Not being taken seriously b/c of anxiety disorder! Help!

[Hope75]

Have you ever been not taken seriously b/c a person you have to deal with on a daily basis knows you have an anxiety disorder (thru gossip)?  I couldn't quite figure it out, but now I know.  This person thinks I am a "spaz" and that I am overreacting to everything.  I am very honest and will tell anyone when I am having anxiety/"overreacting".  I can assure you am not overreacting about this situation, but when you keep telling someone about your legitimate concerns and they blow you off as "freaking out", what the hell do you do?  What has happened now is, I am very angry and that leads to anxiety.  So now, I DO have anxiety because I am sooo pissed off!  Do I tell this person exactly what I think?  I don't know, but my anxiety is keeping me miserable right now with chest pain/crying/anger, lots of anger:(

[JSGeare]

Funny how just having the right arrow in your quiver can change things. My shrink told me a story about how he was being stalked by a female former patient -she would follow him when he walked home, hang out at the edge of his yard -it was creeoy. So the shrink called an old classmate who had a practice in Hollywood and specialized in helping movie stars who were creeped out by stalkers.

His advice to my shrink (Phil) : "Get a gun." Phil couldn't believe it. "I can't get a gun!" he protested -"I don't shoot people. I've never used a gun!"

"Get a gun," his friend said. "You called for my professional opinion -I'm telling you -get the gun - a pistol you can carry with you."

So Phil got his gun, took the training, got a "carry" permit. But he left the gun at home the first day -forgot to take it with him.

But even so, the stalking stopped. Why? Because Kathy (stalker) somehow detected that Phil carried himself differently -seemed more formidable somehow. Phil never did carry his gun -and never had another problem with Kathy.

And so YOU -now armed with Federal Regulations that impose huge fines and penalties on the person who bothers you AND the employer- will somehow be a bit "different." And the problem may never re-surface.

But if it does -get 'im right betyween the eyes!

You go, girl.

[Hope75]

Thanks!  Yes, it is someone I work with.   It has let up now, but I know it will rear its ugly head again.  I will take all of your suggestions, truly.  I am 32 and I do let people's thoughts about me get to me, but when certain actions are not taken in the workplace just because you are deemed a "spaz", then it affects your work - which should not be tolerated.  It's as if they think I am crying "wolf".  thanks again all!!

[againnot]

You didn't really say....is this person someone you work with?

[JSGeare]

What happens NOW is that you go to her (or his) supervisor and tell them flast out what the problem is. And what the problem IS -is harrassment in the workplace. You might first want to take your antagonist aside and gib\ve them THIS little wake-up call:

"Joan (John) I know you think I am quite challenged by my condition which I assure you is much more of a burden for ME to carry than it is for you to observe. But it is getting to the point that you are making it difficult for me to do my work effectively and in some reasonable degree of comfort. I have been advised that I may have recourse under the provisions of the Department of Labor's Workplace Harrassment Regulations which exist to protect employees from harrassment by co-workers and employers. So, I'm asking you to please ease up on me, both to me directly and in terms of what you may report to others about me. I will be happy to engage you in a serious discussion about my condition during non-work hours, if you truly are interested. Otherwise, if you persist in teasing me and interrupting me because of my condition, I will report it and request action to protect me from any further intrusions."

Or something like that.

What this person is doing is no different than making fun of someone who has a physical handicap and it usually is a sign of that person's OWN insecurity. No need to get in a fight -just lay out the facts. THEN, if it happens again, make a report IN WRITING to the supervisor who is in a position to act on it.

OK?

OK!

-JSGeare

[againnot]

Right or wrong...I don't tell many people that I have anxiety disorder.  I don't know how old you are, but, I think you will find that the older you get, you won't care what people say or think about it.  In fact, they probably have their own issues that you don't know about.  
I had a customer the other day at work ask me if she was making me nervous.  I said no, why don't you think that?  She said "because your hands are shaking".  ok.  I laughed...said I must be hungry, but, it was my buddy anxiety.  
Let that person think you are a "spaz".  Don't let her get to you.  Life is too short.    
I'm sure there are many people that think I am a spaz too.  Let them!