Wow, software engineer and systems admin. Former web app developer and IT manager here! I wonder if there is a correlation between analytical thinking, IT work, and anxiety. I know that I didn't have near the issues I have with anxiety before working in IT. There are a lot of unreasonable expectations in that world. People seem to think all you do is push a 'fix it' button, so why isn't it working yet? People also seem to think that if you don't know everything about anything that is electronic at all, that you don't really know what you're doing. I don't understand why those expectations don't seem to get applied to many other fields.
Imagine this scenario with a gardener and her employer.
Person: "Hey gardener, you know about living stuff. Can you tell me what part of my gene sequence is responsible for my obesity."
Gardener: "Uh no.I just mostly deal with plants and trees."
Person: "Well you're supposed to know about living stuff, why don't you know that? What good are you? My cousin can look it up on Google and tell me for free. I don't need you anymore."
Sound ridiculous? Let me put it in IT terms for you.
Person: "Hey computer guy, can you tell me why my Blackberry won't connect with my home printer?"
IT Guy: "Uh no, I mostly deal with FreeBSD servers."
Person: "Well you're supposed to know all about technology, why don't you know that? What good are you? My cousin has his working with his printer. He can help me. I don't need you anymore."
Seriously, I've heard this sort of thing countless times. It gets to you. It got to me. Huh, I think I just discovered part of my problem. Trying to meet everyone's expectations no matter how unreasonable they are.
Blueskies, you're in good company here and the program and CBT is effective. You only lose the fight when you stop swinging. Keep swinging!
