Work Anxiety

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I'm 14 years old and just got my first job. It's extremely part time - one day a week at the moment. I'm working at a small family-owned restaurant with only 4 other workers. Of course, I'm the youngest one there by about 10 years, and I have social anxiety. I'm a fast learner and a fast worker, but I'm afraid of asking questions and making a mistake. I know that's part of life, a learning experience and everything, but I but I can't stop feeling anxious.
I've always been afraid of making mistakes and being an outsider, and this job is making me have anxiety attacks. Does anybody have any suggestions on what I can do to calm down?

I got no experience here, but I want to be proactive due to an observation, and say: Do not pick up smoking as a solution. Oops 14 years old! xD
Don't let people touch you, even to hand you money/pen.
Avoid drinking the coffee at the restaurant; especially if you already had some for breakfast, caffeine is a big anxiety contributor.

Only thing I can think of is to take something you feel familiar with, and have it during your breaks. For me, that is my expensive professional headphones, my good mp3 player (Sansa Clip+; much much better than an Ipod sound-quality-wise), and my favorite tunes.

Thanks for the advice Infoseeker. I really do need to cut back on caffeine. Maybe I'll just get used to the job.

I am facing same issue at my new workplace
And it really stresses me since i have not made any close friends or associates also yet

that would depend on if OP has problems with people touching him, some people may find it rude if they notice you actively avoiding touch.


coffee is quite nasty when it comes to anxiety, try tea or eating an apple for breakfast and/or lunch... Apples actually gives you much of the energy boost you get from coffee, but without the anxiety.



About the making mistakes part, it's natural until you fall into a routine on the job and get to know the colleagues better, this can help you to figure out how they would react in a "mistake" situation, at the same time you might become less afraid of being an outsider as well, but in order to accomplish this, you may have to push the boundaries of your comfort zone, and it will be hard at first.... but in any case, don't give up

Thank you for the advice, guys. I've cut back on the caffeine, and looked up some of those 'calming' techniques. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

You will make a lot of mistakes in work life... it is more about how you deal with them than making them in the first place.

And asking questions is okay... sometimes the reactions of the others might lead you to think otherwise but that is usually their problem unless you ask the same things repeatedly. You might want to keep notes on tasks to help prevent that.