Panic Attack in a Work Meeting:

John is a project manager who has been feeling overworked and anxious at work as a result of tight deadlines and high expectations. He walks into an important work meeting with his team and other top executives one morning to discuss a major project update.

As the conference progresses and the strain mounts, John begins to feel increasingly uneasy. His heart rate quickens, and he notices his palms sweating. He attempts to concentrate on the topic, but his head is fuzzy, and he finds it difficult to focus on the facts.

A surge of great terror floods over John all of a sudden. His chest tightens as he begins to feel as if he can't breathe properly. He begins to feel dizzy as the room becomes suffocating. His coworkers' voices seem faraway, and he can't quite understand what they're saying.

John's anxiousness grows as he fears he will embarrass himself in front of the senior executives and his employees. He tries valiantly to keep his panic at bay, but his hands begin to shake, making it difficult for him to take notes or grasp his presenting materials.

John seeks to excuse himself from the meeting to obtain some fresh air, fearing that others may notice his misery. However, he has difficulty expressing himself and tries to find the perfect words. He feels confined, as though he can't escape without bringing attention to himself.

As the panic episode intensifies, John feels overwhelmed and disoriented. His mind is racing with negative thoughts, and he is afraid of losing control of the situation. He quietly wishes that the meeting would conclude soon so that he could get away from the stress and get some comfort.

Despite feeling useless and afraid, John manages to calm himself by taking slow, deep breaths. The panic attack fades after what seems like an eternity. He is physically and mentally fatigued, but he is glad that he was able to conceal his sadness from his coworkers.

Following the meeting, John decides to discuss his experience with his boss and seek help from the company's Employee Assistance Program to deal with his work-related stress and anxiety. He recognizes that obtaining help and adopting coping methods are critical to managing his panic attacks and enhancing his general professional well-being.

 

Generally these type of work meetings involve a group of people sitting around taking it in turns to speak. Most people anxious about speaking in public dread their turn and hope some divine intervention will save them from having to speak at all.It's a type of panic attack.

 

To get around this try the opposite approach. Pretend to yourself and the group that you are actually dying to speak. Before you enter the room, say to yourself:

 

“I’m going to speak at any reasonable opportunity that presents itself”

 

-Be positively itching to speak!

 

-Before the meeting kicks off, talk to everyone around you. Don’t sit there in silence.

 

-If you have a short presentation to make and you don’t like the idea of having to do it in one go, break it up by asking those present questions during your talk. This puts the focus back on the group and can help you feel less under pressure.

 

-If everyone has to speak, it can really take the pressure off to be first up but if you can’t be first then start asking questions of the other speakers when they are finished if that is appropriate.