[seesaw]

This is really sad. You'd think going through the situation with me that they'd figure it out.

A co-worker of mine has severe panic disorder. He's worked it out with his supervisor that he can leave meetings (excuse himself politely) if he needs to. He often gets triggered by our CEO (I can understand that) and has to excuse himself from meetings. His supervisor understands, but our CEO sees it as insubordination. He has no compassion.

I had to just talk this co-worker down because he had to step out of a meeting and was freaking out about what the CEO was thinking about him, because the CEO clearly thinks poorly of him because he has panic attacks.

I calmed him down and told him what really matters is what his supervisor thinks. And he has it worked out with his supervisor. So I told him, once you're calm, check in with your supervisor on anything you missed and what you need to follow-up on, and thank him for covering for you because of your illness. Make it clear you want to get everything done, you just need some help occasionally.

I feel bad for this co-worker because I find our CEO really triggering too, but I've been through enough treatment to be able to at least handle a meeting with him. This co-worker is only 25, gave up a performing career as a violinist because of his panic disorder, and now works as an orchestra manager. It's really hard when you have anxiety to sit in a meeting with someone who has ALL the power and no compassion for you.

I wish I could do more to help him.

Our organization does so much to help people with physical disabilities; it really makes me sad that we treat people with MI so poorly.

So...at least it's not just me.

Misery loves company, I guess.

Seesaw

Even though it was just small, what you did was wonderful. May have helped him a whole lot...

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by Hopingtrying

Even though it was just small, what you did was wonderful. May have helped him a whole lot...

I stand up for the little guys at work too much. It's made me a target because I think employees should be protected, not run into the ground.

Maybe I should go work for a union...

[guilloche]

Your CEO sounds so awful (not just from this, but your other posts as well). Good for you for helping this guy out. I can imagine how frustrating it is that your company provides so much assistance for physical disabilities, but is completely clueless about mental health issues.... it's just crazy-making, isn't it?

[seesaw]

Yes, it is crazy making. But I hope we are making some progress by educating.

[GreenBlueRed]

Good to hear his supervisor is supportive, at least.

A coworker of mine was having severe panic attacks (he is doing much better now, I am happy to say). He was going to therapy once a week during the day with approval from his supervisor.

Some of the other workers got upset and said he was getting "special treatment" and it was unfair that he was allowed to take time off in the day for therapy. I about blew a gasket hearing that talk. Like it is any of their problem anyway, it didn't affect them.

At first, he would panic while I was the only person there at the end of the workday because he was afraid of driving home. I would stay until he felt he could get through it. We stayed at work until 8pm once. He tried to keep this fear of driving a secret, but I was always there with him, so he confided.

The whining from coworkers finally stopped when he had a severe panic attack in front of everyone after he ran out of Xanax, and I drove him to his clinic to get a refill of his prescription, and we just generally stayed away from the office until he could calm down. People shut up after that.

It sucks how some people never can think about what others go through. If that CEO heard your coworker was not attending the meeting because his kidney was failing, would he still call it insubordination? Is that obvious enough? Apparently, that CEO's ego is worth more than the health of the employees allowing his company to function.

Sorry, this sort of thing gets me mad.

Educating is good.

[seesaw]

Originally Posted by GreenBlueRed

Good to hear his supervisor is supportive, at least.

A coworker of mine was having severe panic attacks (he is doing much better now, I am happy to say). He was going to therapy once a week during the day with approval from his supervisor.

Some of the other workers got upset and said he was getting "special treatment" and it was unfair that he was allowed to take time off in the day for therapy. I about blew a gasket hearing that talk. Like it is any of their problem anyway, it didn't affect them.

At first, he would panic while I was the only person there at the end of the workday because he was afraid of driving home. I would stay until he felt he could get through it. We stayed at work until 8pm once. He tried to keep this fear of driving a secret, but I was always there with him, so he confided.

The whining from coworkers finally stopped when he had a severe panic attack in front of everyone after he ran out of Xanax, and I drove him to his clinic to get a refill of his prescription, and we just generally stayed away from the office until he could calm down. People shut up after that.

It sucks how some people never can think about what others go through. If that CEO heard your coworker was not attending the meeting because his kidney was failing, would he still call it insubordination? Is that obvious enough? Apparently, that CEO's ego is worth more than the health of the employees allowing his company function.

Sorry, this sort of thing gets me mad. Educating is good.

Thank you. Finally someone understands.