Feeling very teary and overwhelmed at work

[ForTealBee]

I am in my mid twenties, a trainee solicitor at a large regional firm and currently studying for the SQE exams. For those of you who’s aren’t familiar, these exams are hard.
I constantly feel overwhelmed. I’m waking in the night and having nightmares about failing my exams. I can’t concentrate at work, I feel tired and teary and like I’m constantly getting things wrong. I just feel totally overwhelmed.
but at the same time, I don’t see how I can be. I don’t have kids, a house to maintain or anything like that. I just feel so lost. What do I do?? I can’t go off sick, the team is too busy.

Are you on the right career path? Nobody should be feeling so unhappy on a daily basis. Will it get easier once the exams are out of the way?

I do think it’s mainly my exams. They’re really hard, and expensive. So there’s a lot of pressure to pass.

This might sound really silly but when I was having a really bad time doing a training course last year - not nearly on your level -though the trainer/lecturer was quite something else as a person (The word I'm trying not to use is bully) and even though I could barely afford it, financially speaking, I used to get a facial once a week.

I used to go in with my face all scrunched up, scowling and my shoulders in knots and come out an hour later much more relaxed and able to sleep.

It's less potentially "can of worms opening" than therapy when you are in the thick of it and it really helped me.

Just somebody being nice to me for an hour after being harrangued all day and all week really made a difference. I couldn't have got through it without them.

A facial or a massage sounds divine right now

I can certainly relate to what you write. For a few years I was in a senior management job role and studying for an MBA part-time. What helped me most was negotiating study leave. It was just a half-day a fortnight but it kept me feeling I was on top of things. Any chance of you getting this?

Your tutors will tell you that it’s the most conscientious students who worry the most but that they invariably do well. It’s just getting your anxiety to a level that’s more manageable that’s important.

Who could you talk to? Someone at work or a tutor? You need reassurance from their knowledge and experience. And as the other poster said, treat yourself to a massage or facial.

Ah, OP, I feel for you. Just over 20 years ago I was working full time (not as a lawyer) whilst doing my GDL distance learning. I was stressed, tired and tearful.

It is hard. I didn't do the SQE but a very clever former colleague told me it's the hardest exam she's ever done.

Firstly, don't even think that because you don't have kids or a house, you can't be stressed, that's not true. You will be under a lot of pressure at the moment. My training contract had its moments and I wasn't studying at the same time.

Secondly, try and get a break every now and then. Sunshine and fresh air are important.

Thirdly, is there anyone at work you can chat to. Any nice associates in your department? (Although they may not have done the SQE.)

If it's any consolation, the ridiculously hard way I worked in those early years of my career made me pretty robust and resilient in the long run. That's probably small comfort when you're trying to work out how to get through each day now.

Good luck.