To Be A Mental Health Social Worker

Today was, by most definitions, a “good” day. I talked to my clients, they thanked me, and everything went pretty smoothly. Yet, despite all the positives, I still walked away feeling stressed, maybe even a little defeated. Why? It’s like my brain has a built-in “stress generator,” making it nearly impossible to accept a day as truly “good.”

Let’s break it down.

First, there was my plan for the day—the to-do list in my head that I thought I could accomplish in perfect order. I wanted to keep my notes updated, tie up loose ends, and finally get a response from that one provider. But surprise! None of that happened the way I’d imagined. And that’s where it starts. As soon as the day starts to go off-script, it’s like my stress dial automatically starts turning up.

Then, there are the clients I avoided. We all have them: the clients who are, for whatever reason, a little extra stressful. I know that calling them might take some of the weight off, but the nerves kick in, and I end up pushing them to the bottom of my list. But the more I avoid it, the more I think they’re going to be upset with me, and the more I worry about “messing things up.”

The funny part? If I think about it, I’m not even afraid of getting a “bad comment.” My manager’s great, and I know I’d be supported. What I am afraid of, I realized, is failing my own ridiculously high standards. Somewhere along the way, I convinced myself that if everything isn’t perfectly done, I’ve somehow fallen short.

So, here I am: stuck in the endless loop of trying to meet impossible expectations I set for myself. It’s like a game of “you versus you,” and spoiler alert: I don’t always win.

I know I can’t be alone in this. Do you ever find yourself stressing over things that should be fine? Is your “good enough” bar set somewhere in the stratosphere too? Sometimes, I think the hardest part of this work isn’t the clients or the deadlines; it’s getting out of our own way.

Let’s talk! How do you handle the stress of your own expectations? Do you have any tricks for letting go of the need to be perfect? Share your thoughts and let’s help each other keep our stress dial in check!

#SocialWorkLife #PerfectionistProblems #GoodEnoughIsEnough #StressLessSocialWork #ReflectAndGrow