DD starting her first job today - her anxiety is through the roof

[MummyInTheNecropolis]

I’ve posted a lot about 16 year old DD in the past. She suffers extreme anxiety, depression and has a history of self harm and suicide attempts. She has made huge improvements in the past year, and there has been no self harm of any kind for 9 months now which is amazing. She’s started going out more (she never used to leave the house alone), is engaging in home tuition and has even got herself a job.

Today is her first day at work, she starts this afternoon. She did so well to get through the interview and the induction process and her new employer seems really happy with her. However, now it’s time to start she is so anxious and upset. The place she is working is likely to be frequented by people she knows, people her age who are likely to laugh at and/or make fun of her. She is absolutely adamant that she still wants to go but can’t stop shaking and crying and I’m struggling to help her through it.

I wondered if anyone had any words of advice, or any ideas of how I can help and reassure her?

Well she is earning money - and presumably they are not. More fool then if the do laugh at her.
She’s also catastrophsing. Maybe Google some ways to deal with catastrophising.
She just needs to do the first shift - most of that will be learning.
Maybe also take her for a walk - that will help with the anxiety.

I remember my first job and I felt the same. It was a saturday job in a library- I went and absolutely was overwhelmed, made a mistake on the tills and told my mum I wasn’t going again. I did in fact go and worked there for 3 years on Saturdays, loved it and it was great for my confidence,

So be aware if she goes to warn her she may not like the first day as it can be a lot to learn, but if she perseveres and goes in a couple of more times she may really like it- everything gets easier.
Good luck to her, and also well done she has shown some get up and go to even get the job in the first place.

Thank you both of you, she calmed down after a while, had a long soak in the bath and then off she went. I’m on tenterhooks now waiting to hear how it goes!

Hope it goes well

I hope it goes well! My daughter suffers with anxiety and as she's changed from school to college this year , and also got a Saturday job , she was the same . She still worries if she makes a mistake, even though the shop isn't remotely concerned, but the first day she went she came home full of it , and now she loves going .