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Top Jobs for People with Anxiety

Top Jobs for People with Anxiety

Anxiety is something that everybody experiences in their life. As a response to a stressful situation, our body increases blood pressure, heart rate, and level of alertness.

However, for some people, the frequency and duration of anxiety can be excessive, and this can lead to a medical disorder because our body puts in place those defensive mechanisms when they are not strictly necessary.

What does it have to do with our job?

People suffering from anxiety know that the type of job they’re doing can be a potential trigger for their condition.

So what should you take into consideration when you’re suffering from an anxiety disorder, and are looking for a job?

In order to find out, let’s take a look at the Top Jobs for People with Anxiety…

Key Aspects To Consider

Although anxiety can affect people in many different ways, some triggers are common for almost everyone who suffers from that condition.

Which ones are they?

Constant supervision, a strict schedule that doesn’t allow you to take a break when you feel that you need it, working closely with other people (especially for those suffering from social anxiety), a sedentary job.

So, let’s have a closer look at each one of them…

Independence

Jobs that allow you to work on your own without any supervision are often the first choice for people with anxiety. The reason is that rather than having multiple areas where their job is evaluated, they usually prefer to have only one deadline to meet.

However, this is not always the case. Some people feel more comfortable with smaller tasks that they need to reach daily as opposed to having a massive project that can look like a mountain to climb.

Flexible Schedule

The possibility to plan their daily routine is often a massive benefit for people with anxiety. When they feel that an attack is coming, the last thing that they want is to keep doing what they are doing, which is probably the reason why anxiety is striking.

A flexible schedule will allow you to take a break, go for a walk, exercise, or in general, do whatever else you know that will help you. When the attack is over, you can go back to work or even decide to call it a day and keep doing what makes you feel better.

top job for people with anxiety

Again this might not be true for everyone. For certain people, the necessity to plan their day can be a potential trigger because it is an additional responsibility that they have to deal with every morning. In this case, a job that guarantees a fixed schedule that never changes over time is a better option.

Level of Social Interaction

Before applying for a job, people with anxiety should consider how interaction with colleagues, customers, and employers affects their condition.

For some who have social anxiety, the less is, the better; however, this might not be the case for people with different types of issues. Some sufferers actually find that having somebody to talk to is more beneficial, rather than spending their whole day alone working remotely.

Active Job vs. Sedentary Job

The benefits of an active lifestyle on anxiety have been extensively researched, and the general opinion is that an active job could help to relieve and prevent symptoms, dramatically reducing the number of attacks.

But when going outside becomes our biggest fear, a sedentary job from home is certainly better.

Consider The Application Process

One more aspect to consider is how well you will cope with application processes. Some jobs require sending an application form, passing an online assessment, facing a group interview, to finally get to the one-on-one interview.

This might be a challenge for everyone, but it obviously gets way worse for people with anxiety. And even when they’re qualified for the job, the stress is so unbearable that they might drop the application before the final interview.

When the application process becomes a deal-breaker, an online job might be the solution. In many cases, the whole selection happens through written communication, and when a Skype interview is required, this can be done in the comfort of our home.

top job for people with anxiety guide

Jobs To Avoid

While many factors are extremely subjective, and it is impossible to clearly say whether they are beneficial or detrimental, some jobs are universally considered inappropriate for people with anxiety.

Let’s find out why that is…

Is Responsibility a Factor?

Any job that comes with high responsibilities is possibly the worst option for people with anxiety Responsibility and stress are highly correlated, and everyone who suffers from anxiety knows too well how important it is to keep the level of stress as low as possible.

Being able to make quick decisions in a stressful situation is key to succeed in these jobs and can make a huge difference in whether a project will be successful or not. People with anxiety often struggle in these situations, and if a panic attack strikes, not only will it be a problem for those persons, but also it can be dangerous for the people they are responsible for.

Highly Stressful Jobs

If you’re wondering what the most stressful jobs are, here are a few examples

  • Military career
  • Surgeon
  • Firefighter
  • Commercial pilot
  • Lawyer

Top Jobs for People with Anxiety

It should be clear by now that there are so many factors to consider that it’s not possible to identify a job that is perfect for everyone who suffers from anxiety.

What might be extremely beneficial for some could be the worst trigger for somebody else. Therefore, I decided to include in this list jobs that might even look contradictory. Depending on the severity and the type of your condition, some of them could be a perfect match for you, while others would be a horrible choice.

Yoga Teacher

The multiple benefits of yoga on anxiety are not a secret, and several studies have proven that this is not just a myth. In fact, a 2010 study demonstrated that yoga can help to relieve anxiety by raising the level of GABA (gamma amino-butyric acid) in our brain. GABA is an acid that has been found to decrease its activity in people with anxiety.

A 2017 study determined that practicing yoga every morning before school helps children with anxiety to better control their disorder.

top job for people with anxiety tip

So Why Not Turn Something So Useful Into Your Professional Career?

