Jury Duty ...severe anxiety and PTSD with panic attacks

I cannot do it but where I live the way the forms read I MUST do it even a docs excuse will only get me out of that two week period..I CANNOT do this Its also in a BIG building in a rough city not mine ....I can't

The thought of being picked and locked in a jury room....... no way for me either, even tough I would love to serve.

I got a letter from my Dr that said , No way, no how, not now, not never! and took that with me when I showed up for duty. They never called me again. I say ignore the fine print and get a letter from yer Doc. I bet they won't call you again either! Goodest luck.

Ok, let's review it.

1) What is the worst thing that could happen if you go?

2) So, in the ideal world, what would going to Jury Duty be like for you?

Yep, sleeps, I'm with you that I couldn't handle it. I agree with hillbunny about getting a note from the dr. They might ask why and will probably determine whether you'll be called anymore.

GL! Let us know?

kd

YES Exactly but the wording on it is even with a doctors note you will only be excused for this period...I cannot be shut in,.,.,I do NOT do parking ramps ...I get lost..It's a high crime area AND they are only giving me 7 days to get a note from a doc.....I have a holiday here ...I am thinking of doing something crazy to get outta it....I know me, I will panic ....and sweat and then RUN......they said you must SIT on the Jury...so its not like I can say I am a bad person or something to get outta it I am in a panic

LMO

1...pass out, fidget....be in contempt because of that and running

2 serving online ....not ....cannot do it

Kimmy I know and I cannot do this....they have all kinda threats there too since 9-11 and I can't.....This sucks..I got the form today

OK, try to get a breath or two in ..... If you can't think of a Dr who could give you a note in time, here are a couple more thoughts:
1) When I showed up once without a note, they took one look at me and put my paper on the bottom of the pile. (This is a good time to start revealing your stress symptoms if jsut walking into the courthouse didn't do it already...)
2) the Judge will ask for people who can't serve to raise their hands. You would have to explain that you're claustrophobic right there in front of everybody, but, the Judge will let you go, especially if you're twitching, (if you know what I mean...)
3) they really don't want somebody who can't do it.
In the meantime: BREATH: in goes the good air, out goes the bad air and scarey thoughts. Repeat. Hang in there and keep us posted, ok?

PS Take a friend or friends with you. They can hang in the hallway while you deal with the clerks and stuff, if it gets that far.

Thanks Bunny....I just don't even think I can show up......I am freaking

for me jury duty was more anxiety but amounted to nothing. I went to the courthouse everyday and sat with a roomfull of people. the room had some tables set up, on some coffee doughnuts and so on and on others puzzles, newspapers, magazines (outdated so after the first day I took my oun books). you basically sat there either talking and munching of the food they brought in or did whatever you brought with you. each day throughout the day numbers were called to go on a case. If your number didn't get called you didn't do anything. when my number was called on the last day of my "serviing" it was for a motor vehicle accident with a possible drunk driver. I was taken up to the courtroom to be guestioned by lawyers on both sides to see if they wanted to keep me on the jury for the case or send me home. Basically each side asked each person two questions. My first one was do I drink? and the second if I knew anyone who drank and drove. My answers not any more and my relative died while drinking and driving. those were from the defendants lawyer and the prosecution said no questions. then they both wrote something down on paper. and gave it to the judge. a couple people later the judge told me I was free to leave I would not be serving on that jury. So that told me that one or the other considered my answers a danger to either proving their client innocent or guilty. during that two weeks jury selections 600 people were sent notices and only 120 people were needed for active serving. when I asked why they sent out so many notices there are never any guarentees on how many people go through the court room questionaires before they find those twelve they need so to be safe they send out for above and beyond what they really need.

I cant tell you how to get out of active service but what helped me alot was taking a backpack with things from home to comfort and keep me busiy while waiting for my number to be called. I took crocheting, 2 books(one reading one puzzle type), snacks and gum (lots of gum LOL) and a notebook and 2 pens.

