[depressed45]

I'm in graduate school for school counseling much less stressful than trying to teach. I'm starting to feel really good. The internship would require me to work at the school for three days and then I would have to substitute the other two days to make enough money to cover my bills.

Though I feel good I'm constantly worrying that I will not be able to do the internship. My sleep schedule might get screwed up, start to feel too down to counsel anyone or a number of other things could go wrong. Not finishing this internship would be a disaster for me.

Just really really concerned.

[Fresia]

I have fears too when I start a new job or internship. It was recommended to me once to put all the fears on paper, so on the left side of a page write all of the concerns down to get them out of my head. Then on the right side, put beside the worries what can be done to counteract them - ask, "is this a fact that it is really something I should be concerned about (?)" and if so, to put down a plan to head them off and "what can I do to prevent it?" Such as being concerned about the sleep patterns being affected, then making sure you combat the stress with diet, exercise, and bedtime routines which are all conducive for this. I put this then where I can reference it, fridge, bathroom, etc. Having a plan usually helps to fight off the concerns.

I try to think of it as an adventure: the joy of the work in the field I am interested, new people and experiences to share, experience for future work, valuable personal and professional insight, and the chance to try something I never have before. You have the schooling now and the opportunity to use it; see what fun you can have with the new people and the work you will be doing and take it one day at a time, one moment at a time. You can do it! Good luck!

[Perna]

Don't borrow problems before they show up? We can't know the future and if we have to think about it, we might as well think good things as worry? Figure out how to set up an optimum sleep schedule and get that going, experiment with likely problems and "practice" as you would for a speech or test, think up likely problems and where you'd start with counseling, make up helpful worksheets or something you and the student could do that would not take as much out of you if you are feeling bad that day. Remember, no one day is going to make/break you or another's life; we all have the weight of our whole lives, many years behind us and all that experience; one bad experience in there is just interesting, additional seasoning, like pepper :-)

[Christina86]

Was in the same spot myself! It can be tiring, but do your self care that I bet you learned and it takes a few days to get used to it, but it gets easier. I am almost finished my internship actually. Good luck!