I feel so anxious I want to cry

[Pureison]

Hello there,

I am 28 years old and recently received a job offer for a retail store that's opening up in my city soon. I went to meet the manager the other day, and I've already told a few of my friends that I got the job, however there's a couple of things that I'm really worried and stressed about and whenever I think about it, it makes me want to cry. The thing is, I've never had a job before due to personal reasons, and this is all so new to me, I have training in a couple of weeks time and meeting the team but I'm not sure if I can do this, and I've heard so many horror stories or stories about customer service and I don't think I'm suited for it... I'm not confident at all with meeting new people and at the moment I'm having second thoughts about this new job... I have no idea what to do. My friends all believe that it's great and I can do this but I just feel so stressed and feel like I don't think I can... I don't think I can even go to this training thing....

Does anyone have advice about this? Maybe share your experience with retail?

[Pureison]

I also have symptoms where I feel tense and I feel sick where I'm not even that hungry or I can't focus properly. Is it possible that maybe I should look for a job that's less stressful? Any advice would be great...

[blondguy]

Hi Pureison....Congratulations on your new position ✔✔

Thankyou for having the strength to post from the heart as well as you have!

Just a note... I didnt have the strength to post on the forums as well as you have....It took me a few weeks to do back in 2016. Feeling stressed prior to commencing a new position is very common Pureison. I would be concerned if a person wasnt nervous when I was interviewing candidates

Self doubt and overthinking are also common....Only if its okay...can I ask if you would enjoy this position?

my kind thoughts

Paul

[Pureison]

Thank you for replying to me so quickly, and for letting me know that it's very common the way I'm feeling,

I'm honestly not sure since I never experienced it before and I was hired as a casual, I want to say yes but another part of me will say no because I lack confidence and might take a long time before I can actually properly enjoy it.

[blondguy]

No worries at all!

Thats okay too....being a casual employee is no different to full time...people do (me included) experience anticipatory anxiety prior to starting a new role

Anxiety symptoms are also super common before commencing a new role.....(digestive...tummy etc)

Can I ask when you start your new job? ...Just so we can provide you with more effective support

There are many gentle people on the forums that can be here for you Pureison 🙂

[Pureison]

That's very thoughtful and very much appreciated,

I start my job possibly on the 22 of next month, but my training is on the 25 of this month from 9-1.

[Petal22]

Hi Pureison,

Congratulations on your job!

Its normal to feel anxious before starting a new job….. just tell yourself positive things build yourself up…… I’m sure the people you will be working with will be lovely…. Just take a deep breath and go for it….. what’s the worst that could happen?

in my experience with working in retail all the customers are lovely and the staff.. you will grow with the job, if you have a not so nice customer you will have a manager who will be happy to deal with them 😊

[Pureison]

Thank you for the reassuring, and sharing your experience.

I've never thought of it like that.

[blondguy]

Anxiety.....especially anticipatory anxiety is unsettling yet still very common as we are overly concerned how we are going to perform

I used to have chronic anxiety which has reduced after seeing my GP and he used to help me out with support when I was stuck. If you are experiencing daily anxiety you have everything to gain and nothing to lose by just making a double appointment with your GP.....Sometimes we only need a helping hand....

I know that the majority of the people in the training sessions were super nervous. I ran a few of them years ago and I was anxious before they even started

please be gentle to yourself Pureison....we are here and listening

The forums are a safe and non judgmental place for you to post

Paul

[Pureison]

How did you go with making new friends with anxiety? especially when you were also nervous about the job?

Thank you so much for those kind words, they're definitely calming me down a bit, and I am considering of talking to my doctor about my anxiousness, I also get anxious of other things too like going to the dentist and trying to avoid that as long as I can before I really have to see them. Or avoiding going to my friends party because I have no idea who anyone is that will be there...

Anxiety sucks and I don't have panic attacks or anything, but I know I sometimes get really restless and quiet when it comes to my nervousness. Sometimes I'll feel hot even though it's not a super hot day. It's so weird because at home sometimes I'm fine except when I spend a lot of time worrying about these upcoming events...