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Last Updated on July 25, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Anxiety Impacts Career Choices: Anxiety symptoms can limit the ability to handle high-stress roles or socially demanding environments, making low-stress careers a better fit.
- Seek Flexible and Supportive Work: Look for jobs with lenient deadlines, remote options, and understanding supervisors to help manage anxiety effectively.
- Hands-On Jobs Offer Relief: Careers like mechanic, landscaper, and massage therapist can reduce anxious thoughts by promoting focus and physical engagement.
- Creative and Independent Roles Thrive: Writing, graphic design, and programming allow for quiet, independent work with minimal social pressure, ideal for managing anxiety.
- Mental Health Support Is Valuable: If anxiety affects daily functioning, consider therapy to better manage symptoms and expand career possibilities long-term.
Anxiety disorders can make life difficult because of excessive worry and analysis. If you do not believe that you are ready to handle a high-stress job, you still have plenty of great options. However, if your stress and anxiety are impacting your well-being, then you may want to consider therapy. Check out this article about behavioral therapy.
Struggling with anxiety and unsure which career path fits? Discover low-stress, fulfilling jobs that align with your needs—plus tips to help you thrive at work without feeling overwhelmed. Start building your future today. #anxietycareersClick To TweetHow Does Anxiety Affect a Career?
Anxiety symptoms come when there is a perceived threat from a situation, person, object, or even a thought. When someone has anxiety, they may feel panicked or have distressing or intrusive thoughts. This can impact a person’s ability to perform their job duties.
In addition, social anxiety disorder is anxiety that arises from social situations. This often means that there is worry and fear of being judged by others. This may make it difficult to communicate effectively for a job that requires a person to speak with peers or superiors.
Stressful jobs can pile on a lot of work and make it more likely that a person will have an anxiety attack. If you are constantly worried about what a job entails because of your anxiety, it may be good to focus on less stressful careers.
What to Look for in a Low-Stress Career?
A lot of careers can be stressful, and the type that works for some people’s anxieties may not necessarily be the type that works for someone else. Everyone has different triggers for their symptoms of anxiety. However, there are some things that you can look for in a career that may be less stressful and reduce the risk of anxiety.
A flexible job regarding deadlines and social interaction may be a good thing if you suffer from anxiety. Working from home or having the ability to change a deadline if you have anxiety that makes it challenging to complete the task may help to reduce the chance of anxiety. One that does not have
You may also want a boss who is understanding because then you will be able to take mental health days as long as you still complete the work. One final consideration is the number of hours of work the job will require. This is especially true of work done on your own time in addition to regular work.
Now let’s check out the best jobs for people with anxiety!
Librarian
This is an excellent career for someone who has social anxiety but loves reading and learning. Librarians work with people, but it is usually not very often. Even when you do have to work with people, it probably will only be for a few minutes.
Librarians make good money as well. The average
This book will help you recognize and implement specific behaviors and actions librarians use to successfully drive projects forward, institute new services or revamp old ones, and establish key relationships both inside and outside of the library.
Landscaping
Landscaping is an excellent career for individuals who enjoy working outdoors. It can be creative and a lot of people like being able to see the work they complete. Most of the time you will be working with one or two other people at the most. Additionally, studies indicate that gardening can be beneficial for both physical and mental health.
Massage Therapist
A massage therapist works in a low-stress environment. Also, they work with their hands and mind so there may be less chance of worry and anxious thoughts. You will be able to chat with your clients, but it is not high-pressure social interaction.
As a massage therapist, you will be able to reduce the stress of others, and this may even lower your own anxiety and stress levels. The work environment is typically peaceful and quiet as well.
To become a massage therapist, you will need to receive a diploma from a massage therapy program and pass the licensing examination. Massage therapists typically earn around $ 40,000 per year.
Becoming a massage therapist is a combination of learning about the body and how it works along with how to apply massage to the body for stress reduction and to work with many injuries and conditions.
Mechanic
A mechanic works with their hands which can keep anxieties out of the mind. Not only that, but there is an opportunity to work your way into high-income as a mechanic. To become a mechanic, you will need to complete a vocational education program and receive a diploma. After that, you can complete additional coursework to specialize or become a master mechanic.
Chef or Baker
Baking or cooking is a great way to distract the mind and provide satisfaction for yourself and others. Many people find that cooking or baking is a relaxing activity for the mind. There is research that supports this line of thinking.
Even though bakers and chefs start out making a modest income, there is an opportunity to increase revenue as you work your way up and make a name for yourself. Typically, bakers and chefs attend culinary school or certificate programs, but this is not always required.
Become a full-time foodie with this step-by-step guide to entering the professional world of cooking, baking, and running a culinary business.
Writer
Writing is an excellent job for those who suffer from anxiety because there is little work to do with other people. This reduces the amount of stress. A writer only needs to worry about deadlines. Most writers hold a
Writers have the potential to earn $50k or more a year, and you can write about virtually any topic. The internet has created more opportunities for
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Computer Programmer
A computer programmer creates programs for computers in addition to debugging or troubleshooting coding and programming errors. Typically, this is for those people who have strong analytical
There is a high demand for computer programmers and other people who work in the IT industry and this means that the income has the potential to be high. The average
Fitness Trainer
This job involves more social interaction than the other jobs in this article, but it is still an excellent choice for those who suffer from anxiety. Staying fit and exercising can help to improve your overall anxiety levels. Plus, you can help others reach their health and fitness goals, which can be very fulfilling.
To become a fitness trainer, a
This book is packed with a wealth of information about how to become a personal trainer. Information such as: why you want to become a personal trainer, people’s misconception of the fitness industry, personal trainer certification, CrossFit training, functional strength training, warehouse gyms, and much more.
Plumber
A plumber is a good opportunity to use your hands and keep the mind off of things that may be worrisome. Additionally, plumbers are always in high demand. Then, there is ample opportunity for growth, and you can become a well-paid master plumber with sufficient education and certification.
Graphic Designer
If you are interested in art but also have a knack for technology and computers, then graphic design may be the field for you. This profession is great for individuals with anxiety because most of the work can be completed independently. Disturbances may even reduce the quality of work!
Graphic designers are always in demand because every marketing material online and in-person needs to be designed. You will have to be trained in graphic design and many professional graphic designers have a
Delivery Driver
For some people, driving can be a relaxing experience. You will also be able to listen to music while driving around to deliver items. You do not have to interact with people much, except for brief conversations with customers.
Delivery drivers do not make a ton of money, but it can be a good side hustle and does not require a post-high school education.
Lab Technician
Being a lab technician is a great way to work in the medical industry without frequent interaction. Additionally, it can be a very fulfilling career because lab technicians play a crucial role in diagnosis and treatment.
Also, lab technicians make an average of around $50k per year and you will only need to have an associate’s degree in clinical laboratory science.
Another related profession is a pharmacy technician. They are similar, but a pharmacy technician ensures that any medication is properly and carefully measured and administered.
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Next Steps
- Identify Your Triggers: Reflect on which environments or job tasks increase your anxiety to help guide your career
search more effectively. - Research Career Options: Explore low-stress job paths that align with your interests and
skills , focusing on roles with flexible structures and minimal social pressure. - Evaluate Work Environments: Look for roles that offer autonomy, clear expectations, and supportive
leadership to minimize unnecessary stress. - Consider Professional Help: Speak with a mental health professional to better understand how anxiety impacts your work and to explore treatment options.
- Start Small and Build Confidence: Try
freelance , part-time, or volunteer work in your chosen field to ease into a new role while building experience.
Final Words
Anxiety may keep you from interacting socially or seeking out a high-stress job. Thankfully, there are tons of enjoyable and fulfilling career opportunities that should not cause you too much stress. There are numerous jobs that do not require much social interaction or work outside of typical hours. These are probably the best options for someone who suffers from anxiety. However, if you feel like your anxiety is keeping you from doing what you want, you can also seek out the help of a mental health professional.
Author’s Bio:
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
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