Anxiety Disorders Support Group

I work in a park as a naturalist. That means I'm responsible for giving programs to visitors. I do nature hikes, evening programs, pontoon boat tours of our lake, etc. It's a job I should love, but, even with medication, I'm so anxious sometimes that I hope nobody shows up for a program, or that it rains so I have to cancel it so I know I won't make an idiot out of myself.

I'm giving a new program tomorrow on nature photography. I'm sure the equipment will work fine, but I've never used our enclosed shelter for a program before, and there aren't many electrical outlets. The benches and tables are also way too heavy for me to lift and move on my own (I am only 5' 2"!). I hate that I'm going to have to pester the maintenance crew to help my get tables set up, and I have no idea of where to set them up so that the audience can see the myself and the screen, and all of the cords will be able to reach the equipment. I have spent literally all day worrying about this.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with this kind of anxiety?

I would get there early so you can get it figured out.

Oh boy I worked in a small place and we had to move furniture all day just to make room for the next activity.

That sucks!

It sounds like you have a labor intensive job and one where you are on demand to perform.

This is a tough spot to be in for someone who has anxiety issues.

I wonder if you could find volunteers to help you?

Many people are good at this type thing.

They would also feel as if they were providing a service by doing it.

Any chance you could recruit some volunteers from the community?

So long as you oversee that the project is done it is all that is necessary I would think.

You could interview the people to find out what their skills are and ask them to help out with the things they do best!!!!

Recruit recruit would be my advice.

Initiate a parks volunteer program and utilize people that are willing to help.

Post edited by: damselndistress, at: 05/11/2012 02:13 PM

Fortunately, the program is tomorrow afternoon, and I come to work at 7am. The maintenance crew has already agreed to help me set up benches and tables, but I'm still afraid something might come up and they'll be too busy to help. We're short-staffed, and we have to go through gobs of paperwork to go through if people want to volunteer. It's just one of those times when my brain likes to imagine anything that could possibly go wrong, from equipment malfunctions to nobody showing up.

Hi Emily,

You have a tendency to preempt all the things that you fear might come, will come and you'd pay the price. In short you are living tomorrow, today. I believe from what I have read and my own personal experience, that you might have a slight touch of anticipatory anxiety. To understand further and get further invaluable insights would be to discuss with the doc. The quick fix would be to get a bottle of medicine but I would advise extreme caution as such medicines are all prone to tolerance and very addictive.I speak from the viewpoint of one who has traveled down that road and believe me it is a very painful experience.