Stress Center Peer Support

hi everyone just finishing up session 2 it says face your fears and just sit there and let them happen well tomorrow being monday i have to go and sit at a meeting fo half hour well i'm already anxious by the time i get there i'm going to be a mess how the hell can i just sit please me understand that

Hi,

I can relate with what you are saying I have an office meeting every thurs for at least an hour. I do have to tell you the more you do something the easier it gets. In the begining I would always make a point to let someone no that I was not feeling well,so that if I did have to leave they just thought I was not feeling well. I have to tell you that knowing that I had an out I always made it through the meeting.
Try to concentrate on the meeting try not to let your mind race all over the place.

I know for me, I was more afraid of making a fool out of myself than having the panic attack. Because having a panic attack is no big deal it comes and it goes, but I never wanted anyone to see me lose control. I would use the breathing exercise and I would use self talk to calm me down, and I would make it through.

Good luck tomorrow you will do just fine. Lets us no how you make out.

Debbie

LOL THANKS DEBBIE I WAS HOPEING SOMEONE WOULD RELATE. I'M WAY AHEAD OF YA SAYING I DONT FEEL GOOD I THINK I MADE THAT PHRASE BUT THAT REALLY DOES WORK
I'D RATHER THEM SAYING BOY HE'S SICK ALOT THAN KNOWING I HAVE ANXIETY. BOY I HATE THAT WEAKNESS TX AGAIN

I have a problem driving and I get myself all worked up the night before because I have to get up and drive to work in the morning, first thing when I wake up I start thinking about having to drive to work. I have found over the last week that if I don't think about it and get myself worked up about it the night before its not as bad when the time actually comes for me to drive to work. So if I start thinking about it I do something to keep my mind busy or listen to the relaxation tape or call someone. I have found that if I don't work myself up worring ahead of time that when the time actually comes its not as bad. I hope this helps. It has helped me alot! Not as easy to do, I know but with practice it gets easier. Let me know how your meeting goes. Thinking of you. You Can do it!

Hi,

I've been reading this book lately that everyone will probably be sick of me recommending:). It's called "Changes that Heal:" by Henry Cloud. What I liked about it that applied to your post was you talking about looking "weak" in front of everyone. I know this isn't the religious section, so I apologize if my opinion is offensive, but God has really been teaching me a lesson about being weak. God doesn't have a problem with weakness, and He actually likes it when we go to Him and admit that because He already knows it. If we are Christians we can then get our strength from Him. Paul says, "I will boast about my weaknesses because when I am weak He is strong." Also, admitting that we are weak at times doesn't mean that we don't try to do things on our own to heal, but we should never expect perfection while doing so. We are just human.

If you take the religious aspect out of it, we are all still weak. We are human beings and there isn't one of us that doesn't have a weakness or flaws. Ours just happens to be anxiety. It's just a reaction to stress. It's just something that passes through us. Some people get migraines from stress, and some people get panic attacks. We just have to learn to cope with our stress and not expect perfection. We with anxiety often believe that we can never be weak or show negative emotions, etc., and it's so much pressure on us that we end up having panic attacks. That's just too much pressure. It's perfectionism, and it actually is a main cause of our anxiety. Of course, this program will address that:).

I know it's hard in the business world. We are supposed to act professional, but the truth of the matter is that so many people have anxiety that you probably won't be the only one sitting in the meeting that has anxiety. It's not that you should announce to everyone in the meeting because that probably wouldn't be appropriate boundaries, but just knowing that you are most likely not alone could maybe help. I really did used to use the sickness excuse a lot like what Debbie suggested. You do have an out. Going and trying is better than not going at all:). Also, maybe it's not appropriate for everyone to know your personal business that you have anxiety, but is there someone there that can be trusted who you may want to tell. Just so you can get over your fear of others finding out. You don't have to tell everyone, and you shouldn't because it's not everyone's business, but there may be someone safe that you can admit your "weakness" to. No, you may not be perfect, but none of us are:). We are all flawed and loved:).

Hope something in here helped, and I hope it went well for you. I'm proud to be weak:) now, and I couldn't have said that a few years ago.

Take care,
luvpiggy

Fearkills - Re listen to tape 2. I don't think it says to just sit there and let them happen. There are tools provided for you to use while you are facing your fears. Number one is to use your STOP SIGN. Stop those initial thoughts from turning into more scary thoughts, next use your calm breath, and then get your attention on something outside of your head. Prepare for what you have to do. When that is done then do something in the present moment and keep your attention on what you are doing.

THANKS BOON I NO THE 6 STEPS TO CALM ME DN BUT IT DONT WORK QUITE YET BUT I AM POSITIVE STILL I'LL NEVER GIVE UP I JUST WANT FAST RESULTS EVERY 1 WILL LOL AT THAT REMARK