How do I stop feeling overwhelmed by security protocols?

The protocols overwhelm you and you are afraid of a mistake, and in your work that fear makes complete sense, because the stakes are real. But notice that the fear itself, when it gets too loud, is part of what makes mistakes more likely. A mind braced in dread does not think clearly. So the first task is not to memorize faster. It is to bring the fear down to a size you can work with. Protocols feel overwhelming when they are one giant blur of rules you are trying to hold all at once. They become manageable when you learn them the way they are actually used: in order, situation by situation. You do not need every protocol in your head at every moment. You need to know cold the ones for the situations you actually face, and to know where to find the rest. Start with the handful of procedures that come up most and drill those until they are second nature, so most of your day runs on solid ground. Master them one at a time rather than all at once. The fear of a mistake shrinks as competence grows, and competence grows fastest when you stop trying to swallow everything and start building it piece by piece.