Bertil Hjert

Panic Attacks - The Case Of Janet And Her Panic Attack

The first time panic attack sufferer is plagued with the worry that unexpected panic attacks will continue to crop up, without an adequate explanation of the source of the panic attack or why it occurred.

Janet, a young woman of 24 was waiting for a meeting with her boss. She was a fashion buyer for a major department store and loved her job. What could be better than working around fashion all day? She learned new things and had great hours that always left her with enough time to party with her friends.

She was waiting nervously outside her boss´s office that Tuesday morning. When she was called into the office, she knew something wasn´t quite right. She could feel herself sweating, sweating a lot. She also started feeling woozy. She sat down in the designated visitor chair and looked at her boss across the desk.

She felt her lips move but didn´t hear the words right, it´s as if they were in a tunnel. Suddenly, she couldn´t breath. She tried to respond to a question but couldn´t get the words out without hyperventilating.

She stood up abruptly and walked, no ran out of the office! She slammed her way into the ladies room and splashed water on her face, opened her shirt and rubbed it on her chest and tried to feel the cool water washing away the burning sensation that was tingling through her body.

She looked in the mirror, her face was flushed and rosy but she knew this was not euphoria she was feeling but utter and complete panic! She forced herself to breath, gulping huge gasps of air and trying to calm herself. She crumbled to the tile floor and leaned her head against the wall and prayed that this would end. Just as suddenly as the sensations began, she felt them recede. She could breath normally again.

She heard the kind grey haired woman´s offering of help, her voice sounded normal and her eyes were kind. Only later would she realize this kind woman was her co-worker and friend who sat at the desk next to her.

This disturbing episode in Janet´s life leads to a great fear, quite naturally born out of the horrible experience Janet had just endured. She was nervous that she would have an attack again and be laughed it.

Her boss had already told her co-workers how Janet had run out of her office and she was now certain everyone looked at her like she was crazy. Going back to the office every day was getting increasingly difficult and Janet knew she would have to meet with her boss again for her annual evaluation. She had managed to explain she had the flu and felt sick to her stomach but she knew no one believed her and she didn´t know what she would say if it happened again.

Janet could no longer sleep at night and both her days and nights were fraught with worry and fear. What was happening to her? Why was this happening to her? How could she make it stop?

Janet had a panic attack, she was worried about being judged by her boss, she was worried that she didn´t meet her expectations, she was worried she might lose her job. None of these fears were actually true but they became so overpowering that Janet had a panic attack in her boss´s office.

Janet´s reactions are similar to many first time panic attack sufferers, without an adequate explanation of the source of the panic attack or why it occurred, they are plagued with the worry that unexpected panic attacks will continue to crop up.

This is indeed possible, so the very possibility of this coming true helps fuel the fear that can actually trigger subsequent panic attacks and certainly interferes with the normal functioning of your life.

There are ways that you can combat the worry, fear and general anxiety you feel. There are techniques to help calm your mind, relax your body and redirect your thoughts.  

Article Tags: Panic Attacks, Panic Attack

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