Paranoia is eating my life

[hubris]

Hey everyone,

I posted here a while back about my paranoia about prospective employers being able to find things out about my online. Like posting on this forum, for example.

The paranoia about not being able to find another job because of that is really getting to me now. It makes me feel trapped in my current job and extremely stressed. And I can't imagine how I'm ever going to go into an interview feeling confident if I already think all is lost because there's some information out there about me that will make sure that I don't get the job no matter how well I do in the interview.

I have no idea how I'm ever going to make this go away. I've spoken to a career advisor about it today, and he said that there was nothing to worry about in a reassuring way, but I really can't make myself believe that.

I feel totally hopeless now.

Thanks for reading,

[briansmall]

I remember the posts that you mentioned. I really think you will be fine as long as you use an email that does not have your name involved and you don't list all of your personal info (exact city/birthdate/ etc) on your profile page. I know it is unnerving in regards to the info that can be found online, but I think you should only be concerned with racy pics/ posts, but I bet that is not something you have to worry about. I've been in the same boat job wise. I'm concerned for many reasons for not moving forward. Battling my doubts is tiring, and actually something that I'm not doing a very good job with at the moment. You mentioned talking to a career counselor? Have you talked with your therapist? Personally that has helped give me reassurance. Please try and battle that hopelessness...you didn't mention if you are getting help for depression, so that may very well be playing into this.

[Tank]

It really is probably OK. People don't often check things out that carefully because it's so much work.
However, I know paranoia and i don't expect you to believe what I said.
So
Let's try this:
Just act like you know everything is OK and it will be. I've been doing this for years. Whatever fears you feel inside, don't let it show. Act fine and it will be fine.
If you say prayers, asking for strength in this will help to.
But if you act cool, you will be cool.