Mild anxiety

[Nate10]

Hi just wondered if somebody can help me out I'm currently going through the recruitment stages to become a trainee train driver but am worried I'll not get accepted due to the fact I've had to see a psychologist because of a very mild form of social anxiety! I've never had to take any medication for this and I've only ever had 3 anxiety attacks over the last 2 years which hasn't stopped me from working or doing anything else! I'm worried they will ask for medical records, see this and then reject me when it's really not an issue at all!

Thanks

 

[redron]

If it's something on your medical record then you really should declare it.

It doesn't sound serious but if you try to hide it and they find out, it could lead to your contract being terminated.

 

[Minilad]

Absolutely declare it. If you don't and it comes to light later then the TOC will take a very dim view of it. One guy on my course was sacked because he didn't fully declare a medical issue from his previous employment

 

[redbutton]

Definitely declare it.

Also, consider your risk for future anxiety attacks, especially if (for example) you're on a Driver-Only Operated train (so you're the only member of staff), fully loaded with passengers, and the train fails in the middle of nowhere so you're stuck with hundreds of angry people for a couple of hours before help arrives.

That's the worst case, sure, but the worst case is often when we have to operate at our best.

 

[fowler9]

Tell the truth mate. It will all come out in the end. Where I work is not directly railway related but they know about my anxiety related condition and I recently got promoted. My role is safety critical.

 

[507021]

I agree - I think it would definitely be a good idea to declare it now. As it's been stated previously there's every chance they will find out in the future. If you tell them now then at least then you are being honest - something that the TOC will undoubtedly respect you for

I hope it works out for you

 

[amateur]

(If you have sciatica would you have to declare it) at what point would you mention it (would it be during interview)

 

[507021]

(If you have sciatica would you have to declare it) at what point would you mention it (would it be during interview)

In most of my interviews I've been asked if I have any medical problems that could affect my ability to work. If you don't get asked then I would say the best time to tell them would be at the end when the interviewer (usually) asks you if you have any questions

 

[redbutton]

In most of my interviews I've been asked if I have any medical problems that could affect my ability to work. If you don't get asked then I would say the best time to tell them would be at the end when the interviewer (usually) asks you if you have any questions

I disagree. Don't mention it to management. Wait until the medical and discuss it confidentially with the doctor.

 

[Johncleesefan]

Absolutely what he said.

 

[507021]

I disagree. Don't mention it to management. Wait until the medical and discuss it confidentially with the doctor.

In hindsight - I have to agree with you. I have recurring back pain but I didn't say anything to my most recent employer at first due to the fact the job involved a lot of standing up and occasional heavy lifting. I was shortly afterwards advised by a colleague (who was previously a nurse) to inform my manager and that I should have informed him prior to commencing my employment

I did bring up that I have a mild social anxiety disorder in my more recent interviews though as I wanted to be honest about it. My most recent employer was extremely understanding with it to say the least!

 

[class 9]

Absolutely what he said. I suffered from panic attacks a few times and didn't bring it up in interview. I spoke to doctor in medical and it was all ok

I don't know whether you're traincrew, but I hope you're never going along,train hits landslide, derails obstructing opposite running line and you have a panic attack.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I don't know whether you're traincrew, but I hope you're never going along,train hits landslide, derails obstructing opposite running line and you have a panic attack.

I think many people who don't have any kind of disorder may well go to bits in such a situation. You hear of airline cabin crew cracking up in the case of emergency. The problem is that until you have been in such an emergency you don't know exactly how you will react, so you can't really check for it at interview to any useful extent.

 

[Johncleesefan]

They can happen to anyone unannounced. Just because I had one before in the circumstances I was in, doesn't make me any more likely than anyone else to have one in your situation.

 

[class 9]

I'm no expert in mental health, but surely if you've experienced panic attacks before, if faced with an extremely stressfully situation, like the one I mentioned, you would be more likely to have another, compared with someone who has never been affected by that condition.

 

[Flamingo]

I don't know whether you're traincrew, but I hope you're never going along,train hits landslide, derails obstructing opposite running line and you have a panic attack.

I think that's a pretty appropriate time to have a panic attack. I would!

 

[Johncleesefan]

It is. Doesn't mean I'm any more likely tho. All circumstantial.

 

[Flamingo]

In all seriousness, a lot of traincrew training revolves around what to do when it all goes pearshaped. The knowledge and training does come to the fore, and whilst afterwards one may be a twitching wreck, when it is all going on, in my experience training kicks in. The confidence that one gets from the training helps, as one is not having to make it up on the fly, but there are very set procedures to follow.

