back for doing something that a lot of people would want to do but don't have the courage. stick at it!
2006-09-28 00:32:00 · answer #1 · answered by Spangela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your experience is genuine, real and happens to most of the people who opt to retire after such long tenure of busy and routine pattern of life. And if it so happens that you had loved the job during the 20 year tenure, the sudden change causes more of such symptoms.
But a little bit of inner exploration helps mighty well !
Please see, is it not the MEMORY of this 20 year long routine that is the root cause ?
Memory is an excellent capability, but not if it operates or comes to mind of its own, or due to some anxiety, because in such cases it compounds the adverse effects.
What is required is to consciously and sincerely take efforts to look at life AFRESH.
No need at all to forget our past routine.
Look at real life instances , for instance..... Suppose a life term prisoner is released out of his good conduct, after say 20 year prison life, does he regret the freedom, note that life outside may not be all that easy for him, with the past records ! And, if that prisoner , after release, looks at the 'respectably' well placed prison warden, then he has a good reason to feel better that even the warden is not so well placed (being just on the other side of bars), and is in an almost similar routine. Meaning, it is just the question of consciously developing a positive mind set, or a positive attitude towards life.
About 500 years ago, very few humans had a 'job' like the ones we have today. There were a few professions, and most trade was barter. There was plenty for all, and very little efforts was needed to 'earn' livelihood. Very easy to go on with life without a job or profession, meaning, one could pursue what he liked, and could live the way one liked !
The greatest disadvantage of present social life is that it gives a very false sense of security with a 9 - 5 routine ! We just slog, and come back as a spent force, with weekends just to relax for another slogging week ahead. Years pass by.
The panic etc is quite understandable, more so because it is very common with most cases, but not at all reasonable. It appears to be justified , just due to majority cases, but still, is it not worth taking a re-look at the roots ?
If a person is prepared to look calmly , patiently and with some trust in nature, no false consolation is required. If subsistence is not a big issue, then, this is a better freedom !
2006-09-28 00:47:22 · answer #2 · answered by Spiritualseeker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change is hard. Even a change for the positive is good. Try to figure out what your anxiety is. If you think through it logically, you may be able to relax. Going from a fast paced environment to a slower pace is strange, but you can get through it. Give yourself more time - a week is not enough time to adjust.
If in a month you still haven't adjusted, you can find another job or get some counseling.
2006-09-28 00:30:40 · answer #3 · answered by Don't Know 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will soon get use to your new routine, but you have to give it time.
I have had anxiety attacks myself, and I know they are not fun. I would see your Dr. and see if you can be perscribed some medicine to help you over the "hump". It helped me tons and I only had to take the meds for a couple of months.
Good luck!
2006-09-28 00:31:20 · answer #4 · answered by Kelly 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you will get used to where you are and what you're doing. try to have a sense of adventure. i know this might sound silly, but i have an awful sense of dread when summer passes. yesterday i thought, "well, instead of spending so much time saying goodbye to summer, i should think of it as saying hello to fall..." there are good things in all seasons. cheesy me, Cindy :)
2006-09-28 00:54:56 · answer #5 · answered by curious 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will blow over just drink as much coffee as humanly possible.
2006-09-28 00:22:44 · answer #6 · answered by coffee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look forward not backward
2006-09-28 00:29:58 · answer #7 · answered by chickenger 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