As someone who knows what it’s like to be an introvert with anxiety, you might wonder what kind of job you can do. Actually, there are lots of jobs for introverts with anxiety, you just have to be a little creative.
My advice is to examine what makes you anxious.
For example, as I was suffering from social anxiety, it made sense for me to look for work with fewer social interactions.
Here are a few of the more common anxiety disorders:
General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
You feel anxious all the time and for no specific reason. This free-floating anxiety is not triggered by any event or situation. You feel a general sense of unease and anxiety. You worry all the time and are on a heightened state of alert.
Social Anxiety
You are overwhelmed when you are with people. It doesn’t matter whether they are strangers or close friends, but strangers definitely make your anxiety worse. You need to escape situations where you know there will be people.
Panic Attack Disorder
Do your symptoms include a racing heartbeat, sweaty palms, dizziness, feeling faint, and hyperventilating? These are all signs of panic disorder. Panic attacks come on suddenly and without warning where the sufferer feels intense fear and anxiety.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
There are times when a traumatic experience is so terrible the brain keeps repeating it. A person can experience flashbacks and nightmares and feels anxious as a result.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
With OCD a person experiences unwanted and obsessive thoughts that cause them to act out compulsive behaviors. Not doing so would then cause anxiety and panic.
Now that you have more of an idea of the basic anxiety disorders, I’m hoping you can pinpoint what exactly makes you anxious.
Is it being around people? Do you get anxious driving in rush hour traffic? Do you find it difficult to integrate with a larger workforce? Once you have identified what makes you anxious, it is easier to find a job that suits your preferences.
Remember, it is easier to find and stick with a job once you know what causes your anxiety.
So, what kind of careers for introverts with anxiety am I talking about?
Let’s break it down into a few categories. After all, there is a huge range of job opportunities out there. Some will require just basic qualifications, e.g. a clean driving license, and other jobs for introverts with anxiety require a degree.
I’d like to start with jobs for anxious introverts that don’t require a degree.
10 jobs for introverts with anxiety without a degree
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Animal Welfare Officer
Suitable for panic attack disorder
Although veterinaries have to study for years to get their degree and work with animals, animal welfare officers do not need one. There are many jobs in veterinary surgeries that would suit an introverted anxious person.
From basic feeding and washing to cleaning out cages and walking dogs. You can choose whether to join an established practice or volunteer at an animal shelter.
And don’t forget that being around animals can soothe and relax the most anxious of a person. This is a perfect job for an introvert with anxiety.
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House/pet-sitting
Suitable for social anxiety
My sister makes a living by going from house to house, looking after people’s property while they are away. If this sounds like your ideal job, then search online for house-sitting jobs. There are websites where you can register. You are alerted when a suitable property comes up.
Animal lovers can sign up to pet-sitting sites or start their own businesses. I think this is one of the best jobs for introverts with anxiety.
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Dog walker
Suitable for social anxiety
If you don’t like the idea of being inside in another person’s house, then dog-walking could be the answer. It gets you outside exercising in the fresh air and around animals.
Both of these are excellent for relieving stress and anxiety and there is minimal interaction with humans. For introverts with anxiety, this job is ideal as exercise helps reduce panic symptoms.
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Data entry clerk
Suitable for generalized anxiety disorder
There are some jobs that you can do from home. Data entry is just one of them. If being around people causes you anxiety, then working from home until you become more confident is ideal.
You are still earning a living, you don’t have much interaction with clients, and the work is simple enough. This is a good fit if you are an introvert with anxiety looking for a job.
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Delivery driver
Suitable for social anxiety
Got a clean driving license? Love driving and being your own boss? Delivery driving is a solitary career choice that makes sense if you are an introvert with anxiety looking for work.
Delivery drivers work on their own for the majority of the time. They do have to interact with all kinds of people, usually reception staff, but this breaks up the routine. This is a good job for introverts suffering from social anxiety.
