I believe when we are in the helping profession it’s important to be mindful of whether what we are doing is our own agenda. Of course, we know more often than not what’s good for our clients but we need to be mindful of our agenda. I’m not sure how old your students are because this depends on their age. When frustrations such as this arise (especially if they arise frequently), it’s looking at your own self-care plan to manage these frustrations. Because it’s important to meet each client where they are.

Alice,

I too was in a similar situation, suffered from depression and anxiety for a long time. I worked in a career as a social worker and burned myself out. I tried a bunch of career hats on but still felt unfulfilled. But now I have found my calling.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to get you started:

What’s an impossible future you would like to create?

If you woke up tomorrow and nothing was a barrier what would be the first thing you would do?

If you could spend your life doing something without getting paid for it what would it be?

What kind of game plan can I create to leave this job that makes me miserable?

In regards to a community:

Who are the people that I need in my life right now? What are their characteristics?

Where can I find them?

What hobbies and interests do I have that I could share with others whom I don’t know? There are travel groups, arts and crafts groups, etc.

Confidence

The increase of confidence proceeds after an action. Confidence doesn’t come before. It’s something you practice by doing something over time. What are some things I can do to begin building my confidence? What can I start small then build over time?

Anxiety

What are the things that I do to manage my anxiety?

When does my anxiety show itself?

When does it not show itself and how can I create more of those moments to lessen my anxiety?

Journaling is a great activity for anxiety and coloring.

What you’re feeling is quite normal. We all go through it at some point. We wonder about our lives, does it have meaning and as we grow and develop we look around our lives and wonder about the people in it. Do they match up with our values, interests, etc.

It’s okay to feel stuck. I actually wrote an article about this. The gifts of being stuck. It’s a signal. You’ll be surprised the number of people that feel stuck but don’t analyze it the way you just did. That’s incredible. It just means something needs to change, and it’s time you to focus on what needs to change. Because it’ll continue in this loop, and time will have fast forward, and regret is a terrible feeling.

I commend you for reaching out. It takes vulnerability and courage. A job coach is a great idea, however, you’ll also want to consider someone who can explore your limiting beliefs. It’s exploring where this scarcity mindset comes from and evaluating your self-worth. Because it sounds like you have tremendous talents and gifts (to share with this world) not everyone can has, there’s no need to sell yourself, all you have to do is be you. I hope this has been helpful to you.