Let's see-normal intelligent self employed 42 year old business woman. Five and a half years of trade. Love my job. Six staff members. 2 popular and busy businesses. However, I have a full blown fear of bank statements, online banking, credit statements....doing the books for the business, my book keeper, my accountant, facing the teller at the bank.....All very neccessary evils when you own your own businesses. I get the sweats, shaking, nausea...and lately full blown panic attacks to the point where my partner has to be near me when I go online to check my accounts. I avoid opening the mail til I absolutely must. I can't live like this anymore. I have to get over this to continue running my otherwise successful businesses. It's ridiculus because after I have seen the statements/done the books, I am generally relieved for a day or two and then it starts up again. Getting worse.Help. Anyone else got this? jax.

Hi justjax and welcome to Ofear

You're definitely anxious about it - so what is it you're afraid of finding out?

Ah...a question I've asked myself loads of times.... I guess having it all gone... Not being able to pay my suppliers, rent, staff. It's always tight...more now that I have expanded. Thanks for asking. Jax x

And how real is this fear? Do you generally have any issues with money management or is this just a fear kinda from nowhere?

With this 'credit crunch', you have to face it head-on, you're not the only one nowadays. It's getting too much for so many people.

Hmm..I guess there are loads of people in my position with the current climate...and yes, it has been tight in the recent past. I suppose it's just the constant pressure. Who knows? Its pretty horrid feeling like this though.
Thanks to those responding.

Stress is actually a good thing - in the right amount. It helps us to remain positively productive. It motivates us. The fear of what might happen causes stress - which causes us to action against probability of bad outcomes and promote the probability of good ones.

Stress becomes stressfull when the possible losses outweigh what you feel capable of avoiding or the positive action required is more than you can manage. This is why we have teams, support networks or assistants - to maximise our ability to manage.

Stress becomes irrational when we over rate the losses, over estimate the positive work required or underestimate our ability to overcome. This is why we have Johnny Walker.

[Disclaimer: Mr Ian Corporation (TM) does not advocate the use of alcohol as an approved treatment method for stress].

Now that made me smile. Thankyou

Really...I know I have to tackle this head on...I have my house as my asset which both business's ride on. Last year, because of a need for more stock I used some of my homes money to cash inject into the business and the loan is almost at the ceiling. The rational thinking behind this tells me on a relative medium loan I own a house and two stores. I think alot of my irrational behaviour stems from this and two bookkeeper friends of mine(one does mine!) have just lost their homes. I worked really hard to keep my house after my kids father left twelve years ago. My greatest fear is failling them.
I actually made a little progress this week and told myself not to be so wierd. I finally got to open up my house statement and realised I'd been paying off more than I need and things weren't as scary then. I also had a phone appointment with my bank manager to apply for an overdraft on the off chance that if I have a few lousy weeks I won't stress myself as much. He was quite relaxed about the whole thing(of course). Now I just have to through the banks big old doors. I think the last time I went online and had that major wig out-I realised this fear was getting out of control. Quite bizzare feeling like this when the world sees me as this confident, socially adept, business woman.
I am anything but.