Struggling at work
I'm really struggling at work. I work on several projects, which I can manage if I am alone or with one other person. However, we have several group meetings and lab meetings each month and I find myself shutting down at almost every meeting. This week, my lab gathered for lunch and a meeting. I was okay for the first 5 minutes, but then the noise, the bright lights, and the movements got to me. It doesn't help that I was also sitting in the middle of my coworkers. To me, it's like my body goes into a bubble. The voices start to sound distant and muffled. I stop speaking completely and stop making eye contact with people. I start feeling tired and sleepy, and start dozing off. I'm awake during the meetings but honestly can't remember anything that happens during this. I end up going through waves of this until I get home, where I feel completely drained and just want to sit in silence and in the dark.
I don't really know what to do when this happens except go to the bathroom. Water doesn't help. Does anyone have things they do in the moment to help with all the sensory input during working meetings?