Feeling alone in a group

Beanybean
Community Member

Hi there. This is my first time talking on this forum. I'm a nearly 30 y/O female and I've gotten the job of my dreams. The only thing is now the team I'm working in has gotten a bit larger (there is about 8 of us) I feel utterly alone and unlikable.

Ifind it really hard to join in conversations and I feel like everyone thinks I'm not worth talking to or asking my opinion. I'm shutting off from interacting with people and I eat lunch on my own (I feel anxious eating around others because I don't want to be judged. I have low self eesteem).

I have been tearful in front of them a few times and I think it may have made them distance themselves away from me. I have very bad thoughts about myself like "they don't want to talk to me cos I make them feel awkward" or "they don't value my Input, so why bother".

I should be enjoying my job but everyday I am fretting constantly over feeling disliked and alone.

Ive never been good I'm groups, I always feel like the odd one out and I know most of this is self sabotage. I'm not sure what to do.

1 Reply 1

Summer Rose
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Beanybean. Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on having the courage to reach out for support.

From my experience as a manager, I have found that it is not uncommon for new team members to feel the way you do. It is not easy joining a new work environment, it is stressful and anxiety provoking by nature. Please don't be too hard on yourself. You clearly want the job, so I would like to offer some suggestions that may help you.

The first is to look at the "evidence" and try to keep it top of mind. You landed the job. And this means you have relevant skills, experience and talent. The evidence shows that you have been chosen in a competitive environment above all others and this means your input is sought and you are inherently valued.

The second is to consider if a chat with your manager/supervisor could help. It is their job to assist you in settling into the role. You haven't mentioned why you have been tearful at work but if your colleagues are behaving inappropriately toward you, if the workplace culture is not quite right, then your manager should be able to help.

You say you have "never been good in groups". Can I ask if you have considered speaking with your GP?

With the right assistance it could be that you can improve your abilities, which would benefit you now and in future, and talking with your GP would be a great place to start.

If you'd like to keep talking, please keep posting. I will keep an eye on this thread and I encourage you to monitor your thread too. I am also fairly new to these forums but I've learned that there is a vast array of kind, caring people who participate but sometimes it just takes a bit of time to see the posts.