I have a completely irrational fear of falling from a great height, in addition to mild claustrophobia. So, it was was with a sinking dread when I came to the realization that I was stuck on an elevator at my office - dangling 120 feet in the air.
While normally I would try to hold my shit together in such a situation, I started to panic once I felt the elevator brake trying to "release", sending visions of plunging to my death below through my head. Not to mention the fact that no one was answering the emergency phone line in the elevator. Nope, not too reassuring at all.
Finally, after 10 excruciatingly long minutes, I hear a voice on the other side of the door telling me they'll have me out in a minute. Instead, the elevator starts moving. First it goes down 8 floors, then back up 7. I hopped off on the 11th floor, which is also part of my office, and immediately started hyperventilating and crying hysterically. I had tried not to succumb to a panic attack while in the elevator (seeing as how I didn't have my inhaler with me, in case it triggered an asthma attack), but as soon as I was free, it hit me full force. One of my co-workers thought I was dying, the way I was carrying on. After about 5 minutes of "getting it out of my system", and popping a X*ana*x, I was ok. Of course, that doesn't stop me from contemplating taking the fire escape to get home, but I don't think my knees can handle 14 flights of stairs, except in the case of an emergency.
So, how's YOUR Monday been so far?
Glad you got off safe adn sound. Hope that never happens again.
Posted by: Kellie | March 23, 2009 at 04:08 PM