Well if it were me I am sure I would back out cuz of my anxiety. BUT that would be my anxiety ruling my life. I would say stick to it. It may help with your other issues as you will be focused on something else. And it should be one on one work right? One on one I don't think will be as bad as you fear. They are there looking for help from you, they aren't there to judge you or anything like that. You actually have the upper hand, they are coming to you. I think that if you get into it and it seems to be too much and it causes problems that is when you talk to your professor and back out. I think you should give yourself a shot though.

BUT I guess I have to put this out there too. I was in my first semester of my junior yr of college when I was diagnosed with GAD and OCD. I was having a really bad food poisoning obsession and it got to the point where I would barely eat and throw away my food. It got so bad that one morning I went to eat and I gagged just from putting food in my mouth, I got so freaked out. But I also like feeling hungry too. I lost 15 lbs with that obsession. thankfully I got better over winter break with the obsession although the liking feeling hungry stuck by and occasionally I wouldn't trust my food. But I was better. Also helped I met my ex who at the time helped me get through school so much. BUT, I was going to be a peer advisor. it was going to look great on my resume. Stupidly, I felt way to comfortable talking to one of my professors and opened up about my ocd and anxiety and my struggles I was going through. She ended up telling me later on she thought that it would be too much to put on me at the time. I was very mad about that especially cuz I got some what better over winter break and totally was ok to do it in the spring.

Now in saying that, I would not talk to your professor until you feel you cant handle otherwise he may take the opportunity away from you.

Now, when do you push yourself? Push yourself in situations where you know you will grow from the experience. In doing so you will have fought back. When you back down your anxiety wins. BUT in some cases you have to back down if the anxiety gets to be too overwhelming and the situation is hurting you more than helping!

Hope at least some of what I wrote helps. Btw, I am 24, graduated college 2 yrs ago so went through that not that long ago.

Like you, I like to be in control and anxiety presents a challenge at times..Well, because STILL - I like to be in control - I have a habit of facing things head on. Even if I am nervous each time, I still do it. I take breath and jump in with both feet. One thing about tutoring is that you know more than they do about THAT subject. And that fact is a source of confidence; and the more confident you feel to handle the situation, the less the anxiety.

You don't have to feel like a failure for backing out; it's good to know when to "fold 'em, walk away or run" (paraphrasing Kenny Rogers).

You know that life does not "pause" other moments or events until one or each of us gets it together...so yes, most times we have to juggle more than one ball...but we are jugglers and that's what we do..

You can do this!! You can at least try. If it work, great. If not, that's okay--you will be wiser regarding what to work on or what to avoid or how to handle it differently next time. Dust yourself off and get back in the game.

Your tutees (people to be tutored - lol) were courageous enough and humble enough to say "I need help with this thing (this subject) that other seem to handle alone". Well we know that script. So you are in a good place to help them and you at the same time.

Hope it all works out well. Good luck!! and remember--You can do this!!

I'm 24, and just finally graduated from community college after 5 years due to a medical leave also. I thought I would never graduate but I did and I pushed myself through all the bull crap.

Before, I always dreaded about things, I over-think them, then not doing it, then regretting later on which led me into a deeper depression. When I went to Cedar Point with my boyfriend, my boyfriend wanted to go on the dragster which looks so intimidating. It took me 2 whole days to get on there. I said screw it and it felt AWESOME! After that and a few more times in other situations where I felt anxious, I pushed myself outside my little bubble, and I realized that "hey I'm still alive. I'm okay."

Dealing anxiety and depression without any med and pushing myself into situations I wouldn't dare to be in that way before, I felt stronger and stronger every day. It's okay, just go ahead and do it. Don't let anxiety get the best of you, you are a strong person. Do it, and you'll know you made the best decision. If you don't like it, then it's okay just know that you did it and tried!! Good luck!!

I'm sorry I'm just now writing this reply (I read them all a few weeks ago), but I just want to say thank you so much for all of your input and encouragement. After reading your replies and considering the pros and cons, I decided to go ahead and try out the tutoring. I made it through the 2 4 hour training sessions, and will begin tutoring this weekend. I'm so nervous, but at the same time, excited that I'm finally taking steps, however small, to challenge my anxiety.

I hope you all get to read this because I want you to know how thankful I am for your replies and support. They mean the world. Best of luck to you all; we can do this!