The good news is that it doesn’t take ages to become a yoga teacher. Even a beginner can enroll in a yoga teacher training course (YTTC) and benefit from everything he will learn.

Once the training is complete, you can start teaching to friends if that makes you feel more comfortable. A class of students might be intimidating at first, but there are other ways to teach yoga. One-on-one classes are easier to manage, and online lessons are getting more and more popular.

Choose the right yoga center for your YTTC. Before booking a program, go and talk to them and let them know about your condition and your goals. The right teacher will guide you through the whole experience in a relaxed and enjoyable way which will be extremely helpful to manage your stress levels during that course.

Online Freelancer

Working as an online freelancer offers multiple benefits to people with social anxiety. First of all, you have the full freedom to organize your schedule, and the workload can increase or decrease depending on how much time you’re willing to invest.

Are you facing one of those weeks where your anxiety doesn’t seem to give you a break? Take it slow, and focus more on your well-being.

top job for people with anxiety tips

The Job Often Doesn’t Require Any Social Interaction

All the negotiations with your clients will happen by email or through the freelancing website that you’ll use to find jobs. Once you agree with your client about his expectations, nobody will check what you’re doing and when you’re doing it. As long as you respect the deadline and the client is happy with the job, you will be completely independent.

Lastly, there is no shortage of freelance jobs. In fact, there is such a variety that you could end up turning your passion into a profitable career.

Do you love foreign languages? Work as a translator. Are you passionate about writing? Specialize in your favorite niche and earn money while writing about it.

Here is Some Example of Jobs That You Can Do Online as a Freelancer

  • Ghostwriter, content writer, blogger
  • Translator
  • Transcriptionist
  • Application and software developer
  • Web designer
  • Video maker

Is There any Drawback?

The only downside is that an online job can be somehow alienating. While many of those with social anxiety would see it as a benefit, some people might find it a limit in their healing process.

Animal Keeper

If you feel uncomfortable around people while the animal’s company has the opposite effect, this might be the ideal job for you.

The effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy in helping managing anxiety has been proven beyond any doubt. Spending your day working with animals and coming up with ideas to make their life in captivity better will give you a sense of accomplishment that will have a positive impact on your stress level.

However

Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to become an animal keeper, and you will need to gain experience volunteering at your local zoo or animal sanctuary. If your goal is to become an experienced animal trainer, keep in mind that most employers will require a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.

If you’re not ready to pursue this career, but you love animals, and you have experience with pets, you might consider a job as a pet sitter.

Outdoor Guide

Do you love to immerse yourself in nature, and you feel that when you do it, your anxiety disappears?

That’s not surprising, since active outdoor life is one of the most powerful anti-anxiety treatments available. When we exercise and perform any physical activity, our body releases endorphins which are extremely beneficial in relieving stress and tension.

top jobs for people with anxiety tips

Considering that it’s so effective, why not live your whole life that way instead of enjoying that pleasure only on occasional moments?

As an outdoor guide, you will lead groups of people on various activities: fishing, camping, hiking, hunting, kayaking, and much more. If you have the passion and the right skills, you can build a career doing exactly what you love.

No Worries

Social interaction is not usually seen as an obstacle in this case. For most of the day, you will be busy with small tasks, and there is not much time for a conversation with your clients.

Requirements to start a career as an outdoor guide differ from state to state and depend on the activity of your choice. Generally speaking, formal education is not required, but in-depth knowledge and experience in the field are necessary.

Applying for Your Dream Stress Free Job?

Then you may also want to take a look at my article on what kinds of Hobbies and Interests to Put on Resumes.

However, we have a lot more than just the best resources for writing the perfect resume! We can also help you with the stress-free application processes of various US-based companies, from the ABF Freight System Application to Cintas Application to Popeyes Chicken Application. Just type the company name into our search box and find what you’re looking for.

But, regardless of what company, it’s best to prepare yourself for potential questions that come up in most interviews by checking our comprehensive guides responding to Why Do You Want to Work Here?, Answering Tell Me About Yourself in Interview, Why We Should Hire You?, as well as discussing your Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews in 2023!

And to finish off, here are some great resources for interviewing if you’re starting off in the job market – How to Create Positive Impressions or Answering Tough Interview Questions For Dummies.

Back to today’s topic…

Final Thoughts

Anxiety has the potential to ruin the quality of life of whoever suffers from it. Nowadays, just in the US, more than 40 million people are affected by this condition.

If you’re one of them, you’re aware that the job that you choose has a tremendous impact on how well you’re able to manage the disease. At the end of the day, you spend one-third of your day working, and if what you do constantly increases your stress and tension, it’s time to consider an alternative.

As we’ve seen, every case is unique, and there isn’t such a thing as a perfect job. In this article, I’ve discussed just a few of the Top Jobs for People with Anxiety. There are many more opportunities out there to explore so that you can finally quit a job that is, in fact, not helping you but making things worse.

Happy stress-free job hunting!

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