Something You Will Not Find in Your Sales Training Manual

Shortness of breath, pounding heart, dizziness,unacknowledged, it can affect future decisions in
and perhaps stomach issues are typicallythat area. It creates hesitation and procrastination.
associated with anxiety. This is not something youI know, it seems way to heady doesn't it?
see in your sales training manual - ever. What anWe expect to see PTSD as an anxiety disorder
average spectator does not understand is thatthat some people get after seeing or living
anxiety is a very private thing - it is kind ofthrough a dangerous physical event according to
embarrassing. The person suffering from anxietythe National Institute Of Mental Health (NIMH).
is generally worried about an irrational fear - ofFear triggers split-second changes in the mind and
what might happen, and they know it. In thebody to prepare to defend itself against a danger
depths of their soul, they know it is irrational, butor to avoid it. "Fight-or-flight" response is the
that does not abate the fear.typical reaction meant to protect a person from
Conventional psychology and medical authoritiesharm.
tell us anxiety attack symptoms appear suddenlyA closer look at Trauma finds it defined as
without any real cause (?), and that its symptomsphysical damage, but it is also defined as an
can be felt within the body as fear -- like a racingemotional wound or shock often having
heart, difficulty breathing or chills. The symptomslong-lasting effects. NIMH acknowledges that not
are also exhibited in the mind by experiencingeveryone with PTSD has been through a
feelings of terror, a need to escape, or the feardangerous event, and that hyperarousal
of losing control.symptoