[PrincessPea1]

Hello,

So I think I have social anxiety and it's really affecting everything.

For one, I work as a customer service manager in a busy smash repairs shop so I'm on the front desk and meant to be friendly and bubbly (obviously).
While I am friendly and helpful and I think I'm good at my job, if the slightest thing happens (someone gets a bit irate with me on the phone, someone is listening to me on the phone/watching me, someone pays me a compliment, someone chats to me on a personal level) I get overcome with embarassment and nervousness. Physically, my body goes all hot, my face goes BRIGHT red and I shake/tremble and mentally, it's like I have a personality change and I go all weird, say weird things etc. I often end up walking away because my face is burning. People often comment on it too.

Recently however, I've started dating a (lovely) boy who works in the shop next door to us. All the people that work with him are boys and I know they have jokes with him about us and tease him in a blokey kind of way. But of course, anytime I walk past or have to physically go in the shop, I start trembling and I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack. I avoid going in there even when I get asked by my boss, and I just text my boyfriend to help me. Obviously this is really unprofessional and I'm not always going to be able to do it.

What can I do? This is ruining my life.

[possum220]

Hello Princess,

Please see your doctor about this hyper sensitivity. There could be a physical reason for it. Once ruling out anything physical maybe they can point you in the direction of a therapist. Panic attacks are horrid. You may need a little extra help to deal with what is happening for you.

[Thunder Bow]

This may not be the right job for you. It is possible you may be dealing with a form of harassment. No wonder you feel panic.

[avlady]

yes i think you may be in the wrong type of work for you even though you are good at it. you will have to somehow get over it to be better at it too if you need to. a doc and t could help you could have general anxiety disorder or like it. i hope you feel better and can come over this hurdle without losing your job and new friend.