Anxiety after job interview

[Richju]

Although I gained my counselling qualifications last year, I haven't had much work in private practice and would like to work for an organisation before my skills dwindle. 

On Friday I had an online interview, where the questions come up on the screen and you are recorded as you answer them. I found it stressful and feel I shared too much of my life experience.

You see, I'm seventy-two years old and I know it sounds ridiculous to be starting a new career at my age but I'm fit snd healthy and I have had enormous life experience. Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence to match it and I have trouble with negative thoughts although I meditate regularly and try to practise mindfilness. At times, I despair of ever finding my niche yet my strong determination keeps me going, even though I often fail.

I'm not sure if anyone else has this problem but when I defuse my thoughts, I feel empty just like I did when I first gave up smoking. I try to keep busy and exercise regularly but find I'm always staving off depression.

[mmMekitty]

Hello Richju & welcome

Well done, completeing your studies. At 72, I'm sure you understand getting a job won't be easy, even though there is a great need for more counsellors & therapists of all sorts, out there. There are people waiting months to see someone.

I hope they give you a call call/email or whatever it is they do, and at least give you some constructive feedback about the online interview. Personally, wanting someone with counsellings skills, I'd want to talk to them, see how they interact with me, get some idea of their listening skills, too. 

I would think a lifetime of experience would count towards something. Over the years you have certainly learned a lot about being resillient, you've learned to solve problems, & when you feel down, you know it is a mood that won't last forever. Keeping busy, doing regular exercise, using your mindfulness & meditation techniques certainly can feel as if treading on a mill, just keeping ahead of the depression, maybe just distracting yourself in the moment, but the way I se it now is that I am (by doing similar things), I'm keeping any moment of depression from becoming entrenched & taking me over until I simply quit.

The doom & gloom are always in the background somewhere, & what I have found is that, while it's in the bacground, I can function much better.

& good on you for quitting smoking. I quit in 1995 - April Foo's Day! Amongst the best things I have evr done for myself.

Lately I'm trying to carefor myself better. Better eating, doing exercise, in an effort to ward off the possible growth of another cancer somewhere else in my body. This is a mountain to me, & one which has no summit; I'll be climbing this mountain for the rest of my life.

My confidence has never been even average. I'm learning to accept that asking for my own needs is in my own best interest, & that these interests are just as important as anyone's.

Yeah, I sometimes think I share too much, especially when I am writing. If I go way beyond what is acceptable, the moderators here will do something about it. I get grumpy, & I get to learn more about dealing with my emotions.

I also tend to keep plodding on, even when plodding seems difficult. Tomorrow is indeed another day.

Humour gets me through, too.

Hugzies

mmMekitty

[Richju]

Dear mmMekitty,

Thank you for your reply. I feel rather embarrassed by what I wrote. My mentor would say I was having a 'tantrum'.

I don't even know the result of the interview yet and I shouldn't be making assumptions. If I don't get the job, there will be other opportunities.

You are rught about humour! I spent this afternoon writing a humourous story to present at my writer's group and I'm very pleased with it.

So please forgive me for my bout of self pity mmMekitty and thank you for yoir thoughtful response.

Kindest regatds 

Ruchju xx

[jaz28]

hi there,

good on you for pursuing something new at your age. that is so inspiring! you should be proud of your effort in the interview and for gaining your qualifications! as mmMekitty said, there is great need for counsellors and mental health professionals at the moment, so hopefully an opportunity will come your way 🙂

life experience is quite invaluable when counselling someone. it enables you to have increased empathy that someone without that experience cannot have.

it is hard to be positive when experiencing negative thoughts and feelings of emptiness, but it is possible. you can do it. you will get there. make sure to practise self-care and see a counsellor yourself if you need to.

jaz xx

[Maisy Nina]

Don't give up, you are doing so many things right! I too am having trouble starting a new career after completing my fairly recent mature-aged bachelor's degree in a field I have no experience in 😛 I am having to work really hard on re-gaining any sort of self-confidence, but we got this - I am positive. The right opportunity is waiting around the corner for you and you have so much strength, you just have to channel it into your confidence in yourself and your experience, education and unique gifts. 

Blessings xo

[mmMekitty]

Writers' group, Richju? I was in a writers' group for people with a vision impairment, until COVID came along & we disbanded. I didn't want to simply stop, & a few of us, a very few, tried to keep going via email, but that didn't last either. I used to spark off of what others were writing so much! Hearing their diverse responses to each exercise & prompt we were given was most pleasing, making me see there could be a dozen points of view to a single topic. & we learned so much as well, about how to give critiques & editing. I even became used to the social aspect.

Of-course there will be other opportunities.

I have noticed your words of support & encouragement to some members. I feel sure your words will be very much appreciated & valuable to the recipients & to readers in general.

Hugzies

mmMekitty

[Richju]

Dear Maisy Nina, mmMeKitty and jaz,

Thank you all for your most encouraging replies. This forum is so supportive and I feel much more positive now.

Yes, the writers' group is great therapy! I recently wrote about a psychic experience I had when I was a young teenager. I've been trying to write about it for many years and feared that the others in the group would think it was ridiculous. But they loved it and gave me plenty of positive feedback. They are even going to publish it in their anthology.

I believe that the key to mental health is to love yourself. There are professional writers in that group but, rather than feeling inferior to them, I have learnt to value their advice. We are all very different so it's futile to compete.

Writing about my vast life experience is helping me for now as well as your welcomed encouragement.

Thank you so very much again,

Richju xxxxxx

[Maisy Nina]

Have a positive and peaceful day, everyone xo

[Richju]

Thanks Maisy Nina, I just love your name!

I'm feeling so much better now and getting lots of help in meditation. I find that I experience depression just before I have a real breakthrough. If you believe in numerology, September is the best month for change.

Warm regards,

Ruchju xx

[Maisy Nina]

Good for you. Maisy is my late cat's name, sadly I had to have her euthanised after having her for 13 years, in April. Her full name was Maisy Nina Angelina 😂 Miss her all the time.

Have a blessed and peace-filled day! xo