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anxiety attack and panic attacks
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| atsguy |
Posted on January 24 2006 05:17 AM
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Member
Location: pittsburgh
Posts: 15
Joined: 2006-01-23
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so how many of you have ever had a anxiety attack and or panic attack.
I know i have had my share...how about you |
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| Tina |
Posted on January 24 2006 09:20 PM
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Member
Location: US
Posts: 104
Joined: 2005-06-09
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I have panic attacks, not very often, but I definitely get them when i'm confronted with anything mathematical. If I'm in a party and someone suggest a card game, I might get one of those dreaded attacks! It's also hard for me to be in a classrom - I feel locked in a situation afraid I'll be asked questions I won't be able to answer. Negative past experiences is to blame for these scary feelings and I think psychotherapy might be helpful in trying to overcome some of them. BUT it's very important to find a therapist who's knowledgeable and empathetic. I would personally prefer someone who has a LD him or herself.
Edited by Tina on January 30 2006 07:12 AM
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." ~ Jonathan Winters |
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| gooup |
Posted on January 25 2006 12:23 AM
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Member
Location: Louisiana, USA
Posts: 139
Joined: 2006-01-25
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i have dyscalculia, and i have anxiety disorders as well. I am currently in the process of QUITTING a job because of their incessant need to make me feel like a second class citizen because of my inability to handle financial paperwork. (i'm a graphic artist with 17 years experience, whose clients brag on).
This company is willing to let me go due to my inability to file PAPERWORK. (i took a client who spent NOTHING with them and turned them into their 3rd biggest client), yet the fact that i can't file the right papers is paramount to them). But, i HAVE to leave. EVERY DAY i would breathe my way through a panic attack. Every day i would feel as if i was dying, my heart convulsing and aching in my chest.
Yes, i have panic attacks, and i'm realizing, all related to math. |
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| Tina |
Posted on January 25 2006 03:54 AM
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Member
Location: US
Posts: 104
Joined: 2005-06-09
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gooup -
Sorry to hear that you're faced with such a difficult situation. It must be very stressful to walk around with so much anxiety everyday. I've had jobs where I felt like that and it's pure hell, I know.
It's a shame they give you a hard time regarding some details around your job and are losing your valuable expertize because of it. Have you considered explaining the situation from your point of view and why you're are having problems with the finacial papers? I know it might be very unfomfortable to "come out" (lack of a better term), especially in your workplace, but at the same time it might heighten people's awareness about dyscalculia and they may gain knowledge. In this case they'll might be able to keep a great employee and you a job you like except for the financial stuff. Is it anyway possible that someone else could handle those details and you focus more on what you do best?
Edited by Tina on December 21 2008 12:45 AM
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." ~ Jonathan Winters |
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| eoffg |
Posted on January 25 2006 08:51 AM
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 of clu[26].jpg)
Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1163
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi gooup
I would like to support the suggestions from Kris.
If you are considering quiting the job, you would have nothing to lose from being upfront with your employer.
Though if I look at it from the position of your employer, without any explanation for not completing your Paperwork. They can only assume that you cant be bothered with doing it?
From their position, what other explanation do they have?
Also without an explanation, it would set a precedence for your Co-Workers, where if you dont do the Paper-Work, then why should they? They'll say Gooup doesn't do it so why should we?
Whereas with an Explanation, it creates a different situation?
That you are not simply refusing to comply?
Importantly, it also provides an opportunity for accommodations to made?
Which you should really give them a chance to try and develop?
Though, having had some experience in a graphic design studio.
I'm tempted to suggest that in developing accommodations for you, that this could also provide for them an opportunity to re-evaluate the paperwork that you and your fellow graphic artists have to complete?
Afterall, it is far more efficient to have their graphic artists working on Graphics, not on doing paperwork?
So that the accommodations could possibly be applied to your fellow graphic artists as well? So that you can all get on with the real work, and not spend so much time on paper-work?
So perhaps in explaining your Dyscalculia to them, you can also help them to become more efficient?
Geoff.
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| ert |
Posted on January 25 2006 09:28 PM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1346
Joined: 2005-03-11
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I don't think I've ever had a "real" panic attack where I couldn't breath and all that scary stuff. But I've cried so hard that I couldn't breath. Cried because I was scared. Mostly in school situations, but a few times it just totally freaks me out that I can't understand what the person in the bank tells me (or a situation like that). But ever since I found out that dyscalculia exists, in January 2004, I've only experienced that 2-3 times. Before it was 2-3 times a week, at least.
When I play cards and stuff like that, I get angry when I don't understand. Not afraid, just angry. "Just". But it quickly passes.
Hopefully time will heal, and if not, you can always try therapy |
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| PuNitrate |
Posted on January 28 2006 05:33 AM
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Member
Location: Montana, U.S.A.
Posts: 28
Joined: 2005-11-25
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atsguy wrote:
so how many of you have ever had a anxiety attack and or panic attack.
