Stress Center Peer Support

when i go to work it triggers all this panic and physical symptoms. Work triggers my panic because i feel like i can't escape. i work at Starbucks and its always busy and it's a lot of moving around and being in front of people. Today at work i felt like i couldn't breath right at all. my chest felt tight and like i couldn't get enough air in when i inhaled. than that made my head feel weird and tingly which makes me feel like I'm going to pass out which causes panic. I even feel like i cant talk cause when i do it's like I'm losing air... like i don't have enough air to speak. has anybody ever feel that way with their breathing?? It scares me so much and i am beginning to feel like i wont be able to work anymore but theres no way i can do that. And even though i am home right now i still feel that shortness of breath feeling because I am anticipating going to work tomorrow feeling this way. I can deal with nausea a lot better than this because i feel like I'm going to pass out. . or stop breathing... sometimes i catch myself not breathing for a little bit and than scares me too. Anybody who has this, what can i do to feel better while going through this tonight and tomorrow??? I'm very scared and feel like i wont be able to breath right again!! help

Hi Holly,

I can most definitely relate to your current experience at work. I used to work at a local grocery store a few minutes from my house (probably about 2 years ago). I was always anxious going to work back then, and wasn't completely sure of all the effects that anxiety and panic can bring on. I remember leaving work several times because I would start feeling like I could not breathe. It felt like I could not keep still or I would not be able to breathe anymore. I worked alone in the back most of the time, so I would sit back there flipping out and pacing back in forth wondering what the heck was going on. I went from thoughts such as, "Am I going to die? What is wrong with me? Will I have to leave work? What if I have to leave work, then my manager and fellow employees will think I'm a bad worker."

What it was is that the anxiety would lead up to me being so worked up I felt I could not breathe. Which in turn would trigger all these other scary thoughts which would then lead to even more anxiety and more feelings of having trouble breathing right.

I've also had scenarios where it escalated to where I felt I was going to to faint anytime soon. I actually had a couple of times where my vision went totally black for about 20 seconds from overloading myself with thoughts and anxiety.

In the end I ended up quitting my job due to all of this. I only wish I knew know what I back then did not.

I'm not sure of all the thoughts that race through your head when this happens to you Holly, but I know they must be rather scary for you. Through out all of these experiences, I learned one special thing. There really isn't any danger in the way you feel. It is just your mind and body's way of reacting to feelings of panic. Through the program you will be able to get a hold of these feelings; even if right now you feel that it is impossible.

When you start feeling this way tell yourself you will be OK. Don't try to fight the fact that you feel anxious though, just accept that is there for the time being, and know that it never has and WON'T ever harm you.

Accept that the feeling is there, but tell yourself it will pass. It always does doesn't it?

I bet you will do just fine, and I hope I was of some assistance to you. Take care of yourself. You can definitely do this. :u]

Peace & Love
-Dustin

Holly
The body is a wonderful thing. I know what your feeling, but your body knows to breathe even when your in a panic.
Try to remember the breathing exercise. Breath in through your nose to the count of 4 and out through your mouth to the count of 3. Deep Slow Breaths, make sure your stomach rises and falls with each breath.
At the same time, think calming thoughts, tell yourself mentally, you will be fine, your breathing is fine and this will pass.
Holly, it does pass, i congradulate you for going to work, try to keep your mind busy at work, and remember we who have anxiety have to mentally practice our skills till they become automatic.
And remember, congrat yourself that regardless how you felt, you succeeded by staying at your job,and although uncomfortable,you will keep going, because facing and realizing the symptoms are just that, and nothing more, helps us overcome panic and anxiety.