pirategrrrl
07-02-07, 10:47
Hi All
Just posted on the Introduce Yourself bit and have a look around at the topics and came across a post about fearing going to the hairdressers. I hate going to the hairdressers because my panics seem to be caused by feeling like I can't escape - and it's hard to get up mid cut saying "I need to go the loo..."
Anyhow, apart from movie theatres, buses or trains, my main area of panic at the moment is being in work meetings because of the pressure to be there, paying attention and contributing. I don't wear a watch because then I'm not caught up in counting down the seconds (and then pannicking because only 30 seconds have passed) and I always try and take a note pad and pen so I can scribble, or I write the serenity prayer, or I practise breathing. This last one has been the most effective so far, but even the thought of having a meeting makes me fear having an attack. I have this huge fear that I'm going to lose control of my bodily functions and embarrass myself...and one of my main symptoms is rotten diaorrhea (sorry!).
I just wanted to get an idea of what other people do. And how do people deal with irksome bodily manifestations of panics? How do you make a safe escape route for yourself? I have a major meeting tomorrow in my new job and thought I'd stoke myself up on valerian and maybe fess up that I have "claustrophobia" and may need to leave - but it's a new job and I don't want to "out" myself as a looney...
Thanks in Advance
Just posted on the Introduce Yourself bit and have a look around at the topics and came across a post about fearing going to the hairdressers. I hate going to the hairdressers because my panics seem to be caused by feeling like I can't escape - and it's hard to get up mid cut saying "I need to go the loo..."
Anyhow, apart from movie theatres, buses or trains, my main area of panic at the moment is being in work meetings because of the pressure to be there, paying attention and contributing. I don't wear a watch because then I'm not caught up in counting down the seconds (and then pannicking because only 30 seconds have passed) and I always try and take a note pad and pen so I can scribble, or I write the serenity prayer, or I practise breathing. This last one has been the most effective so far, but even the thought of having a meeting makes me fear having an attack. I have this huge fear that I'm going to lose control of my bodily functions and embarrass myself...and one of my main symptoms is rotten diaorrhea (sorry!).
I just wanted to get an idea of what other people do. And how do people deal with irksome bodily manifestations of panics? How do you make a safe escape route for yourself? I have a major meeting tomorrow in my new job and thought I'd stoke myself up on valerian and maybe fess up that I have "claustrophobia" and may need to leave - but it's a new job and I don't want to "out" myself as a looney...
Thanks in Advance