Hostile Employers Create a Health Problem

Apparently my job took a good swing at convincing me I was dying. As a bit of background info, I work the front desk at a beauty school.

It is a fairly thankless job with a CEO and owner who have lost over six instructors over the course of the last year. Basically, if you do not resemble a Barbie doll and if your Spanish is not strong, you are forgotten and/or a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong. When I started in April of 2011, I worked about thirty hours a week. Now, I work twelve while the daytime receptionist works closer to thirty, gets nothing done, refuses to put in grades and gets constant complaints. That's all besides the point.

Thursday night, I was putting in grades for the students and wouldn't you know it? Suddenly, I can't breathe, my chest aches and I feel like I am going to pass out. After about ten minutes of panic, some of the instructors (who are wonderful) took me into the auditorium and told me I was having an anxiety attack.

The owner never once came out to see if I was ok, apparently she excused me to go home. The next day came around (I was off) and my chest still hurt everytime I breathed in. After caving in to panic, I went to the doctors and after three hours of tests found out I had just pulled a muscle in my chest and that is why breathing had been so difficult. 

TLDR: I am twenty three, a little chunky but in relatively good health and my job brought on an anxiety attack from sheer nothingness. That is quite a feat, considering I have had family members start a fist fight right in front of me and responded calmly and rationally. Now I am home for a whole week on doctor ordered bed rest and in misery that I cannot find another job. Thanks guys!

--LegendaryOdin

Comments

[The Last Archimedean]

Good grief! I'm sorry to hear that... hope your boss grows a functioning brain by the time you return. Or better yet, you land a different job.

[LegendaryOdin]

Wow. I actually am the one that made that post on Facebook so thank you! I always laugh myself near to death when reading your posts : D

[Ilia]

@LegendaryOdin
Thank you, I'm glad I can help put a bright spot in your day! :D

Here, let me edit this to put your nickname in. :)

[LegendaryOdin]

Thank you! : D @The Last Archimedean, thank you for the kind words. You are one funny dude, by the way.

[Humor_Me]

I also started suffering from panic attacks and I've been through some scary shit. (you know who I am) Take it easy, take a deep breath, and recognize that it's your body's way of telling your brain you need a break. Just a glitch instead if a complete short circuit. If you have pets, use the time for lots of snuggles. It's been proven time and time again, scientifically, that it lowers blood pressure. Please let us know how it goes. We worry about our RHU team {{{HUGS}}}

[The Last Archimedean]

You're welcome, legendary. :)

I try to use humor to ease the stress all us RHUers feel.

[LegendaryOdin]

Ha ha, I find my humor tends to insult more than do good. When I used to work the dress-for-less circle of the Malebolge, I found myself giving a pained smile to hellspawn blatantly destroying the toy section I had just painstakingly cleaned. I think I used to subconsciously mouth at them, "I...am going...to punt you...like a football >: D" In real life, the most depressing of realities, it was more like, "Sweetie, please don't open that. Sir, please don't leave the skateboard on the ground...actual children might trip on it...Yes, sir, you did put it there...BECAUSE DESPITE MY GLASSES, MY EYES WORK."

[Spritzy]

I get anxiety attacks out of nowhere often as well. I take meds to keep them under control, but they still flare up from time to time.
I agree with Humor_Me, animals are a great help in healing anxiety disorders.

[LegendaryOdin]

@Spritzy, I guess I am lucky that I have the sweetest kitty who likes to jump on my chest and lay there for as long as I can hold my breath XD Ever since I came home from the ER, she has been my little stalker/cuddler.

[Skittles]

For people who suffer panic attacks it might be worth looking into "Seeking Safety" their are a few good books on the techniques for helping to prevent and get through panic attacks although it's geared more for serious PTSD clients it should help.

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