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The Experience of Living and Working with Panic Attacks

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The Experience of Living and Working with Panic Attacks From Adversity to Resilience: The Experience of Living and Working with Panic Attacks © Jasmin A. Perrone A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Western Sydney University July 2015 i To my husband, Peter, for your unconditional love and support; and to my sons, William and Thomas, you are my inspiration, pride and joy. ii Statement of Authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part, for a degree at this or any other institution. _____________________________________ Jasmin A. Perrone iii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... ix Associated Publications and Presentations .............................................................. x Abstract ...................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER ONE Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Preface ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 An Introduction to Panic Attacks ............................................................................. 2 1.3 Study Background .................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Objectives ................................................................................................. 9 1.5 Research Questions .................................................................................................. 9 1.6 Significance of the Study ....................................................................................... 10 1.7 Terms and Definitions ............................................................................................ 11 1.8 Thesis Outline ........................................................................................................ 15 CHAPTER TWO Panic and Anxiety: In and Beyond the Workplace............................................... 17 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 17 2.2 The Dominance of the Medical Model .................................................................. 17 2.3 Stigma and Anxiety Disorders ............................................................................... 19 2.4 Living with Panic ................................................................................................... 21 2.5 The Lived Experiences of People Working with Panic .......................................... 24 2.6 Research Favouring the Employers’ Perspective ................................................... 26 2.7 Connecting Work and Anxiety Disorders .............................................................. 28 2.8 Summary ................................................................................................................ 29 CHAPTER THREE Mental Illness: In and Beyond the Workplace ...................................................... 31 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 31 3.2 Subjective Experiences of Mental Illness .............................................................. 31 3.2.1 Socio-demographic Groups and Mental Illness ............................................. 32 3.2.2 Identity and Mental Illness ............................................................................. 33 iv 3.2.3 Recovery Narratives ....................................................................................... 34 3.2.4 Mental Illness Impacting Family Members ................................................... 36 3.3 Stigma and Mental Illness ...................................................................................... 37 3.4 People Working with Mental Illness ...................................................................... 40 3.4.1 Identity and the Meaning of Employment ..................................................... 41 3.4.2 Coping Techniques at Work .......................................................................... 42 3.5 Summary ................................................................................................................ 45 CHAPTER FOUR Crafting the Research Design: From Methodology to Methods .......................... 46 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 46 4.2 Revisiting the Research Objectives........................................................................ 46 4.3 Qualitative Research .............................................................................................. 47 4.4 Methodology: Hermeneutic Phenomenology ........................................................ 48 4.5 Trustworthiness of the Research ............................................................................ 51 4.6 Ethics: Conducting Research with Vulnerable Groups .......................................... 54 4.7 Methods ................................................................................................................. 56 4.7.1 Sample Size .................................................................................................... 57 4.7.2 Selecting Participants ..................................................................................... 57 4.7.3 Diagnostic Dilemmas ..................................................................................... 58 4.7.4 Locating a ‘Hidden Population’ ..................................................................... 59 4.7.5 Gathering Stories through Interviews ............................................................ 60 4.7.6 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 62 4.8 Summary ................................................................................................................ 64 CHAPTER FIVE Facing Adversity: Living with Panic ...................................................................... 65 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 65 5.2 The Phenomenological Model ............................................................................... 65 5.3 An Introduction to the Participants ........................................................................ 66 5.4 An Introduction to Adversity ................................................................................. 70 5.5 A Changed Life ...................................................................................................... 71 5.5.1 A Seismic Shift .............................................................................................. 72 5.5.2 A Creeping Change ........................................................................................ 74 5.6 Being Alone ........................................................................................................... 78 5.6.1 Withdrawing from the World ......................................................................... 80 v 5.6.2 “Thrown into the Wilderness”: Professional Non-Support ............................ 84 5.7 Living with Stigma ................................................................................................ 89 5.7.1 Seeking Legitimacy ....................................................................................... 90 5.7.2 “Get Over It!”: Shame, Blame and Personal Failings .................................... 92 5.7.3 Stigmatisation and Family Relationships ....................................................... 95 5.8 Living with Loss .................................................................................................... 99 5.8.1 A Restricted Life ............................................................................................ 99 5.8.2 Loss of Control ............................................................................................ 102 5.8.3 “If this is Living, I’d Rather be Dead”: Profound Suffering ........................ 105 5.9 Summary .............................................................................................................. 107 CHAPTER SIX Struggling with Organisational Life: Working with Panic ................................. 109 6.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 109 6.2 “Pushed Over the Edge”: Work Triggers ............................................................. 110 6.2.1 Bullying and Mobbing ................................................................................. 110 6.2.2 Pressures of Work ........................................................................................ 113 6.3 Career Concerns ................................................................................................... 116 6.3.1 Sacrificing Career ........................................................................................ 116 6.3.2 Commuting to Work ...................................................................................
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