Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone.

I just accepted my first actual career opportunity. I have been out of college for about 6 years now and worked many retail sales jobs and disliked all of them. I never felt like I was using my best talent. I kept going to job interview after job interview and nobody would give me a break. And the past few months I hit rock bottom. Very low.

Now, this career opportunity is right in my lap and I can't pass it up. I am excited for this awesome opportunity and it took me 6 months worth of interviews with this company to get it. I would be a fool to allow my anxiety disorder to screw it up. However, I am experiencing a lot of anticipatory anxiety about the opportunity and my relocation. I have to commute an hour and a 15 min Monday-Friday until I find a place to live.

I should be celebrating, having a drink with friends and thrilled. Instead, I am worried about measuring up to the company's expectations; my new boss's expectations, my own expectations, moving to a bigger city 1 hour and 15 min away, being alone from my mother and brother, relatives and friends, being alone in general.

It's for a medical sales position and the company is going to provide me lots of training before I go out on the road. Also, they are sending me most likely to Clearwater, FL, for 2 weeks for additional training. My new boss seems really cool. He called me yesterday and told me that he's excited to have me on board and asked what my thoughts were... I told him that I'm going to have to commute the first few weeks until I find a place an apartment. He told me that if I want an afternoon off he would be glad to give it to me so I can apartment hunt.

It's true -- "Be careful what you wish for you might just get it." All I can say is that I really wanted this opportunity and I got it. Now, I am experiencing all of the anticipatory as well as generalized anxiety that comes with a new job. I keep telling myself that I am going to put my personal life (not that I really have one) on hold for 6 months and be focused on work - work - work.

I am nervous about living on my own in a bigger city. The last time I moved away from home it was to live with my boyfriend (at the time). Now, I am finally moving out of my mother's house on my own. All alone. As much as I love my family I realize that it's time for me to move out and do my own thing. I am 30 years old. I'm sure my personal life will improve as well. I keep telling myself that I need to find a new gym, church and things to do when I move.

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions and advice about starting a new career opportunity. Anything to help me get through the weekend and control my nerves. I was so nervous a couple days ago that I woke up with a panic attack; severe cramps, IBS, and almost threw up.

Thanks guys.

Blake, congratulations!

What you are feeling is entirely normal. People who don't have anxiety and panic would be feeling this also. Don't beat upon yourself!

Can you think of these feelings as excitement? Because this is really what they are. Think of all of the positives that are going to come out of this job. Just getting the job is positive and pat yourself on the back for hanging in there for 6 months to get the job in the first place.

Take evrything one step at a time. Think about today...not the past and not tomorrow. Stay in the moment "the precious present." Try and enjoy today and stay focused only on today.

I hope this helps. These are things I struggle with and I find that they help me a lot.

Take care,
Missletoes

Hey John,

I feel you bro. I think anyone in this type of situation with or with out anxiety would feel anxiety about it. Your making a huge change in life. Which is very exciting. You need to view it as that just like lucinda says. Be proud of yourself that you are making this huge leap in life. I know I probably would be hesitant to be in your shoes. you mentioned alot of expectations in your post maybe you should review lesson 4. I think your gonna be fine. just take it day by day. If theirs anyway you could slowly approach this huge life change I would probably do that. I think if you do everything all at once its going to be pretty overwhelming.

Thanks Missletoes and Eddie for your support!

Well, I finished my first week and it went well for the most part. I slept in this weekend and been getting prepared for Monday. Overall, I like this career opportunity and I know eventually when I'm through training I'll be fine. However, I'm still experiencing a great deal of generalized anxiety and anticpatory anxiety about the position. The worst part of my job is the commute every single day... it take me just over an hour to get to work. Which means I have to go to bed early and get up early. When I'm driving to work it's dark outside and gets dark on the way home. I don't like that.

My sales manager told me that I won't be "thrown to the wolves" yet. I still have a couple more weeks training in the office and out on the road with other reps. Then, I'll be covering my territory on my own for about a month and then they are sending me to Clearwater for training for 2 weeks.

There's a lot of positive things about this job but it's still stressing me out.

The daily commute.
It's the winter time and have to deal with another couple months of brutal weather.
I'm not familiar with the city and territory that I'll be covering.
I'm new and not educated yet with the products and services that I'll be selling.
My family and friends are excited for me and know I'm nervous but keep telling me I can do it.

One good thing that I did over the weekend was purchase a GPS device for my car. That will certainly help me with my travels.

All I can do is take one day at a time.

Thanks.