So I am a paid Elite Table tennis Coach, and recently the coaching sessions I run have been a trigger for extreme anxiety and panic attacks, both before and during the session. Most recent attacks are a result of anxiety that I will have another panic attack during a Coaching Session. I have had a number of severe panic attacks during Coaching Sessions in the past 6 months, although been mentally unwell for many years. Things just got that bad that the panic attacks started to creep into my passion and only paid work, and that is teaching/coaching children Table Tennis
As you can imagine kids between 9 to about 17 years of age don't necessarily understand what a full blown panic attack looks like and having them in front of these kids was extremely intense, and no doubt scary for them to see their Coach freaking out. If I taught adults they would understand a little better, but kids don't as much, especially the young ones. Anyway, tonight I had a Session with 15 children, leading up to tonight's session I could feel the anxiety building, and about 10 mins out before the session started I was sitting in my car just wanting to try and make some excuse why I could not do the session, it was a bad one coming on.
Anyway, I was able to practice breathing and mindfulness techniques to bring myself back into control of my thoughts and the bodily symptoms that occur with my panic attacks. I was able to go on and run one of the best session I have delivered in the last 6 months.
Things could have turned out really bad, but I kicked its butt...So I am pretty proud of myself,
Sjay88
