Steven - Module 1

Hi, I’m Steven. I’m a junior financial analyst. It’s my first real job. I was so excited when I got it. Finally, I’ll be making some real money and not a student’s salary. Unfortunately things haven’t been going quite as well as I had hoped. About 6 months ago, I was out at the bar with some coworkers having drinks. It was a Thursday night and we were at a hot spot, so it was pretty crowded. We were all laughing and joking, and then I noticed that my heart was pounding pretty hard, I was getting hot and kinda shaky. I remember someone asking me if I was OK, because apparently, I had gotten quiet. I noticed that my chest was hurting a bit and I started to wonder if I was having a heart attack. I remembered that chest pain was one of the symptoms, as well as some tingling and numbness, which I then started to notice. I was starting to get freaked out and I just wanted to get some air because by this time, it felt like I couldn’t get a good breath. It was just so packed, so I think I bumped into a few people as I tried to get outside. It was super scary, like nothing I had experienced before. In the next days, I noticed that kept looking out for any of those symptoms. I started to experience them more frequently, particularly in crowded places like the grocery store or Walmart on the weekends. I started to shop there at times that weren’t so busy, like late at night. I’ve also started avoiding going to the bar with coworkers, just in case it happens again, because it was just so unpleasant and scary. I’m worried, though, because going out with coworkers is a good way to stay in-the-know at work, but I just feel that it’s too risky. Hopefully, this program will help.

What do you think is Steven’s main problem?

1. Depression
2. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
3. Social Anxiety
4. Panic Disorder

Homework

My 3 goals for the program:

1) go out with coworkers again

2) Shop at normal times again or at least not base my decision to go on how busy the store could be

3) Feel ok in an elevator

Where I put my goals

I can’t really post my goals at work, I don’t want people there to know of the problems I’m having. I decided instead to hang a picture of me at a concert I went to a few years ago. I was in the thick of things and having a blast. No way I could that now, but it’s something I hope to do again.

Pros and cons of changing behaviour

Coming up with reasons to keep this problem was pretty hard….there’s really nothing good about it. I guess it’s just fear of what could happen if I don’t get out when it’s happening that really is keep me from stopping because what if something bad does happen?

Advantages of changing behaviour (imagine what life would like without it)	Disadvantages of changing behaviour (why you wouldn’t want to)
1) I’d get my life back. 2) I wouldn’t constantly be worried about having a heart attack. 3) I’d be able to socialize again.	1) I might have a heart attack. 2) I might embarrass myself in the process. 3)

Pros and cons of maintaining behaviour (not changing) or trying to change

Advantages of keeping behaviour (i.e. reasons to keep it, how it helps me)	Disadvantages of behaviour (i.e., problems it causes me, reason to change it)
1) I haven’t passed out yet, though I think I’ve come close. 2) 3)	1) I feel like a hermit. 2) It’s inconvenient not being able to take transit when I want. 3) This could start interfering with my work.

Read Module 1 reports from the other learners.

Jenny	Mark	Ann-Marie