I have been forced to work in a charity shop. The manager and others are loud, rude and just generally horrible. I work 9 to 5 four days a week and on one other day i have to go to a group session at training centre which put me on this placement for 12 weeks. I have never worked before. I went to uni. I am not comfortable around any people and this job is completely stressing me out. I have to work on till and out back. When i get home i have to go for a run or cycle just to releive the tension in me or else it feels like i will have a heartattack (and the feeling lasts for most of the evening at home too). And the worst thing is, i am on 60mg paroxetine (which got me through uni presentations).
forced to work in charity shop/why isnt exposure working?
- Thread starter waine
- Start date
Oh gosh, sorry to hear about it...
I'd love to work in a charity shop, or have one here.. (We don't have any .. or just far away from where I live..)
It's good there are at least a few nice people there..
Maybe for the loud ones, you could say you have a problem with ears or something and if they could be a bit quieter?
paroxetine can increase heart rate (tachycardia) - google it for side effects, maybe you need to adjust/lower the dosage? (It's listed under 'overdose' at wikipedia) Talk to your doctor..
Are you still a teenager or older? Wikipedia says paroxetine hasn't been proven helpful for teenagers? (under 'controversy')
This site says it might even have 'anxiety', nervousness and irritability as side-effects?? Paroxetine Side Effects | Drugs.com
and to seek medical attention right away if you get 'fast or irregular heartbeat' (?!)
It says it can even cause hyperacusis which is sound sensitivity (I have it too) so actually you think something or someone is really too loud when in reality they aren't.. There's a helpful forum for that online, it's there that I got aware some meds can cause it too or make it worse..
Be careful with getting off it though, if you or your doc choose to do so, it seems that withdrawal symptoms can be quite bad, so research it fully.. There's advice for it online too, if you google 'withdrawing from paxil' or such..
Double check everything I wrote and ask your doc...
Please take care..
I'd love to work in a charity shop, or have one here.. (We don't have any .. or just far away from where I live..)
It's good there are at least a few nice people there..
Maybe for the loud ones, you could say you have a problem with ears or something and if they could be a bit quieter?
paroxetine can increase heart rate (tachycardia) - google it for side effects, maybe you need to adjust/lower the dosage? (It's listed under 'overdose' at wikipedia) Talk to your doctor..
Are you still a teenager or older? Wikipedia says paroxetine hasn't been proven helpful for teenagers? (under 'controversy')
This site says it might even have 'anxiety', nervousness and irritability as side-effects?? Paroxetine Side Effects | Drugs.com
and to seek medical attention right away if you get 'fast or irregular heartbeat' (?!)
It says it can even cause hyperacusis which is sound sensitivity (I have it too) so actually you think something or someone is really too loud when in reality they aren't.. There's a helpful forum for that online, it's there that I got aware some meds can cause it too or make it worse..
Be careful with getting off it though, if you or your doc choose to do so, it seems that withdrawal symptoms can be quite bad, so research it fully.. There's advice for it online too, if you google 'withdrawing from paxil' or such..
Double check everything I wrote and ask your doc...
Please take care..
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I am 22. I first noticed social anxiety when my grandad died when I was 8 years old. I remember the funeral and seeing my grandad just lying there. The next day I was back at junior school and just before assembly that morning everything just changed. I suddenly became aware of being worried about what others thought. Instead of going to the assembly I spent the entire assembly in the toilets. I didnt know what was happening to me. I came out crying. My teacher asked me what was wrong. I explained my grandad had passed away. Ever since this day I would feel tired every single day, would struggle to get out of bed, wake unrefreshed, unable to get to sleep, extremely slowed down. For the next 12 years I got through school, college and the first two years of uni. My parents had real trouble getting me to get out the house to go. I went because I have always enjoyed learning.
College was difficult. After lessons I would have to destress. And finally my parents told me to see GP. In 2007 I saw my GP. Got given citalopram. Nothing happened. I got put on paroxetine one month before my final year of uni when I was going to have to give presentations which I was dreading. Unbelievably to me, paroxetine worked and enabled me to finish uni.
I strongly denied there was anything wrong with me all those years. I am now on 60mg after 40mg stopped working for me. I have been on 60mg paroxetine since december 2008. I finished uni in May 2009. I have not been able to get a job. Only recently have I said to myself that I dont want to think these negative thoughts anymore. I have been working on my negative core beliefs. What I realise now is that for the past year the paroxetine didnt allow me to counter negative thoughts with CBT because they didnt arise until recently.
I dont know whether working in the charity shop now is bringing back my old symptoms of being stressed out or whether the medication is gradually wearing off.
