Discussion Topic
oh God!..i've got to start dealing with the public
Posted on 10/06/09, 01:15 pm
i havent been here a while i've been busy working and going to school..if any of you remember me i have horrible anxiety and panic attacks also suffer from depression ..well i stuck to the challenge of beauty school and finished all my book work almost a year YEAH!!..now the hard part working in the student salon..palms are already sweaty and yesterday i felt like running away..i have put so much into this..need some support or advice how to work threw it instead of running away..thanks.
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Reply #1 10/07/09 3:49pm
You just need to get started and to build some confidence. It will be uncomfortable at first but make up your mind that you are going to do it no matter what. I have used this approach and it works. I'll bet you'll do great and once you get started, you're anxiety will leave you. Good luck. -
Reply #2 10/07/09 7:05pm
I'm so very proud of you Lisa for making and comitting to your school work and training. I find it easier to try and focus in on specific things are people to make a room seem smaller. I also sing a happy song in my head over and over to keep the ramblings of negative thoughts out. I don't know if you take any meds, but xanex works great when and if things get bad. Visualization can also help before going into the salon. I use this before new challenges and then it seems like I've done them before and it's not so scary. -
Reply #3 10/08/09 2:41am
u both have given me some excellent advice..ECC,the do it no matter approach is what i've been using so far..i did four cuts and consulted over 20 some people today..trust me it was REALLYrough at first but a little better the more i make myself do it..i even got tips today and i was shocked i just tried not to overdo anything and thats whats held me so far but the school has no idea how bad the panic attacks i have can get and im hesitant to say because i dont want them to feel im making excuses..peterson im floored with this visualization technique and its giving me a tool that feels like maybe i can do and i think it may help..i've been off meds about 4 mos and i am thinking of taking them agian..its really just good to know im not the only one that feels this way..yesterday i felt quite alone like i stuck out like a sore thumb with this fustrating anxiety.most ladies on the floor with me seem to do everything with ease(quite fustrating)but who knows inside they may feel like me..my negative thoughts are what singles me out i think it comes hand in hand with anxiety..im working on it..thank yall so much for suppotand taking away that singled out feeling..hugs -
Reply #4 10/09/09 8:54am
When you feel like running---stand there and say in your head, "this is panic and panic won't kill me, I will stand here and ALLOW myself to panic instead of fighting panic, fighting panic is what keeps me afraid".
The person who is in your chair might feel the exact same way you do. You might start to ask your clients, "How are you today? Please sit back and relax and tell me what you are thinking you want to have done to your hair today." See if you can read your client and if they look nervous (since it takes one to know one :) ) .
If your client confides in you that they are nervous you can smile and laugh a little and tell them you've felt that way before and that if they need to get up and regroup for a minute it's OK. I wouldn't tell them you are nervous at that moment as they might be afraid of getting a bad haircut :). Let it be about your client and refocusing on them instead of yourself could be very helpful.
Good Luck.
I envy that you've been able to make it this far. Because I have struggled so long with anxiety and been able to stay at home I think my chains are heavier. When I had to go out every day to a job I got used to going out and driving since it all became familiar.
betsyB -
Reply #5 10/09/09 1:27pm
youve come so far!!!
stand tall, and be proud of yourself!!!!!
congradulations!!!!!!!!
bren -
Reply #6 10/09/09 3:23pm
betsy,theres no need 2 envy me this has been the roughest week with my anxiety and panic in all of my life..i have to fight my anxiety but i do use a little humor once i get a connection going with a client..i find making them smile at least once b4 ,during and after service gets me threw from a full blown attack..yesterday i came pretty close 8 people showed up at the same time and the pressure to please them all without my teacher chewing me out for this boo-boo was was almost unbearable..this is a very custumer service/sales/satisfaction service i ask myself so many times ''what am i thinking getting in this field?''..i must be nuts but i made up my mind im not going to let this hold me back from having a life it has so many years..i turned to drugs and alcohol for relief and lost what i think were my best years to the disease of addiction..i want to live ..i want this..i must overcome or i could fall victim to this disorder..i hope u know u 2 can overcome and find a way to live with it..sometimes it takes a litle force to get the right gravity going if u know what i mean ..thanks so much 4 the support.. and bren,hugs ..prayers apreciated tommorrow im doing a bride and her bridesmaids talk about pressure to preform ..thank u for ur continued support..my main concern is that this may get so overpowering that i will have to tell the teacher that i have this disorder its kind of embarrassing telling people that dont understand it.. -
Reply #7 10/11/09 11:01am
Congratulations - you finiished the school work, that is quite a feat
I find that if I focus on sobject on hand I am less ansious- but ti can be tough at times -
Reply #8 10/11/09 3:22pm
thank u,kelly ..i've been trying to just focus on the client and blank out that its a salon and pretend its just me and her and im doing her hair..the only thing thats been so disruptive is that a lot of people keep showing up[ and they are so demanding and it makes me really nervous while im already servicing a client ..it kind of disrupts the whole flow..i had my worst experience so far yesterday with the''bride''she wanted to get the red out and go darker with blonde highlights...well....it didnt go so great..i stripped her hair and it looked totally blond so i rinsed and gave her a treatment...when i got her back to the chair her hair was a brassy red disaster..i was dying inside but i held on...i got the teacher we made a concoction to get the red out and i got her back to a total blond...she still wasnt happy she wantedlowlights and i couldnt put them in the same day..she was almost in tears because she says her fiance hates blonds..i have been upset all day and couldnt sleep last night feeling i failed somehow..this is such a stressful feeling..i want to call her to see if shes ok and let her know we're going to get this right tuesday but im going to have to bump a client to do it with is another stresser..also left my appointment book at school just so much going on..i know i'll never argue with my hairdresser agian ...its hard trying to please when ur best efforts are disrupted by things out of ur control..all i can say is sorry and hope to fix it..i am feeling more comfortable though everyday i go on the floor ..with patience maybe it'll get better..thanks 4 the support..
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