World Health and Safety at Work Day is on April 28th. I’ve been meaning to cover the topic of health and safety in the workplace for quite some time.
Some of you may not know this but I used to work as a health and safety officer. I’m trained up to a NEBOSH level and, honestly, I really enjoyed it. But ultimately the pressures of the job weren’t for me and sadly I left that position while undergoing intense eating disorder treatment in 2019. Despite how difficult this decision was for me to make, it was the best course of action for me at the time and I’ve no regrets about it.
*Do I get the itch to inform people of every little thing they’re doing wrong with knives at work? All the damn time! Is it my circus to run? No, so I stay out of it and walk home with the knowledge that it’s not my place to try and bubble wrap everyone. [*It should be noted that I too do things wrong in regard to health and safety. It’s culture and if you’re within a culture where no one cares, then even the most knowledgable of us start to not give a damn. Even about our own safety.]
Although this year’s theme is in regard to harassment in the workplace, I wanted to cover the topic of stress and burn out. Gabi very kindly offered to discuss her experience with managing stress while in recovery from an eating disorder in what can only be described as a highly-stressful environment.
How to manage workplace stress while in recovery.
By Gabi M. Figor
I recently spoke at an event for eating disorder awareness. They kept referring to me as a “survivor.” It was on the poster, it’s how they introduced me, so clearly it’s how they saw me, right? But this bothered me! I know how that sounds, after all, being bothered that someone called me a survivor is a little lame. But allow me to explain. It bothered me because I am not a survivor. I’m no longer at my worst and manage my day to day life and responsibilities, but I’m not cured from the eating disorder. I haven’t survived this disorder, I’ve just learned to manage it. And so being called a survivor felt wrong to me.
I’ve had an eating disorder since I was sixteen, and it’s sent my life down a completely different path. While my friends were finishing up high school I was in treatment. When they went off to the next big steps in their lives, I was building a life that could only revolve around my treatment. I was on a different track and no one understood it, but I was doing what I needed to be done for myself.
“I felt different all the time, like the odd one out.”
Just as I was getting to a stable place, I landed a part-time job as an assistant. I figured it would be the perfect stepping stone to help me figure out what came next. I’d just gotten my degree as a pastry chef, but I was on the fence about whether it was a field I wanted to work in. But this job was what I needed! At first, I figured I’d only be there for a few months before moving on. But life doesn’t always go the way we plan, and it somehow turned into a full-time position.
No one I worked with knew that I’d a history with an eating disorder. They might have suspected, but no one actually knew. I was in a workplace where I got to reinvent myself completely. No one was worried about my mental health, they were just worried about whether I was good at my job. And, truth be told, it was so refreshing. I was finally able to separate myself from my eating disorder, even if it was just a little bit.
As time went on I rose in the ranks and my job became more demanding. I was production managing full films and there was no room for error. I was proving to myself and to everyone around me that I was just as good as anyone else. My eating disorder wasn’t holding me back this time. I was able to balance work and life.
“It felt really good. I was finally growing and rising to my full potential.”
Then I was producing a video series and I finally decided to share my story. All of a sudden the people I’d been working with for three years found out this big secret I tried so desperately to hide. I think one of my biggest fears about going public with my story was that people would start seeing me as weak. I’d worked so hard to build myself as a professional and I started wondering if I was going to ruin that all.
But I didn’t!
No one treated me like I was weak, no one started watching what I ate; No one cared. I mean they cared, they cared a lot. But they didn’t worry about it affecting me or my work. It was a crazy realization for me!
“I’m good at my job, and people respect that. Eating disorder or not.”
My job’s intense and very full-on. I work way more hours than I should, I give my all to everything I do at work, and it can be exhausting. But it’s also exhilarating. When I was deep in my eating disorder I never would have thought that I could hold a job like this, it seemed totally impossible. But all of those negative thoughts I had about myself then are what fuel me now.
Like I said before I’m not a survivor, I still struggle. Some days are really good but some days are also really hard. Instead of making me feel stressed and overworked when I’m having hard days my career does the opposite for me. It makes me feel empowered. I built a career from scratch in a field that I didn’t study for and had no skills in. I found something that made me happy and fulfilled and I gave it my all.
