Work Phobias
There are few employees that aren’t besieged by sweaty palms and butterflies in their stomach at the thought of having to do a big presentation at work. But are you so terrified that you call in sick to avoid something you consider torture?
It’s estimated that about one in four people suffer from a phobia of some sort. When we think of phobias, most point to arachnophobia — the fear of spiders — or claustrophobia — a fear of tight spaces. One of the most common phobias is a fear of public speaking, a usual part of office life. But when does a fear turn into a major phobia? That happens when you’ve lost the ability to control it, when it becomes extreme and irrational and it has a detrimental effect on your life.
Some phobias that can pop up at the workplace are a fear of speaking in front of others, a fear of socializing, a fear of heights or claustrophobia are all phobias that could affect your working life.
How can you tell if your fear has gotten out of control and is verging on panic? If you feel that you’d rather quit your job rather than make a presentation to your co-workers, then you should think about getting some help. If you work on the 20th floor of a building but refuse to take the elevator and are always late because you’re hiking it up 20 sets of stairs, you need to address the problem. It’s normal to get nervous before a presentation but you should be able to manage that anxiety, even if it’s a deep-seated fear that harks back to forgetting the words of your speech to your Grade 5 class.
If you get bitterly cold feet about speaking in public, your best defense is to make sure you’re completely prepared. You can at least take solace that you’re ready to face the crowds if you know all your facts and papers are in order. Confidence is key in this situation. You can also rehearse your speech in front of a friendly crowd, say your favourite co-workers or friends or your spouse.
The best way to deal with your intense anxiety is to face your fears head-on. Take a deep breath and take the elevator to the 2nd floor. Then get off and walk the rest. Then try taking the elevator to the third floor — repeated exposure will help you realize that nothing bad is going to happen to you. Desensitizing is the best way to manage phobias.
Some phobias can be too debilitating for people to manage on their own. To get rid of that fear you’re going to have to face what terrifies you and it might require the intervention of a professional.