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Mailperson
Suitable for social anxiety sufferers
If you don’t drive, why not consider delivering mail? Think about the amount of exercise you’ll do in a shift? Social interaction will be quick, if at all, and you’ll certainly get a good night’s sleep after all that walking. A perfect job for introverts with anxiety without a degree.
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Night security person
Suitable for social anxiety
Did you know that many anxious introverts are also night owls? Working as a night security guard ticks two boxes: you are working on your own and you are at your most energetic.
Plus, because of your shifts, you’ll be asleep during the day. No more social activities!
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Cleaner
Suitable for OCD sufferers
If you want to set your own hours or work by yourself, then cleaning is a great choice. If you are looking for part-time jobs for introverts with anxiety, then consider setting up your own business.
I put a card in a shop window and was inundated with calls. I picked the clients I wanted. Some would be in the house as I cleaned (one was a lovely older gentleman that I got to know very well and became extremely fond of), others would leave a key. And don’t forget all that exercise is great.
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Painter and decorator
Suitable for PTSD sufferers
Once you have the brief from the homeowner, you are more or less left to get on with the job. Introverts like to focus on the smaller details and you can make suggestions that an extrovert might overlook.
Painting and decorating give you the chance to express your creative side. Whether it is helping with color palettes or interior design ideas.
This job is good for PTSD sufferers as you are likely to be in a safe environment should you have a disturbing episode.
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Gardener/Landscaper
Suitable for generalized anxiety disorder and OCD
What better way to cash in on your love of gardening than offering your services as a gardener? Some landscapers do have qualifications, but there’s no need for general yard work.
Gardening gets you outdoors and provides physical exercise that helps reduce your anxiety. Win-win!
10 jobs for introverts with anxiety with some qualifications
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Dental technician
Suitable for social anxiety and general anxiety disorders
If you want to ease your way back into society and interact with people, then dental work is perfect. You’ll meet patients occasionally, but most of your work is carried out in the backroom.
You’ll be making veneers, crowns, mouth guards, and dentures. But remember, these will all be one-to-one interactions.
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Writer/blogger
Suitable for social and general anxiety disorder, OCD
To become a successful writer or blogger, you’ll need good grammar and spelling skills. The great thing about this work is that the majority of clients can be obtained through email.
You can also work globally when you like and fix the amount of work you do. I can personally attest that writing is one of the best jobs for introverts with anxiety.
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Proofreader
Suitable for OCD and social anxiety sufferers
Proofreading is perfect for OCD sufferers as they have a natural ability to focus on smaller details. They pick up on mistakes that are easily missed by others. And if you are looking for part-time jobs for introverts with anxiety, this fits the bill perfectly.
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Plumber
Suitable for general anxiety disorder and social anxiety
There are many ways to earn your plumbing qualifications; you can complete an apprenticeship on the job or apply to trade school. Once you are qualified, you can decide to go it alone or work with a company.
Either way, you won’t be stuck in a large office or one place at a time. You are likely to be in a small crew that moves from job to job.
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Social media consultant
Suitable for OCD sufferers
Social media consultants run online media campaigns for various companies to promote them, an event, or a product. This can involve utilizing several different media platforms at once, and an OCD sufferer can make sure they are on top of everything.
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Translator
Suitable for PTSD and social anxiety sufferers
Many anxious introverts want a calm, stable environment to work in. They prefer minimal social interaction and interference from their boss. Many translating jobs are done from home. This means that translating is a great job for PTSD sufferers. You are in the right place if you have an attack.
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Mechanic
Suitable for general anxiety disorder and social anxiety
Although mechanics work in a garage, they are left on their own when they carry out repairs or servicing to the car. They don’t talk to customers directly, only with their work colleagues. So for introverts with anxiety, this job is a good option.
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Website developer
Suitable for OCD and social anxiety sufferer
Website developers need attention to detail to create and develop a website to a client’s standards. They design and code using the client’s model and come up with a user-friendly, traffic-generating site. Interaction can be over the internet, and this exacting task is perfect for people with OCD.
It is also a good part-time job for introverts with anxiety.
