Do you ever feel like too much is asked of you?

You have a great way of looking at things now. In the past, running away for you was easy, but it's not the best. I think the best is the way you handle things now. If you're doing you're very best to get everything done, but you don't finish, at the end of the day you can go home with a clear conscience because you did your absolute best, and no one can ask more of you than that! That's an excellent way to look at stress and being completely overwhelmed. I'm so glad to learn that you've conquered your depression. Stress can absolutely lead to depression, but you're a pro at handling it now! Good for you. Thanks for your encouraging response. It goes to show others that they can do it, too, even if it's overwhelming at times.

Many of my former co workers were on medication for depression or other mood disorders. It was not uncommon to hear them talk about having their meds increased so they could work. I refuse to do that. I began having anxiety attacks and waking up at night and being unable to sleep. The only reason I held on as long as I did was so I would have benefits for this foot surgery. Up until about a week ago I still cried every time I mentioned work. That is not a life.

I couldn't agree with you more! In this situation where anxiety attacks are related to your job, that is the time when I would say goodbye! It's time to find a new job. It's crazy how stressful jobs can be! So much is expected of us, but the pay is so low sometimes that we have hardly anything to show for our time and effort (except for medical benefits, as Gerty mentioned). It's insane.

You're very fortunate that your family accepts you the way you are and don't expect changes because that's what makes you YOU! I don't mind the pressure at work because, like you, I work better under it. I think that's my best motivation at work is having so much to do. Yes, it adds hours to our workday, but it's worth it to get things done. Now if those hours tend to add up to where there's no longer a balance, and we never have time at home, for instance, then something needs to change. I say that if you have pressure on you, but you can handle it then it's ok! Thank you for sharing your experience. I enjoyed reading your response!

Balance is key to living a happy and fulfilled life. I know for me, I always get frustrated when I'm spending too much time and work and too little time at home or with my family. It's all about getting our priorities straight so everything gets done in the 24 hours we have each day. Best wishes to you, my friend!

that's true. I love it when you have so much to do, cause it makes me more efficient. And yes, we do have to think about being balanced in both work and family at all times.

I understand completely where you're coming from. When I was a child, I had a lot of pressure on me to get the straight "A" report card. If I didn't, then there was something wrong with me because I was supposedly capable of better - this continued through high school and even college. I, as you did, decided not to be pushed around by others' expectations of me because we can't always achieve according to others' expectations, and that's absolutely OK! Their expectations and our performances shouldn't match because that would just be scary! Thanks for your honest response. I'm glad you don't seem to mind what is expected of you as long as you're doing your best, which is perfectly acceptable. I can appreciate your attitude and wish I were even more like you in that way! I'm glad you also don't have the negative pressures of what a husband and kids could bring, but perhaps someday that is a challenge you will be able to take on. I'm sure you could handle it! Thanks again, my friend.

It took me a lot of years to reach the point where I realized that it is better for me and everyone that I care about to just say "no" or "enough" when it all starts to feel like it is too much. If I don't then I start having negative feelings and its just not a good thing.

I really think learning to say no is key. People who don't say it enough are overwhelmed. People who say it too much have no opportunities presented to them anymore. There's a good balance that we all have to reach of knowing when to say know and when enough is enough!

I admire you for setting limits to your responsibilities so you don't end up getting overwhelmed. Good for you! You've set a wonderful example for all of us.

I agree with you there, where there can be many times we're overwhelmed because while we do our best, there's still so much expected of us. Do you ever feel like because you always do your best, people expect more and more of you? Sometimes I almost want to know what it's like when I don't do my best just to see if it'll lower people's expectations of me - LOL! For instance, I kind of slacked off a little, (which is what others' performances would be normally), and my boss pulled me into her office to ask what was up? I was so surprised that she thought my performance was lacking because I hadn't done anything wrong. I just took some shorter days due to much-needed doctor appointments because I thought the other two employees on my team would be ok those days for a couple hours each without me. It's a long story, but I feel like too much is expected of me a lot of times when I'm at work, which is why I'm looking for a better place to work because I know I can do better than where I'm at!

Sometimes when the pressure gets to be too much for me, I've got to do the same thing as you. I just have to sit back and relax. It's not giving up; it's more like a recharge. I can't function when I'm at the boiling point and about to burst with way too much stress. I find that I'm much more productive when I take a few minutes to get a hold of myself before diving into another project. After all, isn't that why they give us paid breaks at work? I really wish employers would follow through with those a lot more than they do by making sure their employees take all their breaks. It's not fair to have to deal with all the stress all the way through the day without having any breathers!

I know exactly how you feel in the workplace - being given too much (or too little) responsibility and so on. I hate being given so much work (that I get done without a problem, by the way) and never acknowledged again whatsoever. I could go on and on about things at work that frustrate me, but I will spare you the details! Good for you on sticking to what you wanted by leaving that place for very understandable means. I'm not forceful at work either, but I go for what I believe I deserve. For instance, without getting into all of it, I'm overworked and underpaid. I understand the whole economy situation, but I believe I can do WAY better than where I'm at now. I've been looking for a job and have had several interviews and serious prospects. I'm the one getting to be picky, which is so nice! I've found that I'm not being so picky because people love my experience and expertise, and are more than willing to hire me. (It almost makes me wish I'd started looking for a better job a long time ago!) So be it - I guess all of this goes to show that we have to fight for what we want! I'm glad that everything worked out for you. Thanks so much for your response.

That's just what I was going to tell you - just say NO! (LOL) I know because I was the same way, but it's not worth it because you eventually get overwhelmed and end up getting nothing done because you've taken on too much. The good intention of always saying "yes" is great, but a balance is definitely needed! Thank you, my friend.

So, how is that going then? LOL!

Oh, I hate that when I do my very best, and then someone asks me to do something for instance in ten minutes when that's not even humanly possible. I think people need to think about it and have more reasonable expectations of those they work with.

That is the best thing to do when overwhelmed at work - ask others for help - because they would wish the same thing, that others would help them when they have too much to do. I used to take on way too much at work and get so overwhelmed and then wonder why! When I finally learned not to take so much and simply ask for help, the day went a whole lot smoother for me! Thanks for sharing your experience. I think the two key things to staying stress-free are learning to say "no" and learning to ask for help. That's all there is to it! It works in life, too, not just on the job.

That's not good if you are overwhelmed continuously. Too much stress is not good, medically speaking, either.

I can definitely understand how being a firstborn child can cause your parents to ask a lot of you. That's no fun when teachers expect a lot out of you either since sometimes you're not always capable of their expectations - you only need to do your best. There is so much pressure in life, but when we find the balance to where people don't ask too much of us, then we know what is expected of us on a reasonable level. I hope that you find this balance instead of becoming overwhelmed because stress is not helpful at all! I wish you the best in all of your endeavors!