What can I do to be less nervous starting a new job?

Thank you for sharing, a lot of people can relate to this. First, congratulations on landing a new job. Well done! It’s completely understandable (and normal) that you feel nervous. You’re embarking on a new chapter. New people. New supervisor. Everything new.

You write that your previous experience wasn’t a good one, and thoughts like “what if I have the same experience at my new job” appear. Our brains tend to react this way because it prepares us for the worst in order to protect us. 

The first step to making a change is to simply tell yourself that it will be ok and what a great achievement you’ve made by getting this job. They are lucky to have you. Do so with a calm voice. In addition, you can tell yourself that it’s important to accept that you will be filled with all sorts of feelings, thoughts and emotions right now. Even though you fear the worst it doesn’t mean any of it will happen. On the contrary the opposite might happen. What if you meet a bunch of awesome new colleagues and love your new job? If you repeat thoughts like that to yourself, you also allow your brain to relax. In other words, you’re shifting the focus (your attention) to a place that benefits you instead of scaring yourself.    

So, in summary you can try this:

Practice acceptance. Instead of fighting the thoughts, try observing them without judgment. Remind yourself they are just mental events, nothing else.

Shift Your Focus. Create a list of activities to redirect your mind when you notice a thought that scares you. Examples: Listen to music or a podcast. Look at photos of something you enjoy. Go for a walk or exercise. This helps break the cycle of chasing thoughts. Remember to practice positive self-talk.

Talk to someone your trust. It could be useful to share a few of your thoughts with a friend or someone else that you trust. Most people have both good and bad experiences throughout their career, sharing a few of these might lead to advice and support for both of you.

Mindfullness. Here’s a link to mindfulness techniques. However, you will find more online.  

It’s important to remember that it takes repetition for this to work, however with time you’ll develop more control. If you find that you need more help and guidance you can reach out to a therapist near you. . 

I wish you the best of luck! I've attached an article about feelings you might find useful.