Hi, sundance (what a lovely name!) I have suffered from job anxiety for at least 10 years. It got into a pattern where I would get to the six-month mark in a job and convince myself I'd be fired and I'd get panic attacks and anxiety that would prevent me from being able to do my job - self fullfilling prophecy, you know? I've had a couple of bad experiences working for small family businesses, working in extremely stressful jobs, and I would last between and year and 2 years in each job.

I am just fininshing EMDR therapy for my anxiety and panic, and we addressed this issue one session. Long story short (and if you're interested, I will give you the long version), I had a mental "conversation" with a long-dead pet cat whom I loved so very much. She told me in cat speak that she wished her human would take the same pride in being good at being human as she did being a cat. That she knew she was a good mouser and kept her coat clean and shiney, and wanted me to take the same pride in my abilities. When I was able to stop doubting myself, the anxiety really did *vanish*.

I'm just saying what worked for me. I too went from thinking I had to be a career woman to downgradaing my job every time I'd change, thinking I wouldn't get the same stress and anxiety, only to find that I could create it at ANY level of job skill. I really am my worst enemy.

Do you know that you are good at what you do?
Do you really believe that you are good at it?
If no one patted you on the back, could you still believe it?

...just some thoughts.
take care,
pc.