Tips on relaxing... advice needed!

Hey,

I gave my job up about a month and a half ago to fully concentrate on getting better (plus i was taking so much time of sick it was only a matter of time before I would have got fired anyways!) but now have been offered some freelance work from home from another company - the only thing that stands in my way is that I got to go for a meeting first off and sign a contract.

The meeting is in the next town over which is a bit out of my comfort zone, as I have only just got used to travelling around the immediate area, - it is quite a big step to take for me but then is the only thing that stands in my way of getting back to some sort of normality. Have anyone got any advice on how to relax and stay calm?! - Im really worried that I'll have some sort of panick attack either before or during the meeting and just totally embarress myself!

I have already put some pre-cautions in place...

- I have a phobia of trains, so I have a person I trust to drive me over

- I've booked a hotel room on the same road as where the interview is being held so I have some where to go incase Im ill, before and after the interview (i know... very expensive precautions!)

- I have my i-pod stacked full of relaxation tracks

- I have sceduled the meeting for 2pm to avoid much traffic - as I know I tend to panick in traffic jams

- I have an outift ready which makes me feel the confident part

Have anyone got any other advice tips that I could try out? Normally I would get through a day of the outside world by not eatting before hand and taking immodium... both of these I dont want to result in doing, but Im half tempted to? should I? It is like my safety net and im already panicking enough? Im confused?! I know I should do it the healthy way and eat before hand and not take un-neccessary tablets - but it is just one day where I got to be on top form? I am trying to think positive about this meeting but I just cant seem to get negative images out of my head...

Wow, well done! You have set up a brilliant plan, and I'm sure that all will go well. The only thing I can suggest is to write down some positive mantras to read/repeat to yourself. Think of some comforting/affirming thoughts that will help get you through. My personal favorite for when I'm feeling scared (especially when I awake in the middle of the night) is "I'm okay, it's only fear" It helps remind me that there's nothing actually going to happen to me, I am just reacting to my own worried mind.

If you feel like you really can't eat, try sipping a suppliment shake like ensure. It will give you some calories, without upsetting your stomach.

Remember, even if you do start to panic during your meeting, chances are no one will notice. I have had panic attacks in front of audiences, and no one was the wiser;p...just breathe deep and slow, you will get through it!

Good luck, and let us know how it goes, we are cheering you on!
S.C.

i am in neuropharmacology and i do not believe a medication is the answer to life's everyday stressors, although in this case a interview during these tight pocketed times ranks up there with stage-fright. a little known secret for public speakers, professional billiard players, poker players, ect. is a one time dose of INDERAL or "propranolol" which is a first generation non-selective beta-blocker anti-hypertensive. this is a labeled use of the drug, one time about 2 hours prior to interview time. it should not effect your cognition, physical control or anything except block the beta-adrenergic receptors in your sympathetic nervous system thereby preventing adrenalin or norepinephrine from having any interaction with it's uptake receptor, in this case all kinds of beta-receptors unlike newer selective beta-adrenergic blockers like Bystolic with is for lowering high blood pressure. INDERAL will prevent the "fight or flight" response, but you need to run it by your MD. if you have asthma you should not use beta-blockers but other than that they are pretty safe. Google propranolol and stage-fright and check it out. best of luck with your interview, you do seem ready. NICK

i am glad it went well for you!