Making money while dealing with severe anxiety can seem incredibly daunting. Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million adults in the U.S. alone, making it the most common mental illness in the country. If you struggle with anxiety, you know how debilitating it can be. However, there are ways to work around anxiety and earn an income. With some adjustments and the right strategies, it is possible to find fulfilling work that accommodates your needs.
What is severe anxiety?
We all feel anxious from time to time, but severe anxiety is more than just normal nerves. Anxiety disorders involve excessive, irrational fear and dread that impacts your ability to function. Severe anxiety may lead to panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, and significant distress that disrupts your daily life. Some examples of severe anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Separation anxiety
- Specific phobias
If you have severe anxiety, you likely experience intense symptoms like rapid heart rate, trembling, dizziness, stomach issues, excessive worry, and avoidance of places or situations. It can be extremely difficult to work and earn money when you are battling these disruptive symptoms.
Challenges of making money with severe anxiety
There are several challenges that make it hard for people with severe anxiety to hold down jobs and earn steady incomes:
- Difficulty being around other people – For those with social anxiety or agoraphobia, being around others instigates intense fear and avoidance. Traditional office jobs require social contact and collaboration.
- Problems with concentration – Anxiety often causes difficulty concentrating, focusing, and completing tasks. Many jobs require strong cognitive skills.
- Fear of having panic attacks on the job – The workplace can provoke panic attacks related to a stressful environment or social situations. This creates major impairment.
- Exhaustion from anxiety – The mental strain of severe anxiety leads to significant fatigue. It’s draining to be constantly on edge, vigilant, and worried.
- Medication side effects – Medications like antidepressants may cause side effects that disrupt your work, such as drowsiness, insomnia, or headaches.
- Difficulty handling work stress – For those with anxiety disorders, regular job stress can quickly become overwhelming.
As you can see, severe anxiety can make it incredibly tough to hold down a traditional job. However, there are ways to adapt and find work you can manage while dealing with the symptoms of anxiety.
Types of jobs ideal for severe anxiety
Look for positions that are amenable to the challenges of severe anxiety. Some examples of anxiety-friendly jobs include:
- Working from home – Remote work allows you to control the environment and avoid triggers related to commuting or socializing at an office. Look for telecommuting roles.
- Freelance work – Freelancing gives you flexibility in setting your own hours and workload. It removes the pressures of a traditional work schedule.
- Night shift or evening work – If your anxiety is better controlled at night, seek roles with alternative hours outside the normal 9-to-5.
- Part-time work – Reduced hours help keep job stress manageable and allow you to work around treatment appointments.
- Work requiring minimal social contact – Seek independent roles like data entry that limit interactions with managers or customers.
- Pet sitting/dog walking – Animal care roles allow you to make money without the pressures of a formal workplace.
- Online tutoring or teaching – Use videoconferencing to instruct students without leaving your home.
Think about your anxiety triggers and limitations and find positions that naturally accommodate them. You may need to get creative in your job search.
Best work-from-home jobs for severe anxiety
Working remotely opens up more possibilities for making money with anxiety. Here are some of the top work-from-home job options:
Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative, technical, or marketing assistance to clients remotely. You can work from your home office conducting tasks like data entry, email management, writing, graphic design, and more. The role typically requires strong communication and computer skills.
Teacher/tutor
Use video chat platforms or messaging to teach English, music lessons, academic subjects, or other skills online. This allows you to teach students worldwide without leaving home.
Customer service representative
Many customer service roles can be performed remotely via phone, email, or live chat. You’ll assist customers with complaints, questions, and issues about a company’s product or service.
Tech support specialist
Provide technical help to customers over the phone, email, or messaging. You’ll troubleshoot problems with software, computers, mobile devices, and other tech products.
Transcriptionist
Transcribe audio files, videos, interviews or live calls into text documents for clients. Excellent typing skills are essential for this remote role.
Writer
Freelance writers can find remote work creating website content, blog posts, social media posts, articles, newsletters, marketing materials and more for diverse clients.
Consultant
Offer your expertise in business, tech, marketing or other high-demand fields as an independent consultant. Consult remotely via phone or video chat.
Graphic designer
Freelance graphic designers can find remote work creating logos, layouts, info-graphics, illustrations, packaging and other designs for clients.
Software developer
Develop, test and debug software applications, tools or websites for clients remotely. Strong programming skills are required.
These are just a few options. There are many more viable work-from-home jobs for people struggling with severe anxiety. Focus on roles that allow you to control your environment and limit social contact.
Tips for succeeding at work with severe anxiety
Once you secure a job that’s a good match for your anxiety symptoms and needs, use these tips to perform well and earn steady income:
- Create a routine – Maintain a regular schedule for working each day to create stability.
- Set up a designated workspace – Make sure your home office limits distractions and triggers.
- Use productivity tools – Try apps like Focus Keeper or Clockify to stay on task.
- Collaborate via messaging – Use instant messaging or email to connect with team members rather than prolonged live interaction.
- Make self-care a priority – Take breaks, exercise, and use CBT tools to manage anxiety symptoms.
- Be open about accommodations – Don’t be afraid to discuss your needs with an employer.
- Find support – Join communities to connect with others succeeding professionally with anxiety.
- Celebrate small wins – Recognize your daily achievements to stay motivated.
With the right job and strategies in place, you can find work fulfillment and hit your earning potential, even while battling severe anxiety.
Best freelance businesses to start
Freelancing allows you to be your own boss, set your own hours, and work around anxiety episodes. Here are some top freelance business ideas to start from home:
Copyediting services
Offer freelance editing services to ensure documents, articles, books, and other publications are error-free before publication. This is an independent role requiring strong attention to detail.
