I am no longer working at this time, but a few years ago
I was suffering from panic attacks constantly.
The unfortunate thing is that I had no idea what a panic attack
WAS and that I was actually experiencing one.
I went to the Emergency Room many, many times.
Why didn't someone tell me what was going on!
I am sure I had way more than one panic attack at work.
I was sometimes leaving work early because I "just didn't feel good".
I could not put words to my symptoms. What was happening to me?
One day I was feeling "wierd" at work and my co-workers/boss
actually called the fire department and the firemen/paramedics
came to our office ! Boy, was THAT embarrassing.
What a crazy experience.
They checked my pulse, blood pressure, my blood sugar,etc.
I was "OK".
I thought I may also have been experiencing a migraine, because at
the time I also had migraine headaches ( all due to depression and anxiety ).
So I just wanted to share with you the fact that I, too, have
had panic attacks at work. I have also had panic attacks during
family things. I have had panic attack feelings and I have
had to leave the situation or location and go home.
My home is where I felt "safe". It was my "safe place".
I am in recovery now, but I DID have a panic attack one Sunday afternoon recently.
I was worrying about a physical health condition that I have.
That led to catastrophizing ! My first thought was to go to
the Emergency Room. NOW I know what a panic attack feels
like and that it is NOT going to kill me or injure me.
So I used the coping skills that I recently learned to calm myself down.
I used breathing, relaxation, positive self talk....and time.
I said to myself....Lynda, if you are still experiencing these
symptoms two hours from now then you will have to re-assess the
situation to see what you should do next. In two hours I was okay.
Although I still had to
experience the panic attack, my symptoms
were not at a level that they used to be a few
years ago...not by a long shot.
I was really proud of myself for being able to work through it
with a healthy and successful ending. I DID NOT go to the ER,
I did not think it was the end of the world. I was not in danger.
I realize that I will never be panic free and that a panic
attack CAN happen at any time ( I cannot predict the future).
But I know that I have the skills to help myself get through it...successfully.
LyndaLu