Find help: I suffer from really bad social anxiety. - Help.com



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I suffer from really bad social anxiety.

Recently, I decided to do some volunteer work. I had my first time in a charity shop last week and it was really stressful :-(

They explained how to use the till on the day but didn’t give us any time to practice. The other woman seemed to pick it up very quickly but I was already really anxious about using the cash register and couldn’t focus while it was being explained.

All through the day I kept making mistakes and getting really flustered in front of customers and having to call over the manager who was really busy to unjam the machine :-/ she explained it a few more times but I was embarrassed and didn’t take it on board, - argh - I felt incredibly stupid and I really want to sort this out before I have to do it again! Unfortunately I don’t know what kind of cash register it was but it was a kind where you had to type in a code as well as typing in the price.

I feel quite silly posting this because I get the impression other people find them really easy to use (and I’m sure they probably are).. but I’d really appreciate any help.. Does anybody have any tips on how to use one or can anyone link me to a website with explanations?

This open post was written 1 year ago | V/U/S: 488, 3, 3 | Edit Post | Leave a reply | Report Post


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Mushroom8 offline Verified User (1 year, 1 month) Long Term User Shouts: 1 #
An Unknown Location | 1 year ago (18 minutes after post)

I have Social Anxiety, didn’t realise it had a name, thought I was just very ifferent to everyone else and useless.

But, I think it’s all based on self esteem, so if you were to do something, like sport or pampering treatment, it will maybe make you feel a bit betetr before entering this situation again, keep telling yourself you can do this and you are capable of doing it. You will feel stupid, but it can work.

Also, I do notice I have zero concentration skill, because I’m concentrating on everything else that doesn’t matter instead of the now, like ‘What will they think of me’ and ‘they are not going to like me’ or ‘what could go wrong next’ etc. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) will help you break the cycles of negative repetitive thinking and will maybe help build your confidence and will help make you feel better about dealing with situations Ask your doctor or a charity (in the UK we have Relate) to help you, or get you in contact with a professional. Be prepared for a waiting list though, but it will be worth it in the end.

P.S.

I agree. Practice will make perfect. I would feel awful and hate myself if I didn’t get anything right first time, or couldn’t do anything perfectly, like playing the piano after only practising for 30 mins! Don’t ever, EVER, compare yourself to anyone, no matter how hard it is. You are you, and we all have different strengths and weaknesses. The other person may be able to pick it up quicker but may rush and make more mistakes, where you could take your time to learn everything to make sure everything is done right.

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NANA818 offline Unverified User #
An Unknown Location | 9 months, 1 week ago (3 months, 1 week after post)

You are not alone. I have been dealing with social anxiety for years and ever since I worked at a retail store about 10 years ago, and had a bad experience using the cash register, I’ve had anxiety about using one again. When they ‘trained’ me they just had me watch a coworker for about an hour and thats not how I learn, I have to actually do it, make mistakes and learn from that. Well, the store got busy and they asked me 4 times to get on the register. I was pround of myself for saying no in the beginning but after awhile I just couldnt anymore and finally got on the register. I still have no idea what I did but I probably lost the store a lot of money that day. I even forgot to give one woman her credit card back. They never asked me to get on the register again.
Since then, no matter what the job, if it involves a register I wont apply. Now Im in a situation where my family really needs the money and the only job that I can get involves using a cash register 90% of the time. Im beyond anxious about this but in the back of my mind I know I can do it.
You have to tell yourself that, like others have said, practice makes perfect. Once you get into your groove it wont be so hard. Also, because you feel so anxious, youre not fully concentrating so its even harder to learn something new. What the previous post says is right on, my therapist told me the same thing. Youre busy with all your thoughts, “Just calmn down” “Why cant I do this?”, and all that is just building inside and creating more anxiety. Seeing a professional will help.
Dont give up. =)

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