What Not To Do ...

[fiat_knox]

... when someone who you know is prone to panic attacks, is having a panic attack, and is screaming for help down the phone:-

- Say "Can't help you."

- Say "It's okay. Don't do anything until Monday."

- Say "You can stop now. It's not funny."

- Say "Oh, do pull yourself together."

- Say "Don't make a song and dance out of it."

- Say "Don't be such a drama queen."

- Say "Don't be such a cry baby."

- Say "Don't make such a holy show, now."

- Say "Look, your screaming isn't going to help."

But most of all.

MOST of all!

NEVER!

SAY!

"CALM DOWN!"

I've been given the shock of my life today. Just about an hour ago. I phoned up my folks, and damn me if they didn't just commit Every. Single. One. of the above sins.

They have been with me my entire life. And still they haven't learned how to handle me.

Comments

[innocent-man.livejournal.com]

That sucks, man.

I guess if it's family, there might be a tendency to think, "Oh, I know him, it'll pass soon" and downplay it. But still. Fail.

Thanks

[fiat-knox.livejournal.com]

It was definitely fail. Big time diplomacy fail.

And that's a shame, because they're family and all, but ... gaah.

I did get a bit more sense from someone else, though: the very helpful lady_gaslight. I've been there for her. Today, she came through for me.

I'll be all right for the weekend. But the people who gave me that shock tonight had better find some hard cover to hide behind on Monday morning.

[pete23.livejournal.com]

take deep breaths. concentrate on your breathing. keep it deep. eventually the somatic stuff will propagate to the brain.

feel free to tattoo this on your folks in an easily readable spot.