I need help

I just finished this semester of school and I really want to start working but the thought of having a job freaks me out because I’m so awkward that I turn stupid lol. I have the WORST social anxiety and it’s hard for me to speak to people. I don’t have any friends...everyone thinks I’m weird or rude....all because I just don’t speak that much. If anyone knows of slow paced jobs that would be a good fit for me to slowly adjust to working, PLEASE let me know. I’m so desperate to work but extremely terrified at the same time.

[FearIsALiar]

I’m the same way!

[Hidden in reply to FearIsALiar]

Glad to know there are people who can relate to me. People are like “just get a job”....I can’t though. Mentally....it’s SO difficult.

[FearIsALiar in reply to Hidden]

Ugh I know!!

[None999]

I had terrible social anxiety. Medication has helped a lot. Food delivery. Maybe a cashier where you don't really have to talk to people conversation-wise, but can just ask if they found everything ok. Stocking shelves.

[Hidden in reply to None999]

Thank you! I appreciate it

[RewiringHeadspace]

Here are two potential suggestions you can try.

1. If you’re at school, they probably have a career department or counselors so you can talk to the advisers for guidance for potential jobs and practice working on those skills with them.

2. When you’re communicating with potential future employers make sure you ask them to clearly define what the expectations of the job are so you can better assess if you will be able to handle it.

[Hidden in reply to RewiringHeadspace]

Thank you so much

[13ga]

hi virgo...

i'd like to take a different angle...

can you tell me more about your anxiety? what aspects of social interaction push your button? do you have any idea why that sets you off (i assume traumatic event)?

you're obviously intreacting here - so can i assume issue is face to face? or is intracting here difficult too?

also - i'd like to say this to you... if you don't have friends b/c they think you're weird or rude - then those are people that would never be your friend anyway - i'd say you're lucky to know that early on, and good riddance to 'em.

furthermore - i like that you're weird and rude - makes you sound interesting. i am also weird, and often rude or blunt. so you are far from alone, and there are many potential friends out there for you.

lastly - being quiet's not a bad thing... if you and i were talking - that means i could do most of the talking... and if you look at the length of my posts - i seem to like to hear myself talk! flipside - i don't mind awkward silence either - so i can just STFU until you feel like saying something. i know i'm not the only 1 like this - so you have lots of friend potential out there!!

you just need to find people w/ patience for you to adjust to them and feel comfortable. you'll only need 1 to get started - and whatever your issues - once you start confronting them, they'll get smaller.

[Hidden in reply to 13ga]

Thank you for commenting! I try my best to speak well but I get so nervous that I think I sometimes I come across as strange. I don’t like not knowing how people view me. I wish I didn’t care what other people thought about me but unfortunately I do. I come on this app and express my feelings because the people on here are the only people I can talk to. I’ve always been the person that people talked negatively about all because I wasn’t like the rest of my coworkers. The thought of having a job stresses me out because I don’t want to not get along with people. Or work with people who talk negatively about me because they don’t understand my personality. I can’t work while feeling those emotions. I’ll have constant panic attacks and it just won’t work out for me.

[13ga in reply to Hidden]

virgo, tx for replying, and explaining...

i'm very glad you're finding like-minded and empathetic people here.

some of these people - may also be working at a future job ....

it sounds like you feel the need to crawl before you can walk...

do you have a family member, that you could role-play with? someone to help you practice? do you think you could do that?