DAMN YOU ANXIETY

[CrazyRNstudent]

My anxiety has me FREAKING OUT over something I know I should not be.

I was offered a new job, my first RN job since I just graduated and passed my boards, I should be absolutely over the moon, especially since it is at my DREAM hospital, but instead my anxiety has me in a panic. In order to officially be hired (they've called and offered me the job already pending physical) I have to pass a drug and alcohol test and a criminal background check. I have NO idea why, but that is putting me into panic mode! I have no criminal history...the worst I have is a speeding ticket two years ago, never been arrested, nothing, and I do NO drugs, not even tylenol unless my head literally feels like it's splitting in two. I have no reason to be worried but I am convinced they're going to run the background check and find something I don't know about or find somebody else and think it's me (even though they use my SSN), or that I'm going to have eaten something bad (like poppy seeds) and end up losing the job :-(

HELP!

[LindaRK]

I think you really need to work on telling yourself that the anxiety is what is causing you to have this distorted thinking - tell yourself that you're a good person, you're qualified for this job and that you have absolutely nothing to hide.  Use it as sort of a mantra - not just when you're having anxiety.  And, by the way - congrats!

[CrazyRNstudent]

Thanks, it's very exciting!!! I keep telling myself I have nothing to be worried about because I know I have NEVER touched a drug (unless it was prescribed and that was years ago) and have no arrests/history/etc but yet here comes that little anxiety driven voice in the back of my head...ugh! Sometimes I cannot handle anxiety!