How do I stop thinking about work when I am at home? I can never stop worrying about it!?

Question

I work as a social worker and it is a very good job and for the most part I enjoy it.. but it can be very stressful with a lot of responsibility. I go home each day thinking about what i should have done or what may happen the next day. It gets to the point where I can't stop talking about it to my friends or family and I'm sure they get sick of it. When I go home i try to tell myself to forget about everything but it never happens... My mind is constantly racing. Any tips?

I am also 24 years old..don't know if that helps.. maybe as i grow older i won't worry as much?

Answer 1

I am a local authority housing officer and sometimes it happens to me as well. I try to think that I've done the best I can with the resources that I have/the situation I was presented with and it's not helping anyone if I get stressed out after work or that now I've done/said the thing I regret, I must learn from it and try not to do it again. It still happens sometimes though, but much less than when I started in housing.

I go to the gym three times a week-physical exercise helps.

I try to manage my workload.

Also talk to other colleagues in the same boat 'to let off some steam'. This helps reduce the amount of baggage you bring home. You have to be prepared for others to do this to you, though, as well, but I don't mind this. It is reassuring to hear that other colleagues go through exactly the same.

I also acknowledge to myself that I am a sensitive person and need to be less self-critical sometimes. We are only human, even the best of us will make occasional mistakes (but try to learn from them) and need some time out for ourselves.

Another thing I try to do is think of the worst case scenario and how I would deal with it. It is usually not as bad a situation as you think.

You do need to work out a coping strategy. Good luck.

Answer 2

ALTHOUGH it is often classed as 'mental illness', clinical depression often has as many physical symptoms as mental. The feelings or emotions that are depression symptoms actually begin to cause the physical effects. How this happens is a vital part of understanding depression and the symptoms that come with it.

If you are depressed at the moment some of the following symptoms may sound familiar:


You feel miserable and sad.
You feel exhausted a lot of the time with no energy .
You feel as if even the smallest tasks are sometimes impossible.
You seldom enjoy the things that you used to enjoy-you may be off sex or food or may 'comfort eat' to excess.
You feel very anxious sometimes.

You don't want to see people or are scared to be left alone. Social activity may feel hard or impossible.

You find it difficult to think clearly.

You feel like a failure and/or feel guilty a lot of the time.

You feel a burden to others.

You sometimes feel that life isn't worth living.

You can see no future. There is a loss of hope. You feel all you've ever done is make mistakes and that's all that you ever will do.
You feel irritable or angry more than usual.

You feel you have no confidence.

You spend a lot of time thinking about what has gone wrong, what will go wrong or what is wrong about yourself as a person. You may also feel guilty sometimes about being critical of others (or even thinking critically about them).
You feel that life is unfair.

You have difficulty sleeping or wake up very early in the morning and can't sleep again. You seem to dream all night long and sometimes have disturbing dreams.

You feel that life has/is 'passing you by.'

You may have physical aches and pains which appear to have no physical cause, such as back pain.

It's this wealth of depression symptoms, and the broad scope that confuses many people as to what depression actually is. Explanations rarely cover all the symptoms, and everybody's experience is different.

Answer 3

When you find out, can you share that with my husband. I do the same thing, though. Some people are natural worriers, I am too. The best thing I can tell you from experience, do the best you can at everything you can and keep yourself busy. I know worrying keeps me awake when I lay down to go to sleep. I get through it by talking about silly stuff with my husband, or telling myself to relax. I work as a stay at home mom, and sometimes I think about what cleaner I should switch to or what bad things I did or the kids did that day. It's not the same really, but it is my job. It will begin to stop communication. Read the news or watch a movie and talk about it instead.

Answer 4

Allow yourself to except that the world is the way it is for a reason, and no amount of worring or discussing it will change that. Once you except the fact that things in the world are going to happen despite your opinion of how things should be or go then you will stop thinking about the work you do at home. Whatever you think about expands. Change the way you think. Do something that you've never done before just because you've never done it. Your thoughts will no longer be focused on your job but rather on learning a new skill, or hobbie that you've chosen to start. Good Luck!

Answer 5

Although I am not in that field I can understand how it can consume you. Especially with the way the world is today. I do have the same problem, I dream about work. Its not that I want to, its just that I worry about things I should have done and what will be there for me when I return. I make it point to focus on my family when I come home, then if its really stewing in my brain I take a bath and listen to music and try to relax. I am the first to admit though, it doesnt always work, some of us are just built that way

Answer 6

Give yourself credit for being caring and conscientious, but you don't want to burn out! Those in the helping fields must take care to nurture themselves. You know the old adage how we can't care for others unless we care for ourselves....you have a tough job! Can you vent to co-workers? Another idea is to pursue a hobby or interest just for you, where you can be in the moment! Remember, you have a stressful job and have to pace yourself, and none of us are perfect. You can't change everyone or help everyone, but if at the end of the day you know you did your personal best, that is more than enough! Good Luck!

Answer 7

you are aware of it and that is a good start

i think we all do it when we are stressed with work , you should try and make a concious effort to cut down the time you think or talk about it
easier said than done i know but you should busy yourslf with other things and activities to take your mind off it
good luck

Answer 8

play a game involving numbers ...... it gets you thinking with the other side of your brain ..... I use a solitaire game