“On days where I feel bad about my appearance and eating seems too hard, I remind myself of what I have accomplished.“
I remind myself of what I did to get here. All the skills I learned in recovery have helped me get here. Fighting my anorexia made me strong and resilient and those are things that help me today. It doesn’t matter that I have an eating disorder, I’m killing it in my field, against all the odds.
How you can balance a career and recovery:
Make sure you have a good boss.
I’ve a great relationship with both of my bosses, and it makes a huge difference. They’re understanding when I need some flexibility, and they make sure that I am never pushing myself too hard. Don’t let yourself get stuck in an environment where you are being encouraged to push yourself past your limits.
Stick to your regular meals/food plan.
If you’re not fueled properly you won’t be able to keep up and give your best. When I shared about my ED I was really worried that everyone at work would start judging what I ate every day, and for a while that was bad. But then I realized by not eating what I wanted/needed to at work, I was the one suffering.
Work/Life Balance.
This is a must! Even on my most intense days, I make sure that I have at least one hour for self-care. Whether that is hanging out with my husband, watching TV or just taking a shower, it’s important to do something you enjoy outside the workplace. Make sure you don’t lose yourself.
Check out some self-care tips here and here.
You don’t owe anyone your story.
It’s your choice if you want to share your personal life with your coworkers. You don’t owe it to anyone to tell them, but if you want to share it I encourage you too.
Have a support team in place.
Whether it’s a therapist, a relative or a friend, have someone who you can talk to when the stress is a bit too much. We all need someone to ground us and who we can vent to, and that’s really important in a high-intensity setting.
Remember that you’re here because you can do the job. No one handed you this job on a silver platter. You fought for it and you deserve it. This is you. And you should be SO proud of yourself.
Pour your passion into something.
I’m so passionate about my workplace and I give it my all. But I also find things that I am passionate about to focus on in my free time. I like art, and so I make sure that I always have something around that I can create with. My house is a mess of knitting yarn, drawing pencils and paints, and other arts and crafts odds and ends.
Make time for your friends.
No one can survive without some social time. Some of my good friends are my coworkers, but it’s still crucial for me to socialize outside of work. Try to find one night a week for being social, even if that means having a friend over and staying in pajamas. Just make sure you don’t let the long hours send you into isolation.
Why are friendships so important!? Read more here.
Remember that it’s okay to need a break.
It’s okay to need a mental health day sometimes. You can’t always give 100%. And, most importantly, it’s okay to not be okay. Sometimes we all just need to be able to take a breather, and you should make sure that your workplace encourages that. No one can give everything all the time without burning out. Hit the pause button every now and then even just for an hour or two.
At the end of the day it comes down to this; you and your wellbeing are top priority over any workplace. For me, that means being kick-ass in my career and putting a lot of focus there. It’s okay if that doesn’t hold true for you. What is key is that you’re doing what you need to do to live your happiest and best life. And for me, that means that I keep growing and learning. The feeling of knowing that I am good at my job and successful reminds me every day why I need to keep fighting. When I stop fighting I will have to stop everything I have worked so hard to build. And so while I might relapse and struggle I have a goal to keep moving towards. And I hope you do too.
Follow Gabi on Instagram!
101 Comments
Congratulations on all your achievements! I guess it is always best for us to play on our strengths than focus on our weaknesses. Though both is a part of who we are. O do agree with having a great boss. However, they are so rare to find. I’ve always wanted a mentor but rarely ever get one. A good boss is one of my motivational factors. The opposite drains my energies.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting on Gabi’s post! x
Congratulations on all your achievements! I guess it is always best for us to play on our strengths than focus on our weaknesses. Though both is a part of who we are. I do agree with having a great boss. However, they are so rare to find. I’ve always wanted a mentor but rarely ever get one. A good boss is one of my motivational factors. The opposite drains my energies.
Stress is definitely a silent killer for many people. There are excellent tools in this article to help.
Thank you for reading and commenting. x
I didn’t know you used to be a health and safety advisor! Great post – I can imagine keeping up your work routine as well as recovery is SO hard. I think keeping up with work and any mental illness is difficult and worth acknowledging xxx
Yeah, I used to work in health and safety within an Abattoir. It’s a passion of mine (the health and safety, not the abattoir) but I don’t know if I’ll ever be mentally fit to go back to that high-stress environment. That being said, I have considered it.
