Extreme Anxiety

[stephanie44]

I had a major trigger at work on Thursday and cannot seem to lower my anxiety. I called my doctor, saw my therapist, spoke with my mom and friends, took walks, am taking medication, tried to meditate and focus on my breathing - I still can't seem to get this under control. Any ideas?

 

[Flyaway]

Sounds like your body is saying you still don't feel safe... Do you feel like sharing what the trigger was?

 

[stephanie44]

Sure - I am an elementary school teacher and a few of the teachers I work with have this habit of turning an innocent comment into something sexual, which is totally inappropriate. After dealing with this for at least 8 years, I spoke to my principal and vice-principal about it at the end of last year(they were present at one meeting where it happened). When it happened again last Thursday, I decided that enough was enough. I contacted my union president as well as a rep at my state level. It turns out that this sort of thing has been going on for a number of years and now, because I had the courage to speak up, it will be addressed at a district-wide level.
I will know more next week but in the meantime, I still have to work with these teachers.

 

[Flyaway]

Well done for standing up for yourself! You're right, it's totally inappropriate... No healthy person wants to be focused on sex while they are around children (or a child friendly setting).

Maybe part of your anxiety is that you are feeling a bit powerless to prevent their off comments straight away- and you've had enough! I'm pretty cheeky, so if it were me in this position I would state at the beginning of the meeting I am not interested hearing any sexual comments. Then, when they make a comment anyway I would pull out a water bottle (with trigger) and squirt the offending person. If they object, I would say "what? I thought you needed to cool down!" Hehe!

Sometimes playing out a ridiculous punishment in your head might be enough to lower anxiety and help your sense of humour to kick in. :)

I hope this helps, and the issue is resolved quickly for you!

 

[KrispyKreme]

I am sorry Stephanie44 that you are feeling so anxious.

First of all, you are so brave for standing up!!!!!!

Second, what is helpful for me is to override whatever the offending person is saying in my brain. I talk over their voice to try and replace the comment with one I feel more comfortable with.

I hope you find peace soon.

KK

 

[GrahamCracker]

Stephanie44, you did a brave thing! If you have tried all of those things to help calm yourself down, your brain and your body may just need time to process the situation. I would recommend continuing to focus on doing things you enjoy.

Sometimes when I'm having reactions to triggering situations, the thing that helps me the most is knowing that I won't feel that terrible forever. I'm sure you've been anxious like this before and worked through it and I am sure you will do it again. Be gentle with yourself.

 

[stephanie44]

Thank you again to everyone - I have been alone all day, by choice, and am starting to feel that I just don't want to go on. I am tired of being by myself but don't have the energy to do things with others at this point. I have mostly been resting on the couch.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I'm SO proud of you for standing up for yourself! I know it's hard, but you did the right thing.

I'm more than a little weirded out by adults making sexual comments in a school setting. :(

 

[Flyaway]

Stephanie, I know that feeling! Just rest up and maybe do some self care - I am currently giving myself a fudge Sunday facial, it feels and smells amazing. I recommend it :) ...also maybe visit your doc, you might need to up your serotonin. I've recently up'ed mine and it is making such a big difference!

 

[stephanie44]

Thanks so much - I am waiting to see my therapist and we do a lot of work with the body. I also received an email stating that my union president would be meeting with my principal today. Tomorrow is the first Inservice day and I feel very anxious about going in.

 

[nomedic1]

Be strong and know we will be with you.

 

[stephanie44]

Thank you. I had a pretty good day at school. At one point, my principal was in a meeting with my grade level and one of the teachers asked if a certain para would be returning. When my principal said no, the teacher said, "Good, I'm glad." We all just looked at her and she tried to take back her words by saying that she did not mean it that way - I kept thinking, well, now my principal is getting a very small taste of what I have to put up with.