Scared to start a new job

[TC1801]

Um, hi? I'm new to all of this so, I'm kind of freaking out, but I need to ask someone who isn't completely biased to help me out.

I recently agreed to start a casual position at a fast food franchise, and I'm terrified. I've worked in a different franchise before hand and only lasted a couple of weeks before I became so anxious that in the span of about a week I had 5 separate panic attacks, 2 in one day.

And I'm just really really scared. What if I have more at this new place? What if they don't like me? What if someone yells at me while I'm at work? What if I loose my social life that I only just started to gain? I don't know what to do and some of the thoughts I'm having lately are really scaring me. I just don't know how to cope with any of this and I'm just really really worried and scared.

So I don't know if any one has any tips or maybe any coping strategies or if I just wanted some one to listen without them crying the second I say something doesn't seem quite right with me.

[MsPurple]

Hi TC

It can be nerve racking starting a new job. When I left my last job I had a few anxiety attacks at that workplace. I was kinda nervous to start my new job. I talked to my psych about this and they helped give me guidance on the situation. She helped me realise that having an anxiety attack at one place didn't mean it would happen at the new job. My psych also suggested I do some deep breathing exercises when I thought my anxiety was flaring up. They also suggest doing meditation before bed to help stop my racing mind. I use the app called 'calm' and beyond blue have a few apps one of them a deep breathing app. I went to the bathroom sometimes to calm down and stop my racing mind and do some deep breathing. The best thing I suggest is to not worry about it. You past anxiety at work doesn't determine if you'll get anxiety at your new work.

Try be yourself at your new work. Introduce yourself to everyone and try talking to them when you are on break. Making friends at work can take time but it's always worth it. Some of my closest friends are ex-work colleagues. And people will like you, just be yourself and do the best you can do at your work.

[Crpe]

Hi TC,

I haven't worked in many jobs before, but i do understand the stress. When you are in the situation where you feel a panic attack coming on, try to distract yourself. A method i find most helpful works for anxiety, stress, depressing thoughts, pain and sickness. It's the 5 things method (I'm not sure of the actual name).

First, focus on 5 things you can see. List them, Then, focus on 4 things you can see. List them, 3 things, 2 things, and 1 more thing. Then, do the same with things you can touch. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Do it again with things you can hear, smell, taste, anything that keeps you distracted. If that isnt enough, i find describing things even more helps.

for example, say one of the things you can see is sky. Try to explain and describe the sky, pretending its to someone who is blind, who cannot see anything.

Another things i find helps, is to keep emergency essence/stress relief spray and a fidget cube (or anything to fidget with, a ball of blutack, a dice, a coin) on me at all times. Fidget cubes are cheap and definitely helpful.

As for the questions you have, try to turn them around, or answer them. If you worry that someone may yell at you, ask yourself why they would. I'm sure that they wouldnt. If you make a mistake, it doesnt warrant someone yelling, especially if you are new. As MsPurple said, be yourself! Talk to them when you can, find things to talk about that can ease your stress. There's a good chance that many others at your new place of work worried before they started.

I hope it helps, and good luck. Everything will be fine ❤️