Thank you so much for reading. I really want to start bringing more of my health and safety training into my blog posts because there is so much of it which is wellness related. xx
Huge congratulations on all your achievements – I used to be an ISO Quality Manager and it nearly killed me! All the processes, procedures, box ticking, I can’t imagine how overwhelming H&S must be, even without an eating disorder to deal with. It’s very brave of you to share your story and especially the positives you’ve taken from it. Thank you xxx
Congratulations on all your success I guess workplace can be managed at some point I don’t think that staying at home stress can be managed anyway
It was very overwhelming for me! I know Quality is also very, very difficult.
Thank you so much for reading Gabi’s story! x
Great tips. Best way for better performance
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. x
Being able to recognize when you need a break is so important, no matter what your job. I’m “just a stay at home mom” (in quotes because it’s hard AF lol), but I often find myself needing a massive break from the kiddos. Especially during all this lockdown craziness. Thanks for these tips!
I couldn’t imagine being a mother. I mean I want to be one someday, but I often picture myself just losing it. Honestly, ‘stay at home mums’ don’t get enough credit for what they do! xx
I work from home, so I make sure to take breaks so I don’t get stressed. I also need to remind my kids when I need to work. It can be tricky since I’m used to them being at school, but we’re managing!
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading. I really appreciate it. x
This is great advise for everyone actually. I can imagine workplace stress and recovery don’t go too well together in many instances.
Thank you for reading 😀
Thank you for sharing this, it’s such great advice. I was working in a busy retail job right when my OCD was at its worst and at the beginning of my recovery. While my friends were really supportive, often there were a number of ‘senior’ staff members who would tell me to ‘get on with it’ and ‘I know you’re having a bad day, but it’s really busy downstairs so…’ There are times when I regret telling them about it, but in hindsight I think it was definitely the right thing to do, and while they were rubbish with some aspects, they were quite good in another. The main one being that because the NHS CBT service only worked when I did, they were fine with me coming into work 2 hours later – it was unpaid, but I’d rather that than they created a massive stink over it! xx
Thank you for commenting and telling me your story.
I recently returned to the workplace (current on leave again because of COVID-19) but only one of my colleagues and the store manager are aware of my condition. Although I’m very open here, I’m not as open in real life and I often try to push myself to match everyone else’s drum beat. Sadly it never ends well. But if COVID has taught me anything it’s that my health comes first, embarrassment or not. xx
Thanks for sharing this useful resource. Stress in the workplace is something I can’t avoid, and need to handle better.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. x
I can imagine that the stress at work can be worse when you have an eating disorder. It is good that you have accomplished so much
Thank you for reading 🙂 x
Thanks for sharing this. One thing I’ve realized being away from work this last month is how my stress levels have decreased. Stress is part of my job but a lot of your tips can be utilized to minimize the toll it takes on me still.
Thank you so much for reading. Even with all the work I’ve put into myself, I still find it difficult to manage workplace stress. It’s very difficult but it’s something we all need to work with. x
I did not know about your job in your “previous life.” It did sound like a good but very stressful job. But I’m glad that you did the hard work you needed to do to recover. And I love the list that Gabi provided. That is good for everyone, not just people in recovery!
It was a very difficult and stressful job but I loved it. I miss it sometimes and often think about going back there, but I’ve lost all confidence in my ability and knowledge of it.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting as always Maire x
Oh, no! Don’t let your head get to you! I think if you got back into it, you would bounce right back and catch up with the new stuff.
I would love to go back to the same place but I’m much too embarrassed for having been ill in the first place while there.
Thank you for your kind words. x
I do agree that a support system is important. As someone who tends to struggle with connecting with others though, it’s important for me to come up with coping mechanisms and ways to overcome my struggles and make sure that work/life balance is there.
Dealing properly with workmates having different personalities because we don’t want them to drain us. For situations which are out of our control, we should focus on what we can do. Extending patience, listening to music (earphones) and keeping ourselves healthy can help! They work on me. 🙂
Thank you so much for reading and commenting 🙂 x
Congrats on your achievements and thank you for sharing this brilliant advice! Pressing the pause button is such a good suggestion, we definitely need to keep an eye on our stress levels and make sure we are taking care of ourselves. Thank you for these important reminders, fab post! <3 xx
Bexa | http://www.hellobexa.com
Thank you so much for reading and commenting pet. I really appreciate it. x
I have a post coming up about how my job raised my anxiety and in turn I had to seek treatment. I love my job but it’s not for the faint of heart and I don’t feel like there’s a lot of support for mental health (despite the fact that they claim that there is).
