School Health Class Panic

[roaringrachel]

Hi all, this is my very first post!

I'm taking health class as a required graduation class. We are learning about sexual abuse and OH BOY....anxiety is absurdly high. We are having a sexual abuse survivor come speak to our class and I am terrified that it's going to be triggering and I'm panicking and considering not even going to class because of it and I am just so so scared. When the teacher told us about it, I almost peed in my pants (literally) out of sheer fear. It's also just the unit in general, just talking about it makes me petrified.

So, naturally, I brought up my anxiety with my therapist. She was really great and tried to offer me techniques on how to deal with the anxiety in the moment. What I was really hoping was that she would write me a note getting me out of this unit. But she didn't bring it up...she wants me to try and expose myself to it. She thinks it would be a really great opportunity. But I just am so anxious...it's in my every thought. Is she right? Am I ready for this? Ughhhhh.

 

[hodge]

I wish I knew the right answer for you, @Rachelluvsdemi. These days different Ts have different approaches. Some think exposure therapy is the way to go. Others think alternate therapies that try to work on the traumatized brain, like Thought Field Therapy and Accelerated Resolution Therapy, are more useful and don't agree with the exposure approach. I am trying the latter currently as I've tried the others and nothing has worked for me. That doesn't mean they won't work for you.

I certainly understand your anxiety. What techniques did your therapist offer? If I know of any others, I will sure share them here. When is that class happening?

 

[aut555]

Okay, thanks for posting. It's good you discovered this site.

Thats tough. Think you still are feeling triggered and stressed. Can you leave for a bathroom break? Can anyone come and get you for family emergency? Or can you just go to the nurse's office for migraine? Before l get kicked off this post for these horrible suggestions, what the message is, if you have a way out, will you feel more comfortable trying to sit through class? My therapist's office tried to sign me up for group discussions and l knew l wasn't ready. Even this site can trigger me, so l back out fast if l need too. Can you have an emergency plan should things escalate? Last resort, call in sick. Best of luck to you.

 

[roaringrachel]

I wish I knew the right answer for you, @Rachelluvsdemi. These days different Ts have d...

We talked about breathing and counting my breath. We also talked about grounding, like listing all the things I can physically feel, like my feet on the floor, my soft sweater, etc. And then we also talked about counting colors in the room, so first, how many yellow things are there in this room? How many red things? And then go on from there.

I would love any suggestions you have to offer!!!

 

[roaringrachel]

Okay, thanks for posting. It's good you discovered this site.

Thats tough. Think you still are feeling...

Yes I am seriously considering just taking that I have a migraine and going to the nurse! The problem is that it's my last period of the day and the nurse's office closes before that. I might try to skip out and go to the bathroom or something of that nature. Maybe I could wait in my guidance counselor's office, although that would require me to explain why I'm there...and then more anxiety would ensue. But those are all good suggestions that I am seriously considering!

 

[aut555]

Hope something works out. Just standing outside and do some deep breathing then coming back in. Finally, if you sit out of the way, sneak one or two ear buds and listen to music covertly. Haha

 

[Friday]

Not sure whether you're talking HS or College... But in uni I was pretty notorious for just standing up and walking my happy ass outta class whenever I needed to. For a drink, smoke, trip to the loo... As well as any kind of trauma stuff I just needed a break for. One of the benefits of college is that most profs encourage their students to do just that; take the time they need to, when they need to, just don't be disruptive about it. If you're jumper than a Mexican bean? ADHD to the hilt? (C'est moi, on both scores) Sit by the door to make entries and exits easy.

On a different tack; one thing to keep in mind is that the person coming to class? Is probably eminently comfortable in talking sexual assault. So if any of your worry is on that score? Their being all triggered? Don't sweat it. I have PTSD. Not from being raped, but I've also been raped. I can -and a few time have- talked sexual assault all day long, very very calmly. Also very explicitly. No self blame, no shame, no anger, no worries. Something I want to do every day? Nope! But because I'm very chill & very open about the whole thing, I've been used in the kind of format your teacher is talking about a few times. So I can tell you what the talk should NOT be; it should not be a teary, angry, painful, difficult emotion storm... On the part of the person presenting it. Will they get emotional? Possibly. But it shouldn't be shoving dark-horrible-badness down everyone's throats level of emotion. I don't use the words should/should not lightly. There is a way to present difficult and hard information in a way that is NOT assaulting everyone else in their vicinity with it. While some people never go through that phase (lashing out), most people, IME get to the phase after it, in time, and that's what professors are looking for when they want someone to talk to their class; calm. Because they've processed it 6 ways from Sunday, they're not using your class to just dump trauma on.

Having been on both the giving & receiving side of "calm"? IF you can handle the topic, at all, it's something to try not to miss out on. Don't beat yourself up if you do just need to take a personal day that day, or 3 seconds into the talk need to excuse yourself to go chill out. But IME, if the presenter has any calm to share? It can be an amazing experience.

 

[Gs172003]

Hi all, this is my very first post!

I'm taking health class as a required graduation class. We...

I think it depends on what you can handle. I'd probably be sick that day.

 

[Freedomfighter]

Hi all, this is my very first post!

I'm taking health class as a required graduation class. We...

If it fits into the regular treatment plans of your therapist I may understand this. But if you as the patient are unprepared for such an encounter, a close up encounter of a sexual abuse survivor, it could be too much for you.

I used to have a female as a health instructor in the gym, she was inappropriate sexually to us students, males and females alike, dressed questionably and constantly talked about private matters to us the students that should not have been talked about. She was this rod thin, boy like person and when facing our periods she stressed us out insisting that we comply with her requests to do certain exercises. A very odd person and the wrong person to be hanging around any students in high school, regardless of gender. She tended to focus mostly on females, exuding a personal interest into females, like I said, a very odd encounter from a teacher that ventured into arenas she should never have ventured into.....

 

[aut555]

Guess l was lucky, l sensed my gym teacher was different but she was a professional in regards to students.