How can I change to be more serious?

[Anonymous]

I have been on my first professional job after undergrad. It’s my first experience in full time and doing the work I do. I’m a substance abuse counselor. The problem is I have always been goofy light hearted and not stern enough. I don’t set firmness in my tone of my personality. I had severe anxiety about doing this job and now I feel I have ruined the group atmosphere by being too light and flowy. We talk about serious thing we have serious problems going on. I feel embarrassed and sad that I ever did this. What if i ruined someone’s life? Someone’s experience? Someone’s sobriety? I’m not doing enough. I struggle with this same thing outside of work so it’s difficult. I’m trying to see this as a growing moment and experience but I’m sad and feel I may have ruined the groups therapeutic atmosphere. I suck. My personality sucks. I just feel so stupid

[teamvic]

This sounds like it's all a mental thing

You're too busy worrying about stuff and putting yourself down and convincing yourself you're not good enough for this stuff when you are. You're just not allowing yourself to be. Just man yo ass up ma'am and convince that little negative version of you in your head that's telling you that you're not good enough that you are fine

It's all a mindset remember. Soon as you convince yourself. Soon as you understand you're qualified

You're just worrying too much

[Danny_dan92]

Not sure what you do for work. But it’s really simple. It comes down to having the mindset of that when you are there. It’s business. At home you can be goofy and silly all you want.




Time and place. Knowing when it’s appropriate to behave a certain way and what to say will take you places

[DishLady]

Sounds like this just isn’t the right job for you.