Likewise with my previous job. Loved it but it was much too stressful for me. I would love to be able to enter back into that world, but I doubt I’ll ever be able to. x
I’ve half-heartedly looked for something new. The problem is that my job provides good benefits. I also get A LOT of free veterinary care for my dogs. I think as long as my furkids are all here on this planet I have to stay because they’re getting such good care, and I tend to put their needs above my own.
Thank you so much for sharing such an important post!
Thank you for these reminders! Working in community mental health can lead to a lot of stress and burnout. I got burned out quick working in outpatient therapy, but I enjoy my current position and have learned a lot about boundaries with it, which has helped prevent/manage the stress that naturally comes with the job. I see, after reading this, where I’m still falling a little short on my stress management though. ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing your story in the comments. I really appreciate you taking the time to read. xx
The workplace can be a tough place, no matter what you have going on in your personal life. These are good tips.
Workplace stress made me gain 30kgs in emotional eating and eventually drove me to a mental breakdown and suspected stomach ulcer. It can be detrimental to your health and it’s so important we look after ourselves.
What an amazing story of how not to let your struggles stop you from accomplish big goals. I meet so many people who allow life to get in the way of their dreams, they play small because of fear. If only I can show them that they are born to win.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting on Gabi’s story. x
Thanx for sharing this awesome story with us. Working place environment should be so pleasant that u can comfortably do your work.
I used to work with delinquent juveniles and a lot of them were in gangs. I know all too well about workplace stress. What I found myself doing was bring the stress home. I needed to realize to check my work life at the door. What a great share.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I couldn’t imagine working with difficult teens or children. I’d lose my mind! x
Congrats on your achievements, love to read strong post, Thanks for sharing the this workspace stress recovery management.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. x
Congratulations to Gabi. I am glad she had an understanding boss. After motherhood, I couldn’t find one employer who would understand the difficulties a mother faces in raising kids . I always believe in focusing on what you want in your life and not what you don’t want in life and I think that Gabi has managed to do that.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment on Gabi’s post. I’m so proud that she felt comfortable enough to share her story with us. x
Congrats! Honestly your advice can affect more than those who deal with eating disorders- most people could learn from it. Work/Life balance I think is a huge factor that more people should pay attention to.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. x
Work/life balance is so hard to do but so important! These are great tips. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience!
Thank you for reading. x
This is great advice. I have learned the value of a support system first hand in my own recovery, and I don’t know what I would do without mine. These are the people that are really there when the sh*t hits the fan, the people that I know are always a message away. I can’t imagine going through all of this without them.
Thank you for reading and commenting, pet. Having a good support system is a must when going through work stress!
First of all, your BEAUTIFUL. Second, I love the last piece of advice. It’s crazy that I have to convince myself to rest but I really do! It’s hard to say, okay I’ve done enough, I need to give my eyes and my brain a moment to relax!
Thank you so, so much for reading and commenting. x
I had a sales job with a Fortune 500 company just after my daughter was born and it was the most stressful job I have ever had. I lasted 4 years and was so much happier when I quit!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. When I left my job, although I loved it, I felt like a weight had been lifted.
I can relate to this experience. I used to work as a Quality Analyst and it was so stressful. Even my work hours were so off, it took a toll on my health. Not to mention a boss who treated us like machines – no empathy, no compassion at all. I had no other option but to quit the job I loved because the workplace was getting too toxic for me. I am happier (and healthier) now that I am working from home. No more nosey co-workers, no more authoritarian rule. I am now my own boss!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. Quality is a difficult line of work, I’ve also been there.
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I’m glad to know you’re in a happier place now. x
Congratulations on your achievements! Those are some great tips.
