Attention scientists: regaining lost confidence

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Just a quick question here. I've done really well in science classes, and I thought I'd make a good scientist (field biologist) until an unfortunate encounter with one of my instructors (whose class I ended up dropping). The particulars of what this instructor did are not relevant at the moment. What I need now are some good ways to restore my confidence, which has been completely shattered.

I have a formal research paper to write in my remaining class (which has a different instructor). I am talking about the type of paper that one would write for a scientific journal. I've written several papers of that type before with no major issues. This assignment would normally be relatively easy. However, when I sit down to write, I'm fighting back panic attacks because of the bad experience with the other instructor. I am questioning every single word I type, literally right down to "and" and "the."

The paper is not due for quite a while yet, but I need to get past this issue as soon as possible. Can any of the scientists out there help me, please? Have you been in a lost-your-confidence situation? How did you fix it?

Thanks!

You can read about famous scientists and times when they were wrong.
I am not sure what kind of paper are you writing but if you will submit for a peer review journal, then you can say to yourself that if it passes the review process, it must be good.
There are wrong papers published all the time, people correct their views over time and it is not a big deal at all since rarely it matters in the real world (unless a popular press takes parts of it and makes a completely different story out of it). No need to fuss about it.

Thanks. I also got to thinking that I should take time to read my previous papers (and other science-class projects) that got good grades. Maybe that would help to psych myself up.

Yup. I've had to deal with panic attacks while writting, panic attacks due to overbearing teachers, etc. You're definitely not alone. Bad teachers have a way of destroying the motivation and self-esteem of a person, but remember that you've written papers before and can do it again.

The best way to get through it (although it isn't easy...nothing is for us) is try and break down the writting into small, manageable pieces and do it a little bit at a time, while trying to suppress thoughts of the bad teacher. Sometimes setting a specific time to do the writting helps, e.g. write everyday between 3-5pm. Also, outlining what your thoughts before you try writing full paragraphs can help. I sometimes even shut down my computer and write long hand on a sheet of paper until the writing starts to flow more normally. I once wrote a 30 page paper by hand when I had some terrible writters block.

Good luck!

Those are some really great ideas. I have several nice blocks of time tomorrow that I can use for writing, and I'll definitely use your suggestions. Thanks!