Resume writing service
Write and optimize professional resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles tailored to clients’ career goals. Help job seekers put their best foot forward.
Photography business
Sell your photography services for portraits, real estate listings, events, products, and more. You can photograph clients on location or in your home studio.
Handyman business
Offer general handyman or home improvement services, such as minor plumbing or electrical repairs, painting, fence repair, power washing, and more.
Crafting business
Sell homemade crafts, jewelry, candles, artwork, embroidered goods, woodwork, and other unique items online through Etsy or your own ecommerce site.
Bookkeeping services
Offer freelance financial services like invoicing, expense tracking, payroll, financial statements, and other recordkeeping tasks for clients.
Social media manager
Manage clients’ social media accounts, craft posts, develop strategies, run ads, and grow their follower base.
The freelance possibilities are truly endless. Choose projects and services well suited to your skills and interests.
How to get started as a freelancer
Follow these key steps to launch a successful freelance business:
- Determine the types of services you want to offer based on your expertise.
- Figure out the legal and tax requirements, like registering your business and applying for EIN.
- Create a website, social media accounts, and business cards to establish your brand and professional appearance.
- Set your rates and service packages to share with potential clients.
- Reach out to past employers, professors, friends and family to find your first clients.
- Join freelance job sites like Upwork and Fiverr to expand your clientele.
- Consider collaborating with other freelancers to complement your skillset.
- Track all your expenses, invoices, payments and income.
- Stick to a schedule and use tools to manage your time effectively as a solo entrepreneur.
It takes diligence and organizational skills to thrive as a freelancer. But the freedom and flexibility of freelance work makes it an ideal option if anxiety has prevented you from keeping a traditional job.
How to make your home office anxiety-friendly
Your home workspace can have a big impact on your daily anxiety levels and productivity. Make your office a sanctuary and healthy environment:
- Place your desk near a window for natural sunlight to boost your mood.
- Decorate your space with calming artwork, pictures, or plants.
- Play soothing background music, white noise, or nature sounds.
- Ensure proper lighting – not too bright or too dim.
- Use organizers and storage containers to keep clutter contained.
- Invest in a comfortable desk chair and ergonomic equipment.
- Keep distracting electronics and notifications silenced or removed from your workspace.
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature.
- Burn calming scented candles or essential oils.
- Display inspirational quotes or vision boards with goals.
Your home office should feel relaxing and focused. This inspires productivity and eases anxiety strain.
Self-care habits for work
Incorporate self-care into your daily work routine. This helps to keep anxiety managed and prevents burnout:
- Take breaks – Step away from your computer periodically to stretch, breathe, hydrate and recharge.
- Close work apps and equipment during non-work hours – Disconnect mentally.
- Go outdoors – Aim for some fresh air and natural light each day.
- Practice mindfulness – Try meditation, journaling, or yoga to unwind.
- Listen to your body – Eat when hungry, move when stiff, rest when tired.
- Reflect on accomplishments – Review progress and completed tasks each week.
- Socialize safely in person or virtually – Avoid isolation.
- Seek support if needed – Don’t hesitate to contact a therapist or doctor.
Nurturing your physical, mental, and emotional health enables you to thrive and earn an income despite anxiety obstacles.
Best anxiety coping skills for work
Utilize proven anxiety management strategies to get through the workday successfully:
Distraction
Shifting your attention away from anxious thoughts can help relieve symptoms. Listen to music, watch a funny video, browse uplifting websites or play computer games during really rough patches.
Guided imagery
Close your eyes and imagine yourself in a peaceful, calming scenario like a beach. Vividly envision the details using all your senses for 10 minutes.
Progressive muscle relaxation
Systematically tense and relax muscle groups throughout your body to lower anxiety. Apps can guide you through the sequences.
Diaphragmatic breathing
Practice deep belly breathing techniques that activate the body’s relaxation response and reduce anxiety.
Cognitive restructuring
Counter anxious automatic negative thoughts with more realistic perspectives. Ask yourself: “What evidence do I have that this worst case scenario will actually happen?”
Anxiety journaling
Write freely about worries to get them out of your head. Organize concerns, insights, and action plans.
Fidget tools
Keep stress balls, fidget cubes, clay, worry stones, or other tactile objects nearby to channel nervous energy.
Build a toolbox of techniques to regain emotional equilibrium and stay productive during bouts of heightened anxiety at work.
When to seek professional treatment
Coping strategies can help manage mild to moderate anxiety. But if your symptoms become completely unmanageable and interfere with your ability to work and function, it’s crucial to seek professional support. Connect with a licensed therapist who can:
- Formally evaluate and diagnose your anxiety
- Provide counseling and talk therapy
- Prescribe medications if appropriate
- Design a customized treatment plan
- Teach research-backed coping techniques
- Help create an anxiety management plan for work
- Suggest lifestyle changes to support wellness
- Monitor your progress and adjust the approach as needed
With the right professional treatment, severe anxiety can be overcome. You can learn to thrive both personally and professionally.
Conclusion
Anxiety disorders are extremely common, yet they can make holding down a job seem impossible. The good news is that there are many ways to successfully earn an income while managing the symptoms of severe anxiety. Seek remote or freelance work that allows you to control your environment. Set up an anxiety-friendly home office space. Utilize healthy coping strategies to stay productive, and don’t hesitate to seek therapy if needed. With the right work arrangements and support system, you can achieve financial independence and work fulfillment, even with anxiety.
