Write it out. Write out what you are learning, what you have learned and mark off what you know you are doing better.

Focus on the task at hand.

Take time to praise your work, and when these thoughts come, add praise and distract by focus in the moment.

Hello JTiff. Welcome to DS.

I'll put "Hard" as an understatement on the challenge of managing a brain that has the manners of a rabid squirrel. Who's the boss here, anyway? ? ? Sigh. . . Yes master? ? ? Anxiety can scramble my digits so hard that I sometimes wonder what planet I'm on.

Having safe places to focus and vent the conflict helps me allot with that horrendous challenge. This very forum is one of the safe places I've found to do just that. I hope you'll feel save venting and sorting here, too.

Welcome aboard. Listening. . .

It was very anxiety provoking when I started back to work in an office setting. Maybe deep breathing might help. Deep breath in to a number you feel comfortable with, say 5, and slowly breath out. This may of been suggested already. They say it takes a while to get the feel of a new job. Does someone know you well enough, to help you understand this better?

Good morning,
I deal with this very issue almost every day. It got to the point where I was fighting with my support system every day saying that no matter what I did it wasn't good enough and trying to push myself to give more or do more... I felt like everyone was talking about me because I would be finished with my work and have nothing to do. I was worried about what the other people in my office thought or saw and would clean the entire office, or do anything extra for the other people.

I was finally fed up with putting in extra effort when that effort became meaningless. It didn't promote friendship or more of a relationship with the people around me. I finally had to ask myself (and my support system kept asking) 'Am I capable of my job?' 'Do I feel like I am doing enough?'

The answers for me were yes, I am capable at my job. I complete my job every day. That (most days) is enough for me.

On the other days, I have to remember that I cannot control what other people do/say. They will have their opinion, and that is okay. I am still working out the details on bad days, but it seems to help thinking of the circumstances of work just being a headache that gets to end at the end of your shift. It might be there tomorrow, but its done for today.

JTiffsmi, I feel your pain. I started a job in a different department over a year ago and honestly, with very little job training, it has taken the whole time I've been here to finally begin to feel like I have a real handle on things.

I've had those same doubtful thoughts too. Am I doing what I'm supposed to be doing, are my coworkers being nice to my face but secretly talking about how I'm not very good behind my back, should I be doing more, etc.

What I've found helpful is to get some feedback from the boss every now and then to make sure I'm on track and meeting expectations. I just have to be careful not to do so too often, because then I find myself slipping into "needing validation" territory, which is just an anxiety-feeder in my book.

As for coworkers, they don't sign my paycheck, so as much as I'd like to play nice and get along, my boss writes my performance evaluation at the end of the day. So what they think about me doesn't really matter, although I know it tends to weigh heavily on the anxious mind.

I agree with what Angelscry said - at the end of the day you have to look at it objectively just like the boss should be doing - are you showing up to work on time, are you doing the job you've been hired to do, and are you following policies and procedures, etc. These are all the objective ways that you would be evaluated on, and thus are what's important here - not what your coworkers think about you, as troubling as it may be.

Congratulations on the new job! Sometimes it can be scary starting new positions and/or learning new personalities and people. However, remain confident and continue asking for feedback to improve where needed. You got the job because you are awesome and have the skills sets to be great. Stay focused and confident so you will help build good relationships and trust. Also, talk to trusted people about how you feel to help process your emotions because sometimes when things are new we overthink or let our emotions get the best of us. By talking to trusted individuals they can help us see things from a positive and neutral view. I hope you are successful in your role.

I knew when I started this support group that I needed it. I didn't know until I read the replies how much I needed it. Thank you so much for your kind words. It really does help so much. To know Im not the only one going through these things. Work has its good day and its bad days, but they're more good days than bad and the bad days are pretty much stuff I make up in my head. Thank you all so much