Anxiety control

[tesla88]

I have anxiety and panic disorder

I just got transferred in my job and im having almost all day panic attacks

My panic anxiety comes in form of severe nausea and to try and avoid it by creating pain such as digging fingernails into other fingrrnails and into gums

I feel this provides distraction but I think it also feeds the anxiety as fighting it

Do others have similar reactions?

[tranzcrybe]

Hi Tesla88,

A very warm welcome to you and I value your decision to voice your struggles with anxiety & panic attacks.

I feel for you having to endure all day in this state - you must be exhausted and relieved to get home.

What has triggered your reaction in particular (new faces, different work requirements, unusual behaviour of others)?

" I think it also feeds the anxiety as fighting it"...

I think you may be correct - replacing one trauma with another may only compound your anxiety.

Regards,

t.

[Croix]

Dear Tesla88~

I'd like to join Tranzcrybe and welcome you -if I remember you had a bad time being bullied in your last job to the extent you were hospitalized, though I get the impression -maybe I'm wrong - that you returned and things were different, at least for a while.

Being bullied by a manger leaves one feeling powerless, often unworthy and one ends up always waiting for it to start again.

Now you have been transferred and you feel a great deal of anxiety.

First off is there any reason to worry that you will be mistreated again? Please say so if there is.

In any event it is your general anxiety and panic attacks that simple that really do need treating properly, and that involves a GP, a psychologist or psychiatrist that has you has as their client, not a company doctor who may have conflicted interests.

Then it is a question of seeing what treatment is best.

While I'm sure you want to control your attacks and hurt yourself in order to try to gain that control I would suggest that is simple adding to the problem, you can easily develop this into learned behavior way of trying to cope. Not only is it harmful and not successful it may well progress to more severe actions.

It is the root cause, the anxiety that needs to be addressed. I'd suggest you ask your doctor for techniques that can help during an attack

Beyondblue has some suggestions here:

https://au.reachout.com/articles/what-are-panic-attacks

You were injured by that bullying and that injury needs healing

Croix

[tesla88]

Thanks

Yes, I do have a GP/Psychologist.

I think the main problem is in my old job I was able to hide away quite successfully and I was able to use that to control anxiety quite a bit.

Now I have been transferred I am in open spaces and working with customers hugely directly.

I think the causing pain is to divert myself from the severe anxiety but in doing so I think that is also activating the flight or fight response even more so.

[Croix]

Dear Tesla88~

Of course you are right in saying you are "causing pain is to divert myself from the severe anxiety", however it is an escalating addition to the anxiety problem.

I'm glad yo have medical support. May I ask if you have specifically told your GP/Psych about this self-injury, and on what exact occasions?

No job should place you in such a position as to be unbearable. Is there any possibility of being transferred to an area you find less stressful or introduced to this one slowly, perhaps with a buddy nearby?? Does your company have an employee welfare section to approach?

Croixx

[tranzcrybe]

Hi Tesla88,

I can see how the new environment is far removed from your previous coping strategy. Are there any workmates (a la Croix) that you feel comfortable being with? A little reassurance from a glance or friendly chat during tea break can sometimes bring some respite. If not, then making that a goal could lead to moral reinforcement and reduce your burden - many small things can make a big difference to how you feel.

Do you find your anxiety is triggered more by the open space or the direct encounter with customers, or both? Also, are these regular customers (where you need to develop a rapport) or more like random visitors?

If it is the openness, could you implement a strategically placed privacy screen where you feel sheltered, or place some things that make it more to your preference (personal items, plants, etc.)?

Just some thoughts to minimise your struggle.

Regards,

t.