Dissociate

get sent home tbh

Uhhhhhhhh go to the bathroom and cry. Picture quitting and living in Stardew Valley. Text my two favorite people and get it all off my chest. Cry some more.

Shit's rough.

I was given a quick break to the bathroom and calmed down. Something to drink that's warm and not caffinated helps, like hot water or an herbal tea. Also helps to have supportive partners, which I'm thankful to have had to get me through it.

It was after I made a big messup in drive thru during peak while working it on my own. After the break, I went right back at it and got through.

If you're really having a hard time and have no more breaks, it's ideal to go home if possible.

Emperors cloud with a little steamed lemonade. Works like a charm👌

Oh wow i had no idea any other baristas had anxiety honestly everyone in my store is so mello and ok all the time and i try my best to hide it but most of my anxiety comes from customers questioning and staring at me uncomfortably so i usually think of things that are funny to myself or i think of a song as cheesy as that sounds Lol

I was crying on bar for a good 30 mins until another shift arrived and he took over for me so I could calm down.

a little while ago I started having an anxiety attack a little before work, and it just kept on going, so I made myself a mint majesty and sat in the back until my shift started. it didn't really help but I feel like it could have lol if I'd tried doing some sensory grounding stuff with it, like feel the warmth in my hands smell the mint in my nose etc. this was a very physical anxiety attack though, like the tight chest rapid heartbeat freakout type

I know it's cliche but deep breaths really do help me. as well as some advice one of my partners gave me to help quell anxiety: "people can wait". try to remember that it's just coffee; anyone getting worked up about it needs to go find something real to worry about. you're doing your best and that's all that can be expected of you. think of it one customer at a time, one car at a time, one order at a time, two drinks at a time. no sense worrying about what you haven't reached yet. I care too much about everything I do so reminding myself that none of it matters very much can be soothing.

I hope any of this helped and I wish you better, calmer shifts in future! panic attacks are [jean-ralphio saperstein voice] the woooooorst, and it always sucks when you can't get yourself out of them

As a barista I was always too nervous to tell a shift or go to the back since our store is hella high volume, there wouldn't be any time for that and I never wanna cause problems (though, now as a shift, if I see a partner is dealing with it I immediately offer to let them go to the back!)

My way of dealing with it is with sensation grounding. Idk if that's what it's officially called but I call it that. I rub my shoulders really hard, clasp my hands tight, or sometimes if it's really bad I dig my nails into my shoulders or hands. Not enough to hurt myself or anything, but the strong sensation helps keep me grounded and forward thinking!

I go to a somatic therapist. Quick things I tried would be giving myself really strong grips from my wrist to shoulders or hands on head with a 4/8 breathing. If you’re lucky tell your SS what’s happening and just ask for step off to do that.

It helped me get through the rest of my shifts, but I also ask if they can put me on CS or just catch to up on floors/drains.

*edit:
Also I’ve asked to be sent home too, it’s always an option and no company ever pays us enough to endure a panic attack for the rest of our shift.

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