Extremely Anxious about going to work. Help or Advice?

[shannon947]

Hey Everyone!
Very recently I got a job at a grocery store as a cashier. When I went in for my training shift I realized that going to work was going to cause me to have severe anxiety. I had severe heart palpatations and uncontrollable crying. I ended up having to postpone my first shift and I went to my family doctor. He diagnosed me with having Social Anxiety Disorder. Since then I have had a few shifts and leading up to it, I find myself crying even thinking about going. I have an extreme fear of being judged or messing up. I have already called in sick for a shift in order to avoid going. I don't know what to do. Most people I talk to don't really understand what I am going through. I am hoping to get some help here. Thank you so much :)

[shannon947]

Does anyone else suffer from the same feelings? I just need someone to talk too.

[redheadmama]

I work with the public (at a hospital of all places!) and I still get feel a heavy dread in the pit of my stomach whenever I think about going to work. I don't hate my job, I just have anxiety over it. It would be much easier to be in my regular clothes doing my regular things than to have to get "into persona" to go to work. It stresses me out. NO ONE who works with me would ever suspect this. They come to me for advice on how to be calm and collected. Little do they know!

I think maybe if you can white-knuckle your way through it things will become much easier. I know that working with the public is what helped me get over most of my social anxiety, in fact. Good luck!

[epiphone15]

I don't want to come off as a "pill pusher." But maybe medication for the short run will help you get over the initial fears. I take ativan when I'm about to enter a situation that I know will trigger my panic, but once I've gotten used to the situation I'll stop taking the medication and just handle it myself.

Meds or no meds, just understand that the first stages of a job are always the hardest. And its definitely more daunting when you work with the public. Sure, some people are gonna be rude to you, and/or act like you're an idiot. But remember that it's nothing against you personally. Some people just treat ALL service workers like they're personal service, and expect a LOT from them. I worked in a video store for a while and I'd get some customer who'd blame ME because the video they wanted was already checked out. In instances like these, it's best to remind yourself that some people can never be pleased, and that's their own problem.

Anyway, take it easy on yourself. The worst case scenario is that you quit and find another job, and that's not such a horrible thing. you'll do fine!

[San Andreas]

I actually worked in a grocery store in my early 20s.  I was generally okay, but would have an attack now and again.   I found this usually happened when I was scheduled to work as the 1st checker and knew I would be unable to leave my post if I started to freak out.  I rarely had a problem when I was stocking or working the receiving desk  (which is what I normally was scheduled to do)   Speak with your employer (I know this may be difficult because you are new, but I don't believe they are allowed to fire you due to a medical condition in most states)   See if they can put you in a position where you are given a little more freedom to move around the store.    GOOD LUCK