Wouldn't frequent panic attacks warrant a change in workplace? Or at least an attempt from your company to make you comfortable? (This is assuming that you've brought it up to them, which you should do)
Wouldn't frequent panic attacks warrant a change in workplace?
I don't have them often anymore, and they're pretty manageable at this point. When I started having them, there were discernible triggers and they were debilitating. Now they tend to happen at random (but are rare and rarely intense enough to be more than an unpleasant experience) and, 15 minutes later, I'm back to normal.
This is assuming that you've brought it up to them, which you should do
I don't like to have that discussion. Two reasons. One, it would block me from leadership opportunities, anywhere in private-sector technology except R&D (where excellence, instead of reliable mediocrity, actually matters). It could get me a better office, but I'd be the "diva" and never get promoted. Two, most companies see that sort of disclosure as an aggressive move. As they see it, it's the kind of thing you do if you're expecting to get fired, to lock in a severance.
Telling my manager at Google about these issues led him to toy with me for months, and the fallout really fucked up my career.
In the rare case that I have to miss a meeting, I use "headache" instead of what it actually is.
> Telling my manager at Google about these issues led him to toy with me for months, and the fallout really fucked up my career.
I'm really sorry to hear about that. They could have handled things a lot better.
I had my first panic attack a few years ago, trigged by non-work-related stuff. Everyone in my group up to the VP really went above and beyond supporting me through it. Thing is, that support built loyalty. I haven't had a panic attack in years now, but I'm still at that same company because of the kindness and caring the management showed. It was a real spark of that now rare, old-school silicon valley "caring about people" attitude and they showed me by example the kind of manager I want to be.
Also, I know from experience everyone and their brother hands out advice and remedies, but look into Propranalol. It's a beta-blocker with no mental effect and no known long-term side-effects. Public speakers and concert musicians take it to keep the physical symptoms of panic away. It totally blocks the heart palpitations, shaking and sweating. Block the symptoms and the rest takes care of itself - at least it did for me.
