Over 8 million people in the U.K. are experiencing an anxiety condition at any one time. For many of these people, this anxiety condition will include panic and panic attacks.
Panic attacks are a very difficult thing to live with. They can be brought on by a range of different stimuli and triggers and they can be experienced with a similarly broad range of symptoms. The most common symptoms of panic attacks include:
- Shortness of breath
- Sensations of a tight throat or something stuck in the throat
- Chest pain
- Tingling
- Fainting
- Vomiting
- Hallucinations
Living with panic attacks on a daily basis is a stressful and tiring thing for many people across the U.K. They can cause disruption and discomfort in every area of a person’s life. An important area that will talk about on this page is that of work and employment.
Panic attacks can have a significant effect on someone’s work in a variety of ways. On this page, we are going to discuss how you can get support if you are someone who experiences panic attacks. Also, critically, we will discuss how employers can support an employee who deals with panic attacks.
It takes effort from both sides to make a better future for everyone.
Support for People Who Experience Panic Attacks
If you deal with panic attacks, it is important to know that there are lots of avenues of support available for you, both inside and outside of work. You don’t need to suffer in silence and you do deserve to receive support.
Many people who live with panic attacks feel reluctant to speak up about their experience. This is often to do with the social stigma attached to mental health problems. However, you can really do yourself a favour by disclosing your condition to your employer and seeking help for what you are dealing with.
Fortunately, there are a few different ways in which you can receive support as someone who experiences panic attacks.
These include:
- Reasonable adjustments at work: Including time off for counselling, options for flexible, hybrid and remote work, changes to work desk/physical setting, increased break allowance, reduced workload during flare-ups, and so on.
- Counselling: Either through a work scheme or from your independent sources, receiving counselling is a fantastic way to get support with panic attacks. There are lots of counsellors and counselling charities across the U.K. that can help. The Counselling Directory is a great place to find a connection in your area.
- NHS and medical help: At times, you may feel that you need medical help for the physical symptoms of panic. Talking to your GP is a great first step in dealing with this. The NHS can help you with panic attacks in multiple ways, including medication, liaison with community mental health teams and signposting to external resources.
- Social support: The more you talk about your experiences, the more you open doors to connect with those around you. If you share your experience of panic attacks at work, you might find a great deal of support from your co-workers. Having a multifaceted support team is the best way to feel that you have the right help when you need it.
- Crisis helplines: Sometimes, panic can feel terrifying. It can be scary to deal with the symptoms alone and often we might need emergency support. That is ok. There are crisis helplines available 24/7 and for free that can help you in these times. Try Samaritans on 116 123 from anywhere in the U.K.
Making the most out of all of these options will help you get the support you need. It isn’t always easy to disclose a condition or disability, but when you do, you allow yourself access to a range of support. And you deserve that.
How Employers Can Help
It can be difficult to know what to do when you have an employee dealing with panic attacks at work. If you don’t know how to help, you may even be worried to say anything at all in case you say the wrong thing. However, how you support your employees can make a huge difference in their lives. Support at work can sometimes be the catalyst for change in someone’s life.
Some ways that you can help as an employer include:
- Taking training and undergoing learning: If you are worried about saying the right thing, then take the time to go and learn what to say. There are plenty of training and development opportunities available for those who want to learn more about mental health. You can really make the most of this type of support by bringing the training into the workplace and providing it as a resource for your colleagues and staff too. The more we know, the more we can help.
- Creating a disability-friendly environment: The more that someone knows they will be supported at work, the less they may experience panic symptoms at work. Creating a supportive and inclusive environment where employees know they are understood and listened to can make a massive difference to someone living with panic.
- Responding to reasonable adjustment requests quickly: If an employee has the courage to disclose their disability and request reasonable adjustments to help them manage this at work, you can show them respect by responding in a timely and understanding manner. It isn’t always easy for them. You can help make it slightly easier on your end.
- Become a Disability-Confident employer: Showing your employees and future employers your status as Disability-Confident helps everyone. It helps demonstrate your ethical stance on inclusivity and show your commitment to change.
Where We Come In
At Careers with Disabilities, we can help both employees and employers become more comfortable working with panic and anxiety.
For employees, we have a disability-friendly job board where you can find accessible opportunities. Make sure to check out or jobs for people with panic attacks. We also have a directory of inclusive companies to work for. Finding the right opportunity where you can be supported can be transformative.
For employers, we have a range of services for employers that will help you become equal, inclusive and diverse. We can help you alter your communications and advertisements to be inclusive of disabled people. We can also help you on your journey to provide more support.
Check out our disabled employee support and services for employers over on Careers with Disabilities. We would love to see you there.
