Should I go back to my old job that hurts my confidence?

For 3 summers I have worked at a retail store, and then leave when I go back to college for the year. When I work there, I always feel very unconfident because I worry that the store manager doesn't like me, and I always feel like I am under surveillance by the higher-ups (we all are, but I am extremely conscious of it). Going on the register is also scary for me because unusual circumstances might come up that I forget or never learned how to handle, and I feel so stupid when I have to ask a question. If I make a mistake, I feel so incompetent. I also struggle with social anxiety, so it is sometimes difficult for me to initiate interaction with customers, though I think I do well generally.

I decided that I wanted to get a new summer job because I don't think I'm growing at this retail store anymore, and I wanted something that would make me feel good about myself instead of on-edge. However, I'm having a tough job finding a job, and I have been on break for a month and a half now. I know that there is a 98% chance that working at the retail store is a phone call away... Do you think I should just go back, or keep looking for a different summer job?

You could go back for the income but don't stop looking for something else. You must do well enough, they hire you back each time----but nothing wrong with taking one job while looking for something else. Do you know what sort of job you would like instead?

Ditto what winter4me said - if you need the income, you could go back but keep looking for another job. Just because you are working somewhere, doesn't mean you can't keep looking for something better. If you don't need the income right now, then I'd just keep looking. Maybe find some volunteer work to do in the mean time, if you just want something to stay busy with.

"Should I go back to my old job that hurts my confidence?"

If you don't need the income....Simply, no. I think you've answered your own question in your topic title. If you do need the income, keeping looking for another place if there's time before your break ends. Life is too short.

Thanks everyone! I did end up calling and asking to go back because I really do need the money. I think I was needlessly running from my own internal problems that I would experience with any job. So I hope that I can see this as a learning and experience and figure out how to handle it better.