10 Meaningful And Best Jobs For People With Anxiety (GAD)

Experiencing anxiety occasionally is normal and even healthy in some ways but for some people, anxiety is a part of their daily routine that can affect their mental, emotional, and physical health. And while anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, many people still find it difficult to find a job because of their anxiety.

Are you someone who can’t get a job because of anxiety? Well, maybe you have been looking at the wrong careers. In this article, I’ll help you discover some of the most meaningful and best jobs for someone with GAD.

But first, let’s take a brief look at what is GAD and how it affects a person’s daily life.

What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is a type of anxiety disorder that causes a person to worry excessively and overanalyze common situations. GAD is not like normal feelings of anxiety that we feel. For example, it is normal to feel anxious about finances now and then but a person with GAD will worry about their finances almost every day even when there is no particular reason to worry.

Some of the common symptoms of GAD can be:

• Experiencing difficulty concentrating
• Experiencing difficulty sleeping
• Experiencing fatigue and tiredness
• Experiencing muscle tension
• Being physically sick
• Being irritable

GAD can be treated with the help of a mental health professional via cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medications, and by making a few lifestyle changes GAD can be managed.

Also Read: Finding Jobs For People With Social Anxiety? Here’re 10 Recommendations

Features To Look For When Looking For A Job

If you have GAD, these are the key features you need to look out for when trying to find a meaningful job:

• The job you pick should be mentally engaging and should be able to keep you busy and from worrying excessively.
• The job you’re looking for should keep you away from your potential anxiety triggers.
• The job provides you with the opportunity to gather information, analyze data, and investigate.

The following recommendations are jobs that have low stress and will keep you preoccupied. It is also recommended that you talk with a career counselor or your psychologist regarding your career choices.

Also Read: The Most Rewarding Jobs For People With Depression

Best Jobs For People With GAD Anxiety

1. Mental Health Counselor/Psychologist

As a psychologist or a counselor, you’ll not only get to help others going through similar issues as yours but will also allow you to help those in need based on your own experiences. In this career, you’ll be in a position to be empathetic and understanding. Being a psychologist will also help you learn more about yourself and your anxiety.

Mental health counselors can work in different settings such as schools, hospitals, private offices, mental health clinics, and even in the government.

Related: Psychologist v.s Psychiatrist: What’s The Difference

2. Museum Curator/Archivist

Working in a museum can be relaxing as the place offers a quiet working environment. As a museum curator, you’ll get to work as an overseer of the exhibits, artifacts, and galleries. The typical job profile of a museum curator involves acquiring artifacts, identifying the authenticity of the artifacts, organizing events, and creating educational programs.

As an archivist, though, your job will be to preserve historical artifacts and documents, conduct relevant research, and conduct outreach programs.

3. Fitness Trainer

A fitness trainer is someone who creates a fitness program for people and teaches them how to correctly use the gym equipment. This job also requires you to be physically fit which can help you regulate your anxiety. Being a fitness trainer can also help feed your perfectionism which will prevent you from becoming anxious.

4. Massage Therapist

The job of a massage therapist is generally very relaxing. A combination of physical and mental work, being a massage therapist will keep your mind busy and will reduce the chance of excessive worrying. As a bonus, the act of massaging can be relaxing for you as well as your client.

Also Read: Top 10 Online Therapy and Counseling Programs 2021

5. Teacher/ Professor

Being a teacher will help you balance your time between classes and will give you little to no opportunity to overthink and worry unnecessarily. Teachers or professors need to be sharp and knowledgeable on many subjects and topics which will help feed your desire to gather information and analyze situations.

6. Wine Sommelier

To become a wine sommelier, all you need to have is a knowledge of different wines and sharing that knowledge with others in helping them choose the correct wine. While this job may require you to interact with others, that interaction can sometimes be avoided, if necessary. This is a low-pressure and low-stress job that can be easy on your anxiety.

Other related areas that may interest you can be: florist, cafe manager, etc.

7. Dietician

Diet and nutrition have a major role in mental and physical health and according to various studies, our diet can help us control our mood, behaviors, depression, and anxiety. As a dietician, you will get to work with others and help plan their diet and nutrition.

This job requires evaluating patients, conducting assessments, counseling the patients, creating meal/diet plans, and developing materials to educate patients. As a dietician, you can work in public healthcare, research, and academics.

8. Graphic Designer

As a graphic designer, you will spend your time working and creating illustrations, logos, and other projects either as a freelancer or by working with other agencies. All you need for this job is a bachelor’s degree in graphic or related fields and a knack for software. Again, minimum interaction with clients is required in this career which can make managing your anxiety an easier task.

9. Pet Care Professional

If you adore animals and love the idea of working with them daily, then being a pet carer is the right choice for you. You will get to spend your time with various animals and will keep social interactions at a minimum. You can try by volunteering at a local pet shelter or working as a neighborhood dog walker or sitter.

Did you know that pets can be healers as well? Being near an animal can help you keep anxiety at bay.

Related: Pet Meditation: Easy Ways to Meditate with your Pets

10. Private Investigator

A private investigator work with different aspects including on-field surveillance, corporate investigations, and domestic violence. This career path can keep you active and busy but will also give you time to prepare your reports with details.

Jobs related to this that might interest you can be home inspectors, crime scene technicians, forensic analysts, etc.

Final Thoughts

If you can’t get a job because of anxiety, I suggest you talk to a mental health professional or a career counselor. Determining what is causing you to not get a job is important. Learning to manage your symptoms and finding a job that is suitable for you is important.

If you have a job and your anxiety is getting overwhelming, you must take a break and talk to a counselor. Managing GAD is not easy but it is not impossible either. With the right help, you can learn to overcome anxiety and be happy.

I hope this article helped you find the best jobs for generalized anxiety disorder and helped you understand the roles in each of the fields.

To get more information and connect with us, write to us at info@calmsage.com.

Next Read:

What Is Second-Hand Anxiety & How To Protect Yourself From It

Does My Child Have Anxiety? | Anxiety Disorders In Children, Symptoms 

Calming Hand Breathing Technique: Manage Your Anxiety and Breathlessness