Let's get straight to the point... Anxiety sucks.
It controls your life.
Sometimes you have to make the decision to kick it to the side and live your life how you want, not how your anxiety wants you to.
It's been almost one year since I started working in retail, and thankfully, I've learned how to kick my anxiety to the side.
When you work in a retail environment, being a people person is mandatory. Even if you feel small, scared and nervous, you have to pretend to be outgoing, helpful, and positive. Anxiety tries it's best to prevent people from pretending.
There are many mornings when I wake up and think I will never be able to interact with another human ever again. There are mornings when I cry before I go to work because I'm nervous someone will yell at me or be unhappy with my customer service. There are mornings when I choose to not participate in life because I am too drained from the day of human interaction before.
Almost one year into working retail, and I finally have a semi-cure for social anxiety on the job!
Every day before I go to work, I put on my mask and I become a different version of myself. I am no longer the shy, awkward, and socially anxious girl I tend to be. I am now a completely new person. Pretending to be a different person allows me to create a personality that is not my own. The second I walk into the store, I transform into a talkative, professional, and confident person. I am prepared to help out customers, deal with angry customers, and complete tasks with co-workers, all while hiding my anxiety.
The retail version of me has no insecurities. She is ready to deal with all curve-balls thrown her way AND to feel comfortable while doing it. I do not let my customers, co-workers, or boss see me panicking on the inside. I may feel the anxiety hundreds of times during the day, but at work, it no longer exists in an outward way. I push it down until I have the chance to blow off steam alone.
Anxiety sucks. I could say it a million times over again.
However, I refuse to let it control my life anymore.
If you don't work in retail, apply the mask solution to all areas of life. Every time you enter a situation where you feel anxious, put on your mask. Start pretending you're a different, less anxious and more confident, version on yourself, and eventually it will become a habit to kick your anxiety away. Don't let it consume you. Don't let it prevent you from living the life you want to live.
Good luck and happy days to all my fellow anxious retail workers! We will make it through this, one day, and one mask, at a time.
