Will AI Take My Job? Managing Career Anxiety and Modern Stress

I never thought my interest in investing would overlap with my work as a therapist. But recently, the two have started to intersect in a way I can’t ignore.

I hold shares in ARK Invest, a company that focuses on innovation and forward-thinking technologies like AI and robotics. Their recent announcements caught my attention for both professional and personal reasons. Not only has their Artificial Intelligence & Robotics ETF passed $100 million in assets under management, but they’ve also shared insights with the UK government at 10 Downing Street.

Their message is clear. Humanoid robotics could separate physical labour from economic output. That means tasks traditionally carried out by people could soon be handled by machines. They believe this shift could unlock trillions in global revenue and drive a huge productivity boom.

Now, as someone who believes in innovation, you’d think I’d feel excited. And I do. But if I’m being honest, I’ve also felt a bit unsettled. It’s made me stop and think.

Because if I’m feeling the tension between excitement and uncertainty, what are other people feeling?

That question is exactly why I’m writing this.

The Emotional Cost of Innovation

Artificial intelligence isn’t just a future concept anymore. It’s already being used in everything from finance and education to healthcare and retail.

But while companies celebrate the potential for efficiency and scale, the emotional impact on individuals is often overlooked.

In recent sessions, I’ve had more clients talk openly about their fears around job security and the pressure to stay ahead. What they’re describing is more than surface-level stress. It's something deeper, more personal. It's career anxiety.

They’re asking things like:

Will I still have a job in five years?

What if my role becomes irrelevant?

How do I stay competitive?

These questions are valid. They're not overreactions. They're a human response to rapid change and uncertainty.

Why Career Anxiety Is On the Rise

Work is more than just a job. It gives people identity, purpose, routine, and financial security. So when those things feel like they’re at risk, it naturally stirs up career anxiety.

What’s making this even harder is the lack of clarity. We don’t yet know how quickly certain industries will change, which roles might vanish, or what new skills will be required. Uncertainty breeds anxiety. And when that anxiety goes unspoken, it starts to manifest in other ways.

You might notice it in your sleep, your motivation, your mood, or even in your relationships.

You might feel like your mind never switches off.

You might swing between panic and numbness.

When these patterns become long-term, they often lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and sometimes even identity loss.

Understanding AI-Driven Career Stress

ARK Invest’s recent insights suggest that we’re entering a phase of automation that affects far more than just repetitive or manual tasks. The rise of humanoid robotics means machines could soon be capable of carrying out roles that involve adaptability, movement, and even emotional response.

That’s why we’re no longer just seeing automation in factories or fulfilment centres. It’s reaching care work, customer service, education, hospitality, reception roles, and more.

You don’t have to understand the full tech behind it to feel its effects. You might simply feel a sense of unease you can’t quite name. That, too, is career anxiety.

And while you might be told to “embrace the future” or “upskill,” that advice can feel impossible when you’re already mentally overloaded.

How to Manage Career Anxiety in a Changing World

The pace of change might feel out of your hands, but your wellbeing isn’t. Here are a few ways to ground yourself and take care of your mind in the middle of it all:

1. Name what you’re feeling

The first step in managing career anxiety is recognising it. Saying it out loud — or even writing it down — helps shift it from an internal weight to something you can actually work with.

2. Set boundaries with information

You don’t need to read every think piece on AI. Limit your exposure to news and social media, especially if it’s fuelling panic. Stay informed, but on your terms.

3. Focus on small, steady actions

You don’t have to overhaul your whole career overnight. Maybe you update your CV, sign up for a short course, or reach out to someone in your network. Small steps give you back a sense of agency.

4. Support your nervous system daily

Stress doesn’t reset on its own. Your body needs time and space to decompress. That might mean breathing exercises, visualisation, gentle movement, or even switching your phone off for an hour.

5. Talk to someone who understands

Therapy gives you a space to unpack what you’re feeling without judgement. Whether it’s fear, confusion or shame, getting it out in the open is often the start of real change.

Let’s Bring It Back to You

You can be excited about innovation and still feel anxious about what it means for your future. You can want progress and still need time to process it. Both can be true.

What matters most right now isn’t how much you know about AI. It’s how well you support yourself as the world around you changes.

Career anxiety is not a sign of weakness. It’s a signal that you care about your future, your identity, your purpose. And you deserve support as you navigate this next chapter.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply unsure how to move forward, I’m here to help.

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