Panic attack? in front of my boss, where to from here??

[Chick_in_a_guernsey]

Hi All,

So it's getting late and I'm having trouble getting to sleep. Seems to be a common thing of late. I spent 9 years in law enforcement then switched over to teaching four years ago as it was a better fit with a young family. A couple of months ago I had a conversation with someone and a high risk job I went to about 10yrs ago just hit me like a freight train. I have thoughts/memories about various jobs that come and go but this instance was much different and I had never such intense feelings hang around for a good week or so. I'm booked in to see a psychologist next week. In the meantime, early this week, I had a meeting where my boss was present when a parent became very verbally aggressive towards me. From what I can make of it, I think I may have had a bit of a panic attack (?) but I kind of managed to keep it together til the bloke left the building. The whole thing really knocked me for a six and now my boss has an insight that something is not quite right. I'm perplexed as to how I ought to manage this. Any thoughts/ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks for your time!

[asdff]

Do you think you might have PTSD? I have a Dad who is a war veteran, he has PTSD. Has a short fuse. Your boss will understand, you are human.

[quirkywords]

Chick'

welcome to the forum. this is a friendly and supportive place.

I have been a teacher and I can understand how scary and intimidating it is to have a parent verbally abuse you.

Your boss would be very understanding and want to debrief with you and see that you are ok with what happened.

I really don't know of many teachers who would not react to having a parent be verbally aggressive. it is a very confronting and scary situation.

I would just go to the boss and say you would like to talk about what happened and say you appreciate the boss being there. I would wait to see if the boss comments of your reactions.

Have you had any counselling?

Thanks for your honesty in posting here.

Quirky

[Chick_in_a_guernsey]

Hi, thanks for your reply. As much as it pains me to think that's the situation, something is certainly different with respect to my ability...or inability to manage my thoughts and responses to that particular incident and situations of heightened tension.

[Chick_in_a_guernsey]

Hi Quirky, I appreciate your feedback. I managed to stay 'calm' well appeared to be anyways, whilst we were in the meeting. My heart was ready to leap out of my chest, my stomach was churning and I just wanted out of the room. I couldn't talk with my boss afterwards, I just needed space. My appetite and sleep have been off since.

With respect to counselling, despite it being a high risk job that went a bit pear shaped, there was never a debrief. I was asked to provide a statement a year or so later because the other officer I went in with had been struck down with PTSD (as a result of that job and previous incidents). He lost his battle a couple of years later.

I mustered up the courage to book in to see a psych and then managed to badly break my ankle the week before I was due to go. Great timing, hey? I postponed the appointment to give myself some time to heal.....and because my husband has to drive me everywhere at the moment. I guess it's been a bit of a perfect storm.