I know i have had my share...how about you
Hi atsguy--
I've had plenty of anxiety attacks, some recently. During one of my Quantum Physics exams this autumn, I burst into tears IN FRONT OF the professor because I couldn't remember how to derive a partial differential equation. (I wasn't allowed notes, so I had to do it by memory.) It's a vicious cycle; if I'm nervous before an exam, my dyscalculia rears its ugly head, increasing my anxiety.
PuNo4 |
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| PuNitrate |
Posted on January 28 2006 05:48 AM
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Member
Location: Montana, U.S.A.
Posts: 28
Joined: 2005-11-25
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gooup wrote:
i have dyscalculia, and i have anxiety disorders as well. I am currently in the process of QUITTING a job because of their incessant need to make me feel like a second class citizen because of my inability to handle financial paperwork. (i'm a graphic artist with 17 years experience, whose clients brag on).
This company is willing to let me go due to my inability to file PAPERWORK. (i took a client who spent NOTHING with them and turned them into their 3rd biggest client), yet the fact that i can't file the right papers is paramount to them). But, i HAVE to leave. EVERY DAY i would breathe my way through a panic attack. Every day i would feel as if i was dying, my heart convulsing and aching in my chest.
Yes, i have panic attacks, and i'm realizing, all related to math.
Hi Gooup--
One question on my mind, as expressed by Kris and Eoffg, is have you attempted to explain your difficulties to your employer? Most of the time, it goes over well, particularly if you're up front about it. However, I also know of cases where people are idiots after being informed that their employee has a learning difference. If the latter is the case--that they know and harass you--I'd consider filing a complaint with the EEOC or the equivalent agency in your state/jurisdiction.
Whatever the case may be, you must make sure that you are honest and clear about it, as it may affect your performance. You should NEVER be ashamed of yourself; you're a hard and productive worker, and it is to your credit that you are able to succeed at what you do.
Good luck!
PuNo4 |
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| eoffg |
Posted on January 28 2006 08:19 AM
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Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1163
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi PuNitrate
You wrote:" (I wasn't allowed notes, so I had to do it by memory.) It's a vicious cycle; if I'm nervous before an exam, my dyscalculia rears its ugly head, increasing my anxiety."
When you say that you had to do it by Memory, what you actually had to use is something called Working Memory?
When you recall information from your Long Term Memory, it gets retrieved into our Working Memory. Which is where we also do our thinking.
Working Memory is like a blank page? That we fill with our current thoughts.
But recent research has identified a most important thing about our Working Memory?
Anxiety has the effect of 'Reducing the Size of the Page'! [working memory]
The greater the Anxiety, the smaller the Page.
So that if you try to recall an equation that is larger than the size of the Page, obviously it wont fit?
But then, when it doesn't fit, this makes us more anxious, which then makes the Page even smaller still? So that we have the viscious cycle that you mentioned.
This research highlights that if Dyscalculics are made to feel anxious, then it will only make it more difficult for them.
So that the Anxiety may in fact become a greater problem than the Dyscalculia?
But the real issue, is that this Anxiety is most often caused by Other People? Their lack understanding.
So it seems that the real solution to this Anxiety, will be through Spreading the Word about Dyscalculia?
So it's up to Dyscalculics to help the World understand.
No one else will do it?
Geoff.
Edited by eoffg on January 28 2006 08:21 AM |
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| ert |
Posted on January 29 2006 01:21 AM
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Member
Location: Denmark
Posts: 1346
Joined: 2005-03-11
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eoffg wrote:But the real issue, is that this Anxiety is most often caused by Other People? Their lack understanding.
Excactly.
eoffg wrote:
So it seems that the real solution to this Anxiety, will be through Spreading the Word about Dyscalculia?
So it's up to Dyscalculics to help the World understand.
No one else will do it?
Excactly. When we (ALL dyscalculics) start demanding the help we need, things will change.
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| gooup |
Posted on January 29 2006 03:56 AM
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Member
Location: Louisiana, USA
Posts: 139
Joined: 2006-01-25
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Hey guys,
Yes, i had notified my bosses of my difficulties, but it was all for nothing. But, i have a new job (which starts on Monday) with a great new boss who is dyslexic himself and who has realistic expectations. I'm very excited! |
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| xthewaves |
Posted on January 29 2006 06:57 PM
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Member
Location: *looks at map* ...Uh oh..
Posts: 62
Joined: 2005-11-25
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GRRRRRRRRR.
