Social Anxiety and Isolation
I am a ICU RN. I always had some anxiety and I try to keep up with healthy coping mechanisms although I've developed bad habits. It's ironic it's not the critical care or patients that gets my anxiety going. It's my coworkers. I hate having these thoughts that my coworkers think I'm an imposter or strange. Or I have to wonder have I offended anyone or why aren't they talking to me. I just turned 30 and I still worry about what other people think of me. I feel like a joke. Thanks for letting me vent.
hey @amusingSea453
I'm just a teen so I can't possibly know what you're going through, but I'm sure you know school is also horrible.
You constantly feel like people are talking or thinking about you. It's impossible to not feel like someone's watching you. You think every tiny thing you do is being judged and analyzed.
Even right now, on this website, I'm constantly worried. I think you might not be experiencing the same thing and judging me for this post.
However if you are, take it from someone who tries to follow this advice, they aren't trying to expose you for something. They don't think you're out of place. In fact, the more you isolate yourself, the more you will think that. I know it's hard (still extremely nerve wracking for me), but you should try to reach out. I'm not demanding you to do this, but it might make the load a bit lighter.
If you have trouble doing this, just try to focus on the real reason you're there: to help others. It doesn't really matter what your co-workers think of you. Your sole purpose is to help people, and if you are, then you are succeeding.
Have a good day!