unity319
11-22-2013, 01:24 PM
Hi All,
Thank you all for reading. I'm a 34 year old single mom who's been suffering with depression most of my life and a debilitating panic disorder for the past 12 years. My panic disorder has gotten progressively and significantly worse in the past 4 years; now affecting and holding me back from all aspects of my life. I have an intense agoraphobia and it's a struggle most days just to get up and go to work.
I have a job that I love; I've been with the company for 5 years and received a promotion and transitioned into a new role almost 2 years ago. Last spring, my boss decided he wanted our team (5 of us total) to take a business trip to New York City (I'm in Boston). I tried every excuse in the book, but he wasn't having any of it. I finally broke down and I told him about my anxiety disorder and my inability to travel. It was embarassing and humiliating but I knew I couldn't handle it. It's now close to a year later and my boss' boss has just planned a 3-day company meeting an hour and a half away.
I don't know what to do; just the idea of going sends me into a full-blown panic attack. The reason he's having the meeting at this place is so everyone can get away for a little bit and have fun, but this will be complete terror for me. I fear if I don't go, I will lose my job, and because of how intense my panic disorder is I don't think I will ever find another one.
I'm in my office now and can't stop crying and people are starting to notice.
Does anyone have any advice? Does anyone know if it's possible to lose your job because you refuse to travel due to a disability?
Thanks in advance for the help!!
Thank you all for reading. I'm a 34 year old single mom who's been suffering with depression most of my life and a debilitating panic disorder for the past 12 years. My panic disorder has gotten progressively and significantly worse in the past 4 years; now affecting and holding me back from all aspects of my life. I have an intense agoraphobia and it's a struggle most days just to get up and go to work.
I have a job that I love; I've been with the company for 5 years and received a promotion and transitioned into a new role almost 2 years ago. Last spring, my boss decided he wanted our team (5 of us total) to take a business trip to New York City (I'm in Boston). I tried every excuse in the book, but he wasn't having any of it. I finally broke down and I told him about my anxiety disorder and my inability to travel. It was embarassing and humiliating but I knew I couldn't handle it. It's now close to a year later and my boss' boss has just planned a 3-day company meeting an hour and a half away.
I don't know what to do; just the idea of going sends me into a full-blown panic attack. The reason he's having the meeting at this place is so everyone can get away for a little bit and have fun, but this will be complete terror for me. I fear if I don't go, I will lose my job, and because of how intense my panic disorder is I don't think I will ever find another one.
I'm in my office now and can't stop crying and people are starting to notice.
Does anyone have any advice? Does anyone know if it's possible to lose your job because you refuse to travel due to a disability?
Thanks in advance for the help!!