Sleeps,

Calm down hun. I also was selected for jury duty. I tried to get out of it the first time but they rescheduled it again. It was terrible. So I totally understand. Thing is, on the morning that you are to report for duty, they have you call a #, usually, you will be excused and not have to serve at all. Sometimes these cases are settled before the actualy court date so you wont have to appear.

I hope this helps eases your mind a little bit.

Thinking of you.


Huggles,

Jen

PS I got bologna in my left pocket

JMO AND MYSELF..I will reply tomorrow but no way I can not serve if I go because it's some new deal and the form sez medical excuses will ONLY excuse you from that two weeks....that you MUST serve on an active Jury..so they will recall you for 2 weeks...this is 2 weeks I must be available.....in winter at that I am too tense to reply this late

Oh heck, CALL THE JUDGE. what have you got to loose?

Thanks everyone all who posted here and in PM I will not know on doctors notes until Monday or Tues and will keep you posted ....I gotta get out of this and am on a road to destruction just waiting on it all...imagine if I cannot get out of it

So I had to fill my form out tonight on the jury duty deal...They asked what do I have special needs the court may need to take into consideration or something....so I put yes due to my panic attacks and anxiety attacks as well as medical needs... I will need a LOT of ice water , a place to pace, Kleenex I may sweat a lot, my meds available to me and meals at all times, a place to lay down, a bathroom near by because I get diarrhea when I am really freaked out.....

I busted out loling at the diarrhea cause nobody in their right mind would say that true or not....and I could not stop loling. So Mr. Dang I gotta take you for surgery....looks over and sez.......all snotty....."you cannot lie on that " I said I am not lying and mega loled more.....on commercial I read it too him and even he had to lol

That and all my replies to have I been a victim of this and that crime made me lol I wrote on the form...OK where do I start and as I filled them all in I thought....wow I would not even want me on a jury

I think it's safe to say that you will not be selected. Or if they do select you, then think about the laughs you will have about it later!

LMO at worse I WILL have to show but no lawyer in his right mind would want me lol hahahahha....diarrhea every time I think on that I lol..can you imagine the clerk who has to read that ? hahahahahaha

And the crimes I have been a victim of...again what defense lawyer would want me

the diarreah excuse is priceless... and I do realize it's not merely an excuse -- it's not an uncommon reaction to anxiety.

I have a friend who is a trainer, and that happens to her CONSISTENTLY right before she has to teach a course she hasn't taught before. I feel so bad for her. How disatracting to have to be in the front of the room, with everyone staring at you, and feel your stomach start gurgling...

Ok, so in light of all that, I dont' think you should sweat it. You're not going to get picked. I've sat waiting to get picked for Jury Duty twice, but never got picked -- mostly because they always call way more people than they actually need -- they aren't desperate for jurors, so I wouldn't anticipate them pressuring you in ANY way.

Oh like your friend its totally true and I don't have much time if ya know what I mean CLEAR THE COURTROOM Still I pray I don't have to go down there...BUMMER is when I was more stable I wanted to be on a jury so much........grrrr lol

Sleeps, Yo Yay, You got yer sense of humor back. Rock on!!
You ol' poopy pant you. See, even the darndest symptoms can come in handy. You cracked me up this a.m., thanks.
I'm thinking of you. Gives new meaning to the BYOB--- bring your own bucket....... hahahaha

((((((sleeps)))))))
Sounds like you had a lot of fun filling out that form.
I don't think you'll have to worry about serving.

hahahah bunny and jax no not a worry now....hehehhe I love the BYOB

I had a call from my doc and they said they will have a note for the A.M AND if I get called hahahah they have special forms set up that I can use

maybe my new name should be POOPY PANTS and yeah I did lol very hard doing the forms.....I was SO honest it was extra funny

Bullet dodged

Hallelluyaaa!!!