Anxiety Attack while Working

[flutterdance7]

hi. does anyone have mind-focusing tip ideas while at Work/Working?
...i have googled, but all i see are 'step away' 'aroma-therapy, etc but NONE of that can be done while have a job to do.. the work HAS to be done.

for my background, i have longtime, lifetime, dealt with attacking anxiety, etc (overall i have improved alot).

like alot of ppl these days, i've been unemployed a longtime.. i have excellent history of employment. but last year and half mostly unemployed.

i got work this week thru temp agency. is cookie factory, assembly line ( altho i have employment history w/ bookkeeping, general office, culinary, these days cant be choosy, is work) the work environment, the management, coworkers seem to be great. i was doing real good. first day. after lunch one of foremen came up to me, said youre doing real good, just letting you know we choose those who keep the line clear to keep on working. (basically grab row of cookies, but on liner, wrap, put in bulk pack box= i've done industrial, factory/warehouse before is familiar to me) well that felt good, ding a good job.

then i got to panicking, gotta keep clear, then my mind raced back-n-forth keep line clear, i'm thirsty (no drinks on floor, get break every cpl hrs), oh my body's tired, almost finished, ..racing racing racing. i am a Christian, so i quick said, God help, i can do all things in Christ. i finally did calm down.. and let go focusing on keeping line clear (which i was doing before the foreman said anything)

do any of you have ways you keep your mind focused, stop the panic attacks? applies to any type work, whether doing a presentation, correspondence, bookkeeping, assembly line whatever-- we all have deadlines to make. and while once in awhile can take a 'bathroom break' can't do that all the time, and especially first weeks of new job, especially in this job market.

thanks so much.

[tina martin]

Life can be so hard, as it is for many in these difficult economic times. I tried to think and think of what to suggest. What I've come up with may be worthless, but I'll summon my courage and try anyway.

When I meditate I sometimes just focus on breathing, slowly in through the nose, slowly out through the mouth, which relaxes me. Other times I dream up mantras. For you they might be, "I'm working. I'm doing a good job. Foreman likes my work." Or, "I accept this for now. I'll keep trying for something else." Or, "I'll exercise tonight to favorite music." I'm a gym rat. Exercise stimulates our own feel good dopamines in the brain. There is much to learn in exercise. Maybe it can turn into a hobby which happened to me when I first started yoga many years ago.

Try to keep your spirits up. Best wishes to you.

[bklynbee]

I wish I had some answers for you. I am currently out of work but I went through the same thing when I was working. I used to just try to stay standing and pretend like I was looking through some paper work or something until it passed. On the outside I looked as calm as day but on the inside I thought I would come out of my skin. What used to make it worse for me was trying to hide it. I never wanted anyone to know how I was feeling because I was so embarrassed. Hopefully as time goes on your body will get adjusted and it wont happen to often or hopefully stop all together. Good luck!

[flutterdance7]

thank you so much. just being heard and understood is a big help.
today went good..and asked to return so my paycheck will be bigger next week.
exercise is great, but so long since really worked, exhausted, so for now extra sleep. a week or so i will feel more normal. ..i dont wanna seem whiney but i was hit by a car as a pedestrian last summer, and so 'new aches' to work with, tho not too bad..and expecting that, i taken aleve cpl hrs before work, and today i took tylenol at lunch, so my body wasnt achy like yesterday. ..and good relaxing hot bath when get home.
thank you so much.

[tina martin]

Glad things are going OK. Like you, I rejuvenate in a hot bath. It is a piece of heaven.

If there is some injury, I highly recommend Tai Chi. It is the gentlest, smoothest, flowing, mild exercise. It focuses on breathing, balance, coordination. You can probably get DVD's and books from your library. I took a class this week and loved it. You can probably see some of it on YouTube.