Making a Living

[JensTrying]

How do you all handle the world out there? I get such bad panic attacks, awake with am anxiety, and feel just plain uncomfortable in my own skin all day. I have had problems on the job with getting emotional, handling criticism, and just dreading being at work for that whole 8 hours for all of the reasons associated with my anxiety. I also have chronic pain (myofascial pain syndrome). I have a good education (almost an M.A.) and a lot of marketable skills, but that isn't the problem...it's the emotional stuff (and the pain, though that is secondary.)

What can we do to make a living?

[JensTrying]

Thank you for all of that.  I am doing some of those things already, and will keep trying.  I appreciate your response.

[RubyWitch]

Most of us who "handle" panic/anxiety begin by having a complete physical to rule out any medical reason for these issues. Once we have a firm diagnosis..............from a mental health professional, NOT our GP's, we get ourselves into therapy to figure out the root cause of the panic/anxiety.f that anxiety. Once we understand where, when and why it began, you can begin to deal with it through talk therapy, learning coping skills, perhaps some minor (OR major) lifestyle changes. Some of us choose medication not only because it helps with the symptoms, but it can often be extremely beneficial to the therapy process......it's much easier to work on our panic/anxiety if we aren't constantly having panic and/or anxiety attacks. But deciding on medication is a personal issue that you and therapist will discuss at great lengths. There are, naturally, pros and cons.  
If you are packing around a lot of emotional stuff and finding that it's interfering with your job and your life in general, then it's definitely time to do something about it. There are many ways of dealing with anxiety and you will probably get quite a few suggestions, but the bottom line is that it's entirely up to you what, if anything, you do with those suggestions.
Your question is "What can we do for a living?" The answer is very simple. WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT!
This is a fixable problem, it's a pothole on our journey. You must not let it stop you!
As my favorite philosopher, Yoda, once said.........."Do or not do.......there is not try!"
DO!
Peace
Greenlydia