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Post Info TOPIC: Night stocker with an anxiety disorder?
Anonymous

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Night stocker with an anxiety disorder?
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So, I quit my last job. I worked in a factory, great pay and the work was fine. The working conditions became unsafe so a lot of people left, now I'm looking for a job that will hopefully not give me Silicosis or Cancer.

I was a great factory worker because people left me alone and the job was mundane. Not many entry level jobs out there are like that. There are a lot of things I can't do and I've made peace with that, but knowing these limitations, I also know my job options are limited. I feel my best option would be to work a night shift or at least in the back, away from customers.

I am in my mid-20s, female, can lift 40lbs or so(I guess I can start working out?) and I'm a fast worker(or so I've been told in factory) and I'm a nightowl. I'm extremely soft spoken but am always polite and have no problems taking orders. My weak skills are in ANY form of leadership and working with the public. I take medication but it doesn't completely remove the panic, no ****tail of drugs will do that. I never tell employers this, I just hide the panic attacks the best I can and do my job. I'm afraid to have a bad panic attack at work and throw up or black out. I'm pretty sure that would get me fired anywhere. This has fortunately never happened yet, but it still worries me.

When I'm focused on one task in front of me it gives me a sense of peace and I'm able to complete it quickly but I get frazzled if I do too many things at once.

I would need a minimum of 12 hrs a week to pay my bills, bare bones.

Be honest. Will this job eat me alive?



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My question is how can you live on 12 hours a week at miniMum wage?

But really depends on the store. You may not have to interact at all or you may have to a lot.

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I really hope you start seeing a therapist for this, assuming you're not already. Most towns have community mental health centers that work with you on sliding scale fees, and this kind of help can literally save lives. Suffering from chronic anxiety is no way to live, and you deserve peace.

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Anonymous

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If you're stocking overnight then you won't have a problem.  

Most stocking is pretty solitary but you would have trouble with mystery shops if you stocked during the day.

I am diagnosed with social anxiety and I work front end as a way to build tolerance.  It's been some success but not 100%. The needless stress of people not doing their job, too worried about other people, or needing to be baby sat constantly, is killing my spirit.



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Anonymous

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I can live on 12 hrs a week because my fiance also works, I just help pay what I can and I pay for my own personal bills as well. We don't live a luxurious life but we manage.

Can't afford therapy, tried. Applied for the state to get free or even discounted therapy. Nope, nope. It's cheaper and easier for a doctor to sell you pills. Therapy costs thousands of dollars I don't have so I deal with it and live as best as I can. Stress management is key to living my life but the panic never goes away.

So, what are my chances? I'm not completely helpless. I may be feeling white hot panic but I can still do mundane tasks. This site seems to know what really goes on at Kroger so I figured I'd ask here, hopefully generate a response with someone also working with an anxiety disorder, or just anyone working as a night stocker.



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As night crew your main problem would be if you had to do overtime (as if often the case) or are working past when the store opens. Then you'd have to deal with morning customers maybe asking you questions. But you wouldn't have to deal with shops and really, nobody expects night crew to be all customer-service-y. It's one of the few positions that is truly task-oriented instead of people-oriented. Most people who work nights are either burnt out on customer service, socially awkward or the like - you'd probably fit in well, and if you've been doing factory work you'll probably find it fairly easy. You can probably keep earbuds (or just one earbud, depending) on and listen to music while you stock.

Depending on your location your contract would (probably) guarantee you at least the 12 hours a week you're looking for, and probably a fair bit more than that.

You should give it a shot at least, if you find yourself too far out of your comfort zone you can just quit, no big deal. Not like they can force you to stay on.



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Anonymous

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Thanks so much! This eased my worries, I think I'll give it a shot. Music would be a lifesaver! I've found I work faster and concentrate harder when I listen to music, oh I hope I can wear an earbud. I'd love more hours and overtime, but considering I've been reading about some employees in retail getting 4 hrs a week, I thought I'd write down my bare minimum. 



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What they said.


Besides, apart from being expected to be able to stock quickly, everything else is laid back. Our night crew people wear jeans (compared to the black slacks that morning people have to wear). You can also listen to music, just make sure you can hear your co-workers.


Also a lot less hassle from customers or other people/employees needing "assistance".

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Anonymous

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I'm assuming that by the lack of sunlight/social life complaints I've been reading that people generally don't ask to be put on night shift? The two closest Kroger stores to me have a lot of teenagers throughout the whole year and the stores always seem to have enough people, but I have no idea what the night shift is like because those two locations are not opened 24 hrs. I hope they're not too full for one more worker. cry

I'm asking for an application today and crossing my fingers.



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I think you will fit in quite well.  Most people don't like working graveyard but I have for the last 20+ years.  I too used to work in a factory and enjoy my job at kroger.  We have a lot of people come and go because they can't handle the work.  The bad part is it doesn't pay well.  And, when more people are hired, hours get cut.  Just have to wait until someone quits.
 
Good luck with application. 
Go in store and fill it out in the kiosk if they have one or fill out app online at kroger.com.  Then call both stores after about a week to see if they are interested in hiring you.
Anonymous wrote:

I'm assuming that by the lack of sunlight/social life complaints I've been reading that people generally don't ask to be put on night shift? The two closest Kroger stores to me have a lot of teenagers throughout the whole year and the stores always seem to have enough people, but I have no idea what the night shift is like because those two locations are not opened 24 hrs. I hope they're not too full for one more worker. cry

I'm asking for an application today and crossing my fingers.


 



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 My daughter has social anxiety disorder.  She worked at Target stocking overnight and loved it!  Have you checked out any online forums for support?  My daughter slowly got off her Lexapro with help from an online support group and feels so much better just taking her Clonazapam.  That Lexapro is some bad stuff.  Don't know what you take, just sharing what helped her.  She was basically homeschooled since 8th grade and was agoraphobic.  She's come a long way in 13 years.



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frillybob wrote:

My question is how can you live on 12 hours a week at miniMum wage?


 You really can't.

I made 13 hours last week and picked up a whopping $80 after union and taxes.

$80 a week. Wow. That's not even enough to afford rent in a cheap apartment.



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I know someone who has anxiety problems, works on the night crew and has done so for 10 years. She's had a couple problems but nothing major (she hasn't gotten in trouble because of it.

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FrontEndSlave wrote:
frillybob wrote:

My question is how can you live on 12 hours a week at miniMum wage?


 You really can't.

I made 13 hours last week and picked up a whopping $80 after union and taxes.

$80 a week. Wow. That's not even enough to afford rent in a cheap apartment.


 You can't afford rent here working 48 hours a week at slightly above the second highest minimum wage in the country :P



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I have anxiety probems, too. I take medicine as needed for it (klonopin). I have up and down days, but it is manageable, even working the day shift with a million zillion customers everywhere. No complaints about my work.

For social anxiety, night stocking is a lot better than a position with rapid-fire customer interaction such as front-end & service counters. OP should be able to handle it.

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Anonymous

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Be prepared for a lot more than 12 hours. Usually night crew gets most of the overtime that's given in the store actually. And if it's a busy store during the holidays you're looking at 50 hours a week, depending on whether people quit or not.


The job's nice if you have social anxiety and if you're a night owl it should be a good job.

 

I can't imagine them not allowing you to listen to music, it's as essential as a boxcutter while working nights. I'd rather have earphones and no boxcutter, than a boxcutter and no music.



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