Advice on how to deal with social anxiety.

[GregCarter304]

Hi,

I'm really in the need of some advice. It can be blunt if need be but please don't be rude.

I start a new call center job Monday and I am really panicking about the training class.... I'm embarrassed that I'm 30 and have no teeth (jobs dental insurance will help with that) and I'm worried people will judge me or make fun of me. I know people my age are usually, for the most part, pass that immaturity but there are kids in their early 20s that may or may not be mature. I'm more than likely thinking about this too much but if I could help it them I wouldn't have an anxiety disorder. I get so scared of class on Monday that I think of ways to sabotage myself to get removed from the class whether it be arriving late or straight out missing training. (strict attendance policy for training)

My family needs me to keep this job. A lot is riding on it. Even considering all this I still would rather sabotage my job...

So there it is....

[gypsylee]

Hi Greg,

Sorry nobody has replied yet.. Posts get most attention on the General Discussion board :)

A good way of dealing with these kinds of things is to shift your perspective a bit. I bet you there are other people in that group who are also panicking about the training class. So the last thing they'll be worried about is your teeth.

Anyway, you would have been by now yeah? Or not?

Take it easy,
Gypsy x

[GregCarter304]

Hi Greg,

Sorry nobody has replied yet.. Posts get most attention on the General Discussion board :)

A good way of dealing with these kinds of things is to shift your perspective a bit. I bet you there are other people in that group who are also panicking about the training class. So the last thing they'll be worried about is your teeth.

Anyway, you would have been by now yeah? Or not?

Take it easy,
Gypsy x

Thanks for responding, I'll remember the general forum for next time.
As for starting, yes today was my first day. I wasn't all that bad but having to stand up in front of everyone to introduce myself was not how I wanted to start my day lol. Day 2 tomorrow.... One day at a time.

[gypsylee]

Oh, well done! One day at a time indeed :)

[Kirk]

Glad to hear things went well. My mother used to have missing teeth and she used to
open her mouth minimally when she talked and got by OK. I am overweight by about
10 or so pounds and I have an umbilical hernia, and between the 2, my stomach sticks
out a bit and I am sometimes self conscious of it. I try to war clothes which help conceal
the issue. Most people I have found are not rude, so I would not worry about it. One time I
caught a little kid staring at it and when I saw him, I grabbed my stomach, shook it a bit and
he ran away. I joke about it myself sometimes.