Why panic attacks are increasing in corporate job holders?
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you’re losing control, having a heart attack or even dying. Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends.
Jenny works in Marks and Spencer for the last 9 years. Suddenly, she suffered a panic attack in workplace causing all heads to turn! Bobby works in Walmart store of Chicago. He is confident and patient. He can take pressure. One day, he almost fainted following a panic attack!
There are so many aspects a job that can cause anxiety: having tight deadlines, trying to harmonize a work/life balance, dealing with office gossip and politics, meeting your supervisor’s expectation, the list goes on. Thanks to all this, most people who work will experience some anxiety at some point. But what do you do if your workplace makes you feel that way on a regular basis? When you have an anxiety disorder and work constantly triggers your symptoms.
“People are in distress,” Dr. Charles Lattarulo, clinical director of Harris, Rothenberg International said. “They’re calling with panic attacks, anxiety and depression. They’re working a lot more hours. They’re not taking lunch, and they’re not taking vacations.” A recent report from Harris, Rothenberg International found that the number of calls workers were making to company-sponsored Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) increased by almost 10 percent in 2008. “A couple of years ago, employees would call about one issue,” Lattarulo said. “Maybe they were stressed at work or they were depressed. Now they’re calling about a complexity of issues: debt, stress, marital problems, and their children acting out.” “We have a much more serious problem than we had a year ago,” said Barry Shore, professor of decision sciences at the University of New Hampshire, Whittemore School of Business and Economics. “The recession has permanently changed the workplace.” “A year ago we were saying, ‘Socialize, go bowling and do all those activities that are going to make you feel better,'” Shore offered. “Now that only goes so far. You can’t go around hoping things will be better, and you can’t sit there and long suffer.” “I’m seeing several additional patients per week with stress-related illnesses,” said Dr. Linda Petter, a physician practicing family medicine in Tacoma, Wash. “People are not coping well. They’re so worried about losing their jobs and homes that they’re losing track of taking care of themselves.”
References
