Summary
Highlights
Alex Jones meets Dr. Natarajan, expressing her current distress and feelings of 'losing her mind' after a difficult period. She describes feeling irrational and unable to cope, leading to a sense of things spiraling out of control.
Alex explains that her anxiety began after a meeting at work three months prior. Her institution announced redundancies and cuts, specifically targeting her unique department. This created a fear of losing her job, which she had invested eight years in building.
Alex recounts her first severe physical reaction during the redundancy meeting. She felt a loss of breath, a tightening chest, and a rapid heartbeat, believing she was having a heart attack. This experience was deeply frightening and traumatic.
The anxiety worsened when senior staff began auditing lectures, leading Alex to experience another panic attack in class. She left work and has since struggled to return, with even emails or mentions of cuts triggering panic symptoms.
Alex's anxiety has spilled into her home life, causing her to avoid answering the phone due to fear of work-related calls. She tries to distract herself with gardening and generally sleeps well, except for nights preceding work-related appointments. She also avoids shopping near work to prevent encountering colleagues.
Before the redundancy meeting, Alex had been fine, but rumors of cuts had made her worried. She expresses a strong desire to return to work and prove her course's value. Dr. Natarajan notes that her GP suspected anxiety, which Alex feels is an understatement.