Social Anxiety Forums

misst · Posted: Fri April 18, 2008 Post subject: fear of making a mistake

Hi
I am new here and I aplogise in advance if I am rambling but I am at the end of my teether. For clarity I want to say I am over 40, happily married and have great kids. People say I am really confident (an actress of exceptonal skill) and have great social skills. Now here is the problem Does anyone here suffer from severe terror of making a mistake especially at work. I have left one job because of this and have a job now that I really like but I have already feel the need to leave. What happens is I am shown how to do something and then I am too uncomfortable to ask for help and then if I make a mistake I panic. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I go cold. I know this sounds ridiculous but after too many mistakes I feel like I am being laughed at and the centre of attention which is not where I want to be. I dont know if this is too do with being bullied badly when I was a child but it is causing me big problems. I feel so alone and so pathetic.
Thanks for listening

ps I am also nervous about pressingpost in case I have dont something wrong and people will laugh at me.

Bobby · Calm Regular Reputation: 0 Joined: 17 Feb 2007 Posts: 57

Hi misst. I think that many people have a fear of making mistakes. If you don't mind me asking, what type of job do you do?

misst · Posted: Tue April 22, 2008 Post subject:

Hi

I work in the police/court system and yes I agree that all people fear making errors but my fear is irrational. I feel all the panic symptoms and then because I work part time I worry constantly about the reaction I will get when I return to work. The I just wnat to leave the job because I am sure eveyone is laughing at me where in reality no one had given it a secodn thought, It is ridiculous and I tell myself that but it makes no difference. It is hard to explain and I was interested to know if anyone else experiences this type of thing and has any insight.

thanks
MissT