Thank you so much for reading. x
You are doing great! Congradulations really. Stress in inevitable, we just have to know it is stressful now and try to do things that are not harmful for our healthy but soothing at the same time.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment x
These are some amazing tips! Congratulations of overcoming your issues, you’re a very strong person to come as far as you have
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. x
Thank you for these great tips! Stress is not good to our overall health, it could actually make us sick. I also posted about the illnesses we can get because of stress.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. x
Your story is truly inspiring and I love how you mentioned that you’re still a work in progress but that doesn’t stop you from living your best life! Work-life balance is essential if we want to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Thanks for these tips!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. x
this is a great piece. thanks for sharing
The Glossychic
I’m currently stressed cos I don’t have a workplace. =( Been out of a job since Dec 2019, and it’s starting to get anxious and stressful for me. Hopefully the corona situation gets better soon.
I felt the same last year but I needed to be out for my mental health. It can be so hard but hang in there! x
I needed this! I work in a very stressful environment and sometimes don’t know how to handle all of the built up stress. Thanks for this!
It is so great that you are defeating your problem and your work life is satisfying to you. I work for myself and that is sometimes stressful but very gratifying.
I tend to get stressed more on outside things, as opposed to work-related. I do on occasion stress about what I’m going to write about! This is an excellent post.
This is such a great post. I especially love that you included “You don’t owe anyone your story.” I used to “overshare” and get all the judgy looks at work. It was a tough lesson, but I’ve learned that not everyone has earned the right to hear my story.
This is such an important post. We definitely don’t owe anyone our story. That’s something that I am learning and trying to be more mindful of. I definitely don’t need to explain myself to anybody, because at the end of the day, whatever is happening to me isn’t happening to them.
Stress in the work place can be horrid and hard to get away from, it can take a long time to recover after as well. It is good when you have people around to support you.
I can only imagine how difficult it would be. I had a friend who had a difficult time with eating. And it can affect all kinds of things at work. I’m glad you have figured out some ways to make things work better for you.
Thank you so much for stopping in and reading Gabi’s post! X
Work/Life balance is a big one. Once you leave work, that where you should leave it. I had to learn the hard lesson on that one.
Thanks for your comment. It’s very difficult for some people to leave work behind. Thankfully Gabi seems to manage it!
Stumbled across this post and honestly, I’m so glad I did! I relate so well to Gabi’s story: I also have a history with disordered eating and I fought my battle in secret for 12 years. I was ashamed and scared of what people might think of me if they’d find out. Last year, I shared my story publicly and it’s been one of the most liberating things ever! It was only since then that true healing could begin. So well done, Gabi! I think you can be so proud of what you’ve achieved!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on Gabi’s post. Congratulations for all you’ve achieved also!
I love the tips you provided. In the workplace, people feel like they need know your story. You don’t owe anyone. This was a very good article🤗
Thank you so much for reading. x
I love these tips! Finding as close to a balance between work and life is so important, and is hard to achieve. Thank you for sharing this!
This is such a great post! I love all of your tips! It’s so important to have a good work/life balance in order to help manage workplace stress for sure!
-Charity https://morningsonmacedonia.com
Dear Gaby, thank you so much for sharing your story. I don’t know if you’re a survivor but I see you as a warrior. I don’t have an eating disorder (unless sugar addiction can be considered one). I stopped eating sugar and everything that contains eat, and I don’t consider myself a survivor but a person who live one day at a time. I also suffered from anxiety and went on to medical treatment because of that. I was in my early 30 (I’m almost 60 now) and having the support of my boss was pivotal for me to overcome that. Again, thanks for sharing your story.
Thank you so much for reading and responding to Gabi’s story. She is most certainly a warrior in my eyes, as is anyone who battles with mental illness on a daily basis.
Thank you so much for stopping by. x
These are gread insights for stress in the workplace shouldn’t be ignored. In fact, our workplace is usually the source of all our stress.
Thank you so much for reading. x
Workplace stress really affects emotional and mental health, been there and it is not fun. I don’t want to sound like a quitter but if it is too much to bear, it is what I do. Thanks for great ideas in managing it though.
I agree with you. In 2015, I worked as a receptionist, and I didn’t have the support I needed with my disabilities. This effected my mental health. Once I left that job and started my volunteer job ,as a social media specialist, I felt so much better.
I could relate to so many things when I was working in a corporate atmosphere, now since 3 years I am working from home and being my own boss, I feel I am much more relaxed and calm.
Thank you so much for commenting. I’m happy to hear you’re doing better and managing work from home.