I push myself to a panic attack just to keep the front end moving. I’ll be shaking, trying to move faster than my brain can even process, because I don’t want customers stuck in line any longer than they have to be.

No one notices. No one cares. Meanwhile the other registers crawl along because chatting is somehow more important.

It’s gotten to the point where all I can think about is getting customers out the door. The second someone slows me down, my mind spirals and I’m ready to walk out.

I always tell my associates that as long as they are keeping a reasonable and steady pace that they’re fine. The customer will wait, especially if they want the product. They don’t get paid enough to stress out to the point of a panic attack, in fact, no one does!
Maybe to some people that makes me a bad customer service manager, but you know what, I care more about my people and their well-being than I do about a miserable customer who couldn’t wait an extra five minutes.

I've been there - unfortunately you need to learn how to care less, once I started remembering that many things are not solely my responsibility and started pulling back or "acting my wage", I got a lot happier...

Wow, that honestly sounds like a nightmare to deal with, I am sorry to hear you are going through that. I would start looking for a new role if I were you, you can't continue to live like that.

Wow, that sounds really intense. It’s rough when you’re giving everything and it feels like no one notices. Hope you can catch a breather soon..you deserve it.

I have a lot of experience in customer service. The key thing to remember in this job title is "customer." People are THE reason our industry exists. It's admirable that you're aware of other peoples' time and no one wants to be in line longer than necessary. However, being human is a beautiful thing. You just have to learn to balance polite conversation vs droning on. You'll see a big difference in your peace of mind and smoothly running customer line.

You certainly do put a lot of pressure on yourself. I would advise you not to push yourself so hard, but I’m assuming this advice doesn’t work with you. If you could care less, I bet you would already. I tend to be the fastest person at the register too, but that’s mostly because I just always work at a faster pace.

Not to mention I can barely work a week without having at least one meltdown on company hours. I can’t get out of here since no one is hiring in this damn state!

Wky kill yourself there if noone notices or cares? Just go at your own, normal pace. Its not a race

You reminded me of my days when I worked as a supervisor at a big retail store. Management had a policy not to cover the missing people shifts and I remember missing my breaks to make sure everybody else get them. No one cared.

Your integrity is wasted on what appears best from what you're saying to find both a less stressful job
Which means a place where everyone is on the same page , there for the same goal, not where one conscientious person is going to either burn themselves out or get themselves as I have, so sick you'll be literally paying the price with either medical bills as I have or as I am now, unable to do work because of beyond what you experienced.
I'm saying this from the heart to know as anyone what's most important to you. Blessings

Breathe. Don’t try so hard to speed through the line. Customer service isn’t about going faster. It’s about connection, making the customer happy, and getting the job done right… the first time. If you’re in so much of a hurry that you’re panicking, the customers will respond to that - not in a good way. If you’re working that fast, it’s only a matter of time before you’re making silly mistakes.
Slow down.
Breathe.
And don’t forget get to smile.
You’ve got this.