 

[fowler9]

I'm no expert in mental health, but surely if you've experienced panic attacks before, if faced with an extremely stressfully situation, like the one I mentioned, you would be more likely to have another, compared with someone who has never been affected by that condition.

Sorry mate but I totally disagree. As someone who has suffered from mental health problems I would say I am a lot better equipped to deal with a stressful situation.

 

[anonperson]

My honest - and well meant advice - and remember, the best thing about advice is that you don't have to take it - is that as a driver, day to day can be very stress inducing :

every stop in DOO, drunk and aggressive punters, managers trying to secure their name on short term contracts, killing early starts, etc.etc. and that's without the fact that make one mistake and you could be out on your ear and how would you feel when your train catches fire, with 400 people in the back, on a 4 track, 125 MPH section and those people are popping the door releases and leaping out left right and center and there is only you to carry the can and who has had MINIMAL training for that sort of dire emergency. It's a rare thing, but things like that are the bottom line of the driving grade

 

[455driver]

I think that's a pretty appropriate time to have a panic attack. I would!

While I am at the front dealing calmly and professionally with the situation!


Or I have been killed and so getting 'cooler' by the minute!

 

[Flamingo]

Or I have been killed and so getting 'cooler' by the minute!

Oh, that I'd deal with no problem It's having to talk to the signaller I have a phobia about!

 

[455driver]

Oh, that I'd deal with no problem It's having to talk to the signaller I have a phobia about!

he he he he he !

Some of them can be a bit nasty though, especially at Bristol!

 

[AnonymousUser1]

I don't know whether you're traincrew, but I hope you're never going along,train hits landslide, derails obstructing opposite running line and you have a panic attack.

I hope that's naivety and genuine ignorance rather than bravado and bigotry speaking there ...

 

[TDK]

This is a very difficult subject to address. If someone has a mild panic attack it all depends on the level of stress at the time for instance. If someone has an attack because someone shouts at them then they should never be in a role where stress can be high however if they only have these attacks at extremely stressful times then it is a totally different kettle of fish. Personally I would not take the risk of employing someone as a train driver if they had a history of panic attacks as at the end of the day it is the responsibility of the company employing someone to ensure they are suitable and if an incident occurs and it is proved that an individual has a medical conditions that "MAY" cause them to underperform at work then unfortunately the person can not be employed and if they are the company will be responsible.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Sorry mate but I totally disagree. As someone who has suffered from mental health problems I would say I am a lot better equipped to deal with a stressful situation.

yep

it also demonstrates that ignorance and stigma over MH issues are still rife ...

 

[class 9]

I hope that's naivety and genuine ignorance rather than bravado and bigotry speaking there ...

It's not naivety,ignorance,bravado or ignorance, just as TDK says, it's the 'MAY' factor, depending on what triggers an attack( which the poster has NOT disclosed) Can a company risk taking that risk of it happening at the very time when a cool calm head is needed?

 

[GB]

Sorry mate but I totally disagree. As someone who has suffered from mental health problems I would say I am a lot better equipped to deal with a stressful situation.

What makes you better equipped to deal with a stressful situation?

 

[fowler9]

What makes you better equipped to deal with a stressful situation?

I have actively learned how to cope with them now at least in relation to recognising the signs of panic or anxiety and know what to do. Someone in a stressful situation who suddenly starts suffering from mental and physical symptoms would not. I did, to be honest, word what I originally said badly. I think it is a mistake to think that someone who has in the past will suddenly start panicing if something stressful happens.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

It's not naivety,ignorance,bravado or ignorance, just as TDK says, it's the 'MAY' factor, depending on what triggers an attack( which the poster has NOT disclosed) Can a company risk taking that risk of it happening at the very time when a cool calm head is needed?

so it is in fact a combination of the aforementioned factors ...

my advice to you is to leave such topics well alone and if by some chance you are in a supervisory or management role, leave this to Occ Health... unless you particularly fancy being named in an Equality Act Action ...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I have actively learned how to cope with them now at least in relation to recognising the signs of panic or anxiety and know what to do. Someone in a stressful situation who suddenly starts suffering from mental and physical symptoms would not. I did, to be honest, word what I originally said badly. I think it is a mistake to think that someone who has in the past will suddenly start panicing if something stressful happens.

where's the 'like' button ?