Why I am afraid to work? How to overcome the fear of working

8 causes of fear of work

1. Have suffered a low for depression. One of the most frequent causes of why you are afraid to work is having disconnected from the routine in the office, added to the pain of a depression, you can make the person experience fear at the idea of ​​joining the position again because it feels untrained in the skills of the position.
2. Having had a toxic boss. He who corrects you constantly in all your actions and who never congratulates you for your achievements. The boss represents the role of the authority and when the worker feels insecure because of the negative messages he receives from his boss, this situation affects his self-esteem.
3. Lack of knowledge of the professional sector. A person does not always work in the field for which he has been trained. The training provides training and preparation. For this reason, when a worker makes a job in a sector in which they have no training or experience, they feel the fear of leaving the comfort zone. In this other article we give you some tips so you can face insecurity at work.
4. Excessive perfectionism. Some people put so much responsibility on themselves that they blame themselves for the slightest mistake. The risk of perfectionism is to live the error from the fault. And guilt is much linked to fear.
5. Fear of dismissal. This is one of the labor fears present in a context of economic instability. In that case, the worker experiences emotional tension because he feels he can be fired at any time. This is another reason why you may be afraid to work.
6. A negative work experience if a person has experienced some type of traumatic experience in the workplace, for example, a prolonged period of anxiety in the office, feels afraid because it is conditioned by the influence of that limiting experience.
7. Ergophobia, or what is the same, fear of work. It is a type of phobia experienced by those people who live daily situations of the professional routine as a habitual threat, for example, a work meeting or a conversation with the boss. This diagnosis is a type of social anxiety disorder. The worker fears not knowing how to do all the tasks that correspond to him in his position, he fears that he will not be up to the circumstances and he is afraid to receive a negative assessment from his superior.
8. Sham syndrome. There are many fears linked to the work plane. For example, this impostor syndrome suffered by professionals with a competent profile who have the inner belief of not being sufficiently qualified to occupy the position they hold and fear being discovered in some sign of ignorance.

How to overcome the fear of working

1. Normalizes fears. Instead of exaggerating them to paralyze you, normalize those feelings of insecurity that everyone, even the most successful professionals, have experienced at some point. Positive fear can also be a consequence of an awareness of the responsibility of having done and of wanting to live up to the expectations of the company.
2. Seek emotional support at work. Generally, bonds of companionship in the workplace arise in a natural way. It is natural that you have a greater connection with some colleagues than with others. Those people who are your support in the office, are an important pillar to face this fear. Think that, if at any time you have any doubt about a task, you can ask for help.
3. There are many companies and many different sectors. Therefore, trust that, at some point, you will not only find a position that you love, but also a company in which you develop as a happy professional. Good work experiences help you overcome the fear of work.
4. Do volunteer work associated with your professional work. The context of volunteering is free from the pressures associated with the company. For this reason, it is very possible that you enjoy your work and that you relax from other fears that condition you negatively in the office. In turn, this positive experience can also give you strength at the professional level.
5. Observe situations from a temporal context. Sometimes, the fears are so intense that they distress you because you see this scenario as immovable. Try to think that your experience in this company will have a beginning and an end. Therefore, it relativizes this situation from this perspective. And, in addition, do not position yourself in a passive role before your fears. You can prepare an opposition, find a job from home, draw up an active job search plan ... In short, do not observe your situation in a static but dynamic way.
6. Cultivate other spheres of your life. The fear of work can paralyze you in such a way that your whole life revolves around this fear. Do leisure activities, practice physical exercise, disconnect from office tasks through relaxing activities at home. Your work is important but your life is much more than that job. Keep it in mind!