THAT'S IT. ARTICLE TIME. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANXIETY/PANIC AND PHOBIA. *Runs off to wordpad*
|| Ìsís blôws k짧ês åt Ÿôû! <3 ||
|| CHER IS MY NEW IDOL KTHX ||
Those who think that Deafness is a disability are purely under the illusion that they are saying something worth hearing. - Anonymous
If you try to fail and succeed what have you done? - George Carlin |
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| Countess |
Posted on January 29 2006 09:59 PM
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Administrator
Location: Germany
Posts: 850
Joined: 2005-10-02
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Hi Gooup
That`s sounds very good. I keep my fingers crossed for your new job and all the best 
Countess
'You should really be sympathetic to people who suffer 'Normalism' (Geoff)
My Child (born 97) has Dyscalculia
Sorry for any spelling mistakes ;-) |
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| Tina |
Posted on January 30 2006 07:17 AM
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Member
Location: US
Posts: 104
Joined: 2005-06-09
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gooup wrote:
Hey guys,
Yes, i had notified my bosses of my difficulties, but it was all for nothing. But, i have a new job (which starts on Monday) with a great new boss who is dyslexic himself and who has realistic expectations. I'm very excited!
GREAT! Keep us posted on your new job.OK. Good luck!
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." ~ Jonathan Winters |
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| PuNitrate |
Posted on February 03 2006 10:32 PM
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Member
Location: Montana, U.S.A.
Posts: 28
Joined: 2005-11-25
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eoffg wrote:
Hi PuNitrate
You wrote:" (I wasn't allowed notes, so I had to do it by memory.) It's a vicious cycle; if I'm nervous before an exam, my dyscalculia rears its ugly head, increasing my anxiety."
When you say that you had to do it by Memory, what you actually had to use is something called Working Memory?
When you recall information from your Long Term Memory, it gets retrieved into our Working Memory. Which is where we also do our thinking.
Working Memory is like a blank page? That we fill with our current thoughts.
But recent research has identified a most important thing about our Working Memory?
Anxiety has the effect of 'Reducing the Size of the Page'! [working memory]
Hi Geoff--
That makes sense. Come to think of it, this does happen while I'm taking an exam or stressed in some way. However, the "blanking out" also happens if I'm reading numbers and not stressed. I think the more general case is that the brain will receive and translate knowledge to a certain point; beyond that, the page gets smaller, as you say. I hadn't read about the reduction effects, but I have read that working memory is affected by sequential dyscalculia.
Thanks for the info.
PuNo4 |
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| eoffg |
Posted on February 04 2006 09:35 AM
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Administrator
Location: Australia
Posts: 1163
Joined: 2005-03-20
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Hi PuNo4
You wrote that:'However, the "blanking out" also happens if I'm reading numbers and not stressed."
Where by "not stressed", I guess that you mean that it's not a stressful situation, maybe just reading a magazine at home for example?
Though the thing is that anxiety has become associated with numbers, so numbers automatically trigger anxiety?
It's a bit like if you were attacked and severely bitten by a dog as a child? For the rest of your life, whenever you hear the word dog, you will immediately feel anxious.
Where rather than being bitten by a dog, it was more likely from years of abuse from teachers? As well as maybe from friends, relatives and employers?
But the most important point, is that Dyscalculics should never be made to feel anxious about their Dyscalculia!
Dyscalculia is just a fact of life!
This is perhaps the main reason for Spreading the Word about Dyscalculia?
So that Dyscalculics are never made to feel anxious about numbers!
Which will only add to their difficulty.
Geoff.
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| Moss |
Posted on February 14 2006 09:21 PM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-02-13
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Excactly. When we (ALL dyscalculics) start demanding the help we need, things will change .
I think why most of us don't ask for help is fear and I'm as guility of it as anyone else.
In school it's fear of being put in a special class or being made fun of by your peers and at work it's fear of losing your job or being passed over for advancement.
It's hard to get past that fear usually. I'm trying to myself everyday
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| Nicola |
Posted on February 15 2006 12:42 PM
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Member
Location: Scotland
Posts: 108
Joined: 2006-02-08
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That's exactly it. I work in an IT environment where I've managed to ensure that I deal with users rather than attempt any code-work because I just can't get my head round the logic of it. So there's this fear that I'm a fraud and I'll be found out...  But if I tried to explain to my bosses, I know that there are personnel procedures in place to protect me etc, but it's the fear of being labelled.
However, I do have anxiety attacks about money, whether it's trying to sort out my finances (and not just because there are none  but because I can't grasp how to DO it) so I get very very anxious when dealing with a bank, or a company I've to pay money to, etc. To the extent that after an encounter (even checking my bank balance when I know there's money there) I feel very tearful and upset. Wuss, huh?  |
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| Moss |
Posted on February 15 2006 09:31 PM
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Member
Location: Canada
Posts: 16
Joined: 2006-02-13
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Hell no, you're not a wuss. A wuss is someone who doesn't try anything ever. You go out everyday and work in job where there are challenges to your LD. |
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| Tina |
Posted on February 16 2006 06:59 PM
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Member
Location: US
Posts: 104
Joined: 2005-06-09
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We are no "wussies". I'm impressed by everyone's survival and coping skills - It takes a good portion of perserverance and intelligence as a dyscalculic to navigate in a number society.
Edited by Tina on February 16 2006 07:00 PM
"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." ~ Jonathan Winters |
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