Meetings From Hell!!

[lemonade]

I have always been a bit nervous at the right times, interviews, presentations etc. Although I realise I am having a hurricane inside I have become the master of diguise over the years.

My problems is I sometimes have panic attacks during meetings at work!!! Can you imagine!! I know I have a reputation for being very professional and confident but I just could not disguise my last attack which is so embarrassing :blush:

This is my panic attack stages:-

1. I realise I am a bit nervous of this meeting coming up (not all just odd ones)
2. I begin to fret about the event
3. I talk to myself and prepare well
4. I do not drink any alcohol or coffee in the few days running up and deep breath
5. I sit down and I am churning
6. My hear begins to race and my head swirls
7. I begin to shake and when it is my turn to speak I am out of breath
8. Colours become brighter where my pupils are contracting

Once I have started to speak all symptoms subside within a minute or two and I go on to conduct the meeting very well and become very confident.

The panic attack I had last week was the worst so far and now of course I will be more worried the next time as I have escalated for some reason.

I have tried meditation (which is great by the way), excercise (swimming) and these have allowed me to control my daily anxiety.

So I am left with this one meeting problem to overcome and am thinking of asking the doctor for some beta blockers to help me through these pre meditated moments of panic (about six a year).

Do you think this will help, I can cope with the hurricane I just do not want anyone else to see it!!!

Thanks for reading

[Southern_Belle]

Hi Lemonade,

Welcome to NMP. I felt the same before I had to give speechs in Speech Class in college. I would think if you weren't doing a good job your Supervisor would be saying something unless you own the company. I felt I was doing lousy speechs but it was all internal and was quite surprised when I got the highest grade you could achieve in the class.

Perhaps before the meeting you could go somewhere quiet (the bathroom perhaps) and do some quick meditation to calm your nerves before the meeting? If not, try some deep breathing. You might also try hypnotherapy, some here have found it works very well. Since you can go on and do the meetings if I were you I would take medication as a last resort. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Take care,

Laura

[kellie]

Hiya :welcome: to NMP its lovely to have you here, you will get lots of support/advice/reasurance and make some great friends along the way.

take care :hugs: :hugs:

kellie.xxxxxxx

[Lindalou64]

Hello And Welcome To The Site, I Wish Ya Well, Linda

[Cheekyone]

If you only need help for panic attacks on a very occassional basis your doctor might prescribe valium, which is a lot more effective than beta blockers and once you knew you had a way out of the panic you might find you don't need the drugs! i have a stash of valium and just knowing it's there for immediate relief if required means i never take the things!

[leonard]

Hi lemoade
I feel you are antiscipating the meetings too much. Therefore it is causing all of this anxiety and panic. Somehow you have to distract yourself from the thoughts. Easier said than done though. Once you start your speech the panic goes. How about asking if you could go first? Hope this helps.
Leonard

[nomorepanic]

Hi Lemonade

A warm :welcome: aboard and lovely to see you here.

Hope we can be of some help

[weeble40]

welcome to NMP hope to see you around sometime

Emma xxx

[milly jones]

Hi hun

a warm nmp welcome to u

hope that u gain as much support and help here as i do

love milly xxxx