I know its not side effects of paroxetine as i have been on it a while and those side effects wore off/lessened. Paroxetine took away that horrible anxiety and lump in the throat feeling.
College was difficult. After lessons I would have to destress. And finally my parents told me to see GP. In 2007 I saw my GP. Got given citalopram. Nothing happened. I got put on paroxetine one month before my final year of uni when I was going to have to give presentations which I was dreading. Unbelievably to me, paroxetine worked and enabled me to finish uni.
I strongly denied there was anything wrong with me all those years. I am now on 60mg after 40mg stopped working for me. I have been on 60mg paroxetine since december 2008. I finished uni in May 2009. I have not been able to get a job. Only recently have I said to myself that I dont want to think these negative thoughts anymore. I have been working on my negative core beliefs. What I realise now is that for the past year the paroxetine didnt allow me to counter negative thoughts with CBT because they didnt arise until recently.
I dont know whether working in the charity shop now is bringing back my old symptoms of being stressed out or whether the medication is gradually wearing off.
I know its not side effects of paroxetine as i have been on it a while and those side effects wore off/lessened. Paroxetine took away that horrible anxiety and lump in the throat feeling.
Oh, I see you posted here too 
Well, I think it's great that you're working on negative core beliefs and CBT and such!!
It can also be a combination of factors...
I already posted some things at your other post...
Not sure, but for someone with uni, do you hate the job at charity shop cause it might be sort of 'beneath you'?
Actually, I think it's a really great and environmentally-friendly way to keep things out of landfill and maintain a healthier environment for us all..
Also, it can give you some people skills and experience and refrences for better jobs.. (I know at least one other person on this forum who hated working in a charity job though too, said it was too many people..)
What kind of exposure thing are you working on, have you taken it gradually? Or did you mean the 'jump in and go with it' approach? Sometimes it can work, sometimes a more gradual approach with 'backup support' might be better..?
Also, for many people their first job was very stressful.. A friend of mine only adapted to it after one year, and it wasn't that complicated.. The first year she just worked and slept a lot.. Then she started going to the gym, she says that helped a lot..
Especially if you need to learn a whole lot of little things you've never encountered before, or if you might have any nonverbal learning difficulties or be a bit clumsy (like me), it can be stressful.. Or if you don't find it meaningful or important..
Sorry to hear people are rude, is there any way to take it playfully or just avoid situations when they might be such? Can you think of situations when things could be worse and then brainstorm ways around that to make it better? Maybe they are also intimidated with your uni credentials, some people with lower education can be, or afraid for their jobs or such..
Well, I think it's great that you're working on negative core beliefs and CBT and such!!
It can also be a combination of factors...
I already posted some things at your other post...
Not sure, but for someone with uni, do you hate the job at charity shop cause it might be sort of 'beneath you'?
Actually, I think it's a really great and environmentally-friendly way to keep things out of landfill and maintain a healthier environment for us all..
Also, it can give you some people skills and experience and refrences for better jobs.. (I know at least one other person on this forum who hated working in a charity job though too, said it was too many people..)
What kind of exposure thing are you working on, have you taken it gradually? Or did you mean the 'jump in and go with it' approach? Sometimes it can work, sometimes a more gradual approach with 'backup support' might be better..?
Also, for many people their first job was very stressful.. A friend of mine only adapted to it after one year, and it wasn't that complicated.. The first year she just worked and slept a lot.. Then she started going to the gym, she says that helped a lot..
Especially if you need to learn a whole lot of little things you've never encountered before, or if you might have any nonverbal learning difficulties or be a bit clumsy (like me
), it can be stressful.. Or if you don't find it meaningful or important.. Sorry to hear people are rude, is there any way to take it playfully or just avoid situations when they might be such? Can you think of situations when things could be worse and then brainstorm ways around that to make it better? Maybe they are also intimidated with your uni credentials, some people with lower education can be, or afraid for their jobs or such..
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THE-INTROVERT
Well-known member
i didnt go to my placement im fed up with it all my placement involves going to a community center and doing nothing so thats why i have dicided not to go i dont care anymore ::::::::
:::::::UnOccupied
Well-known member
I've learned that exposure to a fearful situation over and over again, approached in the wrong manner NEVER works for overcoming social anxiety. It only makes the feelings of anxiety more permanent, and makes you believe them more. I used to try to throw myself into parties and awkward social occasions, thikning that id i forced myself to do it, it would help. I learned that i need to start smaller, and build up my confidence in the small occasions, and proove to myself that i CAN do these things, without dying, and actually better than i once thought. And, then when i am ready, i will get myself up to go to a more anxiety provoking situation.
Good luck!
Good luck!