Is it normal to be hit by crippling anxiety when starting a new job

[itsmehere1]

I have 10 years of experience. This is my third job.. It's a new position, which means there are hopes and expectations about my capability to deliver.

I just finished my first week at work, and I'm feeling extremely inadequate and perhaps even starting to crumble under that expectations.

Instead of feeling excited, I'm feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, and I spent my Saturday in bed and having no appetite because I was so stressed out. This was made worse by my hiring managers' announcement that they're hoping to call people back to work soon and there’s considerable attention towards delivery of performance.

Is it normal to feel experience such levels of stress and anxiety?

Part of me feels like I should be running away to another job (previous) that I am much more comfortable with. My rational mind says to distract myself when I get these feelings and just focus one day at a time.

I'm posting in solidarity. Start a new job in a week. In same place. Never considered myself an anxious person but feel totally stressed about the expectations on me. I think its normal 🤣 .. I hope its normal. And whether it works out or not osnt a reflection on my worth as a person. I'm trying to keep breathing...

Solidarity too!

I started a new job in November and still feel very anxious. It's a big step up and I feel very uncomfortable. Like you I keep dreaming of my old job which I loved and felt absolutely at home in. Sadly due to lack of progression I've moved somewhere new. Because it's a new role requiring lots of learning the anxiety hadn't really eased yet.
I just keep telling myself that 'this too will pass' which I 110% believe.
Good luck!

I know exactly how you feel. I’ve just started a new job in something new and I feel completely overwhelmed and not sure the job is the right fit. I am just longing to go back to my old job which is no longer a possibility. I keep telling myself feeling anxious in a new job is normal and you need to give it time to settle in, however I know this is easier said than done.

I'm the same! started at the start of this and feel anxious that I'm not up to it, which I am and the team are so supportive, nothing has been said to my detriment so I don't know why I feel like this 😫

I think this is totally normal - I have 40 years experience and have changed jobs many times and always feel like this for the first week or two in a new post . I think it is connected to having to get to grips with new systems or workplace culture, new people and not wanting to put your foot in it.
I'm sure you look like a swan above water whilst madly paddling. Give it time, in a few weeks it will hopefully settle.

I think it's normal to feel at sea - and it's fine to not know what you're doing 95% of the time on 1st day+. If they sack you for all the mistakes you made when you didn't know what you were doing because no one trained you and expected too much -- that's their bad.

Im starting a new job on Monday after 20 years with the same employer, its something completely different and after months of feeling excited today Im having a massive dose of self doubts!

Thank you all so much for your replies. Reading them has made me feel much better as I know I am not alone.
I'm sure things will get improve in time whether I stay or leave. Just need to keep my chin up and get on with it for now.

@itsmehere1 have you experienced this level anxiety in any other situations before? I've had awful anxiety when changing jobs.. can't eat, can't sleep, very tearful! The first time I assumed it meant I had made a mistake and I actually went back to my old job after two weeks in the new one!! It happened again the next two times i changed jobs and I managed to push through. The most recent one was really hard but in the end it was such a positive move for me.

I was always worried my feelings meant i'd made a mistake, or was in over my head. But looking back I've realised it's just the huge change of environment, people and responsibility makes me very anxious - it absolutely doesn't always mean I've made a mistake! So I'd say push through, you can only really assess your feelings about the new jobs after a few months really. So take the pressure off and take one day at a time, once your adrenaline levels fall you'll see things more clearly!

I've had a similar experience. I do think starting a new job in the midst of a pandemic is going to be much more stressful so it may take a while longer to settle in. personally as I was hired through video interview and didn't really get a good idea of the work environment this meant I felt less prepared and knowledgable about the role which added to the anxiety. There are a lot of unhappy work places at the moment with poor management so for my next job I'm going to research the company a bit more before joining.

Totally normal.

I'm 4 years into my situation and still learning on a daily basis.

Go easy on yourself. It will take time to fit in. You're new, you're learning and if they expect the impossible that's on them.

They don't call it "getting out of your comfort zone" for nothing.

You're bound to feel a degree of self-doubt when everyone around you seems to know exactly what they're doing and you don't.

Soon you'll look back and realise that you were worrying for justifiable reasons but that's part of changing jobs and learning new things. Provided you have good supportive management and colleagues you'll be fine. Ask loads of "naive questions" you're allowed to, you're new!

Oh god! I’ve a migraine with the fear! For the love of god, I have 25+ years experience…😭

OK so we need a Plan…

Exercise
Eat (proper food at relevant times)
Good sleep pattern and wind down routine
Brain food - reading around the job/industry, sign up for blogs and newsletters to keep up to date
Tee up a cheerleader for when you get the wobbles

Get a decent haircut, nails done, nice bit comfy shoes, and smart clothes

What else?

Yes, completely normal and happens to me every time. Really good tip that works for me is put a date in your calendar to review ( ideally about 6 weeks). If you’re still so anxious then you can make other plans but having a timeframe seems to trick my mind into believing it will end - and then it does, because you get used to it 😂