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Quality control
Suitable for OCD sufferers
Quality control officers inspect manufactured goods or materials for defects before they reach the consumer. Spotting mistakes or anomalies is the OCD sufferer’s greatest gift, this makes quality control their ideal job.
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Medical data entry/writer
Suitable for social anxiety and general anxiety sufferers
Medical data entry or writing work is a little more precise and skilled than simple blogging. Many clients will want previous experience or medical background. But if you have the experience, then this is a really good job for an introvert with anxiety.
10 jobs for introverts with anxiety with a degree
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Computer programmer
Suitable for OCD and social anxiety sufferers
Want to spend all day writing code? Are you good at programming and fixing systems when they go down? Technology never stands still, so the world will always need coders. You can earn qualifications at university by attending in person or studying online.
Then be prepared to sit at your desk, on your own, writing and rewriting code and programs. Choose to write new code or maintain current systems. This career is top of my list of jobs for introverts with anxiety with a degree.
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Conservationist scientist
Suitable for PTSD, Social, and General Anxiety Sufferers
Not everyone wants to sit at a desk all day and look at a computer screen. Some of us would like to get out into the fresh air. And as we know, exercise is essential for alleviating depression and reducing anxiety. So this is one of the best jobs for depressed introverts who also suffer from anxiety.
You’ll need a degree in environmental science or something similar, but you will be taking samples from the soil, water, and plants in protected habitats. These are then tested back at the lab. You’ll be contributing to the preservation of natural habitats and helping to develop strategies to protect the environment.
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Librarian
Suitable for OCD and PTSD sufferers
The quiet and calm atmosphere of a library is perfect for PTSD sufferers. There is a routine to this type of work that creates a safe environment. You’ll be cataloging and filing books and helping people check books in and out.
This type of work suits OCD sufferers as it capitalizes on their eye for detail. It is one of the greatest careers for introverts with anxiety.
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Accountant
Suitable for OCD and social anxiety sufferers
Accountants work in a variety of places. You can be freelance or work for a business. Either way, you are likely to be solely in charge of the ledgers. This means working alone; an ideal job for introverts with anxiety.
Accounting suits OCD sufferers as you have to be precise and accurate when dealing with finances. So if you are an introvert with anxiety and a degree, this could be ideal.
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Statistician
Suitable for OCD and social anxiety sufferers
Statisticians provide valuable insight by collecting and analyzing mathematical data. This is a great job for OCD sufferers with social anxiety.
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Paralegal
Suitable for general and social anxiety disorder
Paralegals spend their days researching documents, looking up legal terms and laws, putting together evidence, and collating correspondence. For anxious introverts that love getting on with paperwork but dislike human interaction, this is the ideal job.
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Lab technician
Suitable for OCD, PTSD, and social anxiety sufferers
You will need a degree in one of the sciences, but if you prefer to work alone in relative silence, this is an ideal career for an anxious introvert. It puts all your mental processing skills to best use.
You are tasked with collecting and testing samples and recording the results. You are expected to be accurate and show attention to detail. This is one of the best careers for introverts with anxiety with degrees.
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Graphic designer
Suitable for general and social anxiety sufferers
For those who want to show off their creativity, graphic design ticks a lot of boxes. There is little interaction with the client, you can be freelance or work in a small team, and once you are qualified, you can use your skills in several ways. This is one of the best jobs for introverts with anxiety.
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Geological engineer
Suitable for OCD and PTSD sufferers
You’ll need a degree for this job, but if you love the earth and have a curious mind, it is worth the years of study. You’ll provide a detailed analysis of rock, soil, and water for various companies. What an amazing career for an introvert with anxiety!
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Software tester
Suitable for social and general anxiety sufferers, PTSD and OCD
If you have a degree in computer programming, you can go one step further and use this to test other people’s software. This can easily be carried out at home, so it’s a perfect job for an introvert with anxiety.
Final thoughts
As an anxious introvert, I didn’t think there were many career choices for someone like me. But as you can see, it doesn’t mean there aren’t any jobs for introverts with anxiety. Who knows, maybe one of these careers could help you fulfill your potential.
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