Anxiety/panic on the job

[Palooka]

My worst fear came true today on the job. It just happens and I can't control it. I had my first two major anxiety attacks at work. I was doing so good and they just came out of the blue. I've learned to control them somewhat through self-help books to a degree but not 100%.

The first one I pulled myself together and the next one did me in. I timed out and went to the car to get a breather and once it gets so bad it is hard . I ended up going home because I could not fight it.

Do you know how frustrating mental illness can be? Every job I have ever had I became a manager or was asked too be. My last job I turned down two positions for a manager. gah! I have the skills, it's just anxiety takes over just on day to day things.

This job was going well with my husbands company and this just had to happen! I feel like the biggest looser and not in a good way.Thank god my husband is a sweetheart.

Of course I still have my job but the anxiety is still there..

I don't want to have to take meds just to work but I am calling the doctor. I have put this off for a long time. I had a great job working for doctors and quit because of panic attacks.


I hate meds and try to find a way around them. I would be like the worst drug dealer ever. lol. I guess I should probally take something to help me.

Gah, I can't believe I am sharing this. Anxiety is hard for some to understand. I just bought a bottle of wine to deal with it tonight. lol

I guess I need to find the right meds and a good doctor. I searched the good ones on our insurance plan tonight. Blah.

Anyone... I know depression/anxiety meds are way more common now. It's more about finding the right ones that work for you..

Submit...

[Darlene]

You're going to do just what I was going to recommended. Why suffer if you don't have to?
It's time for you to take control of your life with help from your doc & stop this fear from getting in the way of you living your life to the fullest.

[Michelle]

Definitely see your Dr. He/she can help find the meds that will work for you. :goodluck:

[Greebo]

Definitely doing the right things in taking the meds. Good luck in your treatment!

[grneyegrl]

what exactly are u afraid of? maybe therphy(sp) sorry would help.. i think if u get to the root or your issue it may help.. and meds are there for those who need them..if u need it take it.

[JerryG]

Therapy, cymbalta, getting enough exercise helps a lot and make sure you're allowing at least 8 hours of sleep.

Good luck and I'm sorry - anxiety attacks are truly horrible.

[Dixie]

I hope you can find meds that will help. Good for you for taking control of the situation.

[homemaker66]

I suffer with them really bad until I got the right kind of meds. I even left my job thinking "I fixed them" by leaving and getting a new job. But I found out that I can't change them by running job to job. So I take meds for them at bed time and it helps me sleep all night long and I don't have any more attacks. I know th at I will need them for the rest of my life and that is okey because I can be me now and not a walking mess all the time. If you need anything just ask and I will be glad to help out any way.

[ravengirl]

I'm sorry you are going through this, panic attacks are very scary and unpredicatable things, but if you need to take meds to control them, so be it. You shouldn't suffer unnecessarily, I did for many years of my life (turns out I am bi-polar, and will need to take my current meds for the rest of my life, but it's okay with me). It's really not any different than being anemic or diabetic, just a different type of ailment. It doesn't make you less of a person because you need to take meds to align your chemical balance so you don't have to suffer through this.

I bless the day that my doc was able to help me find the right combination of meds for me, and they work wonderfully!!! I only wonder now how many years of my life I suffered, worried, and was just a mess before I realized that I needed professionals to help guide me with the right help, follow up and medication.

Hang in there and good luck!!! Please do see your doctor, they are there to help you.

[Squirt]

Awww, I really feel for you. I went through about 3-4 years of panic/anxiety attacks and was even too afraid to go to the doctor. I know what that's like. They're gone now, though. They can go away! You can get better. Meds or not, you will find a way through this.

[Shoshana]

Aw, I'm sorry, Palooka. That's so difficult to cope with. Will your insurance cover your seeing a psychiatrist instead of your general practitioner? You're right, it is hard to find the right med, or combination, and general practitioners are just not trained on the subtle differences in the psychotropic drugs. I'll also second the recommendation for therapy, if you're covered, or if you can find someone to give you a sliding scale fee.

There is a strong biological and genetic basis for the anxiety disorders. Please don't blame yourself, it's not your fault. If you had diabetes, or hypertension, you'd take meds. This is no different.

{{hugs}}

[Palooka]

Yes it will be a psychiatrist. I was diagnosed years ago for generalized anxiety. I have taken meds in the past but some did not seem to help and I gave up on them. Maybe I never found the right one.

My mom and sister deal with this also so I am sure it could be a chemical imbalance. That is the way my old doc described it too me. I have had anxiety attacks doing other things besides at work too. Sometimes I feel it building up and sometimes it just happens out of the blue when everything is going fine. It sure does suck and yes I feel it holds me way back in life to do the things I want to do. It sucks to have ambition and not be able to finish it.

And yes I sure lack in the sleep department and execise. I know that can make it worse.

Thanks everyone for you kind words.

[voodidit]

Good luck on finding the right med, don't give up if you have to try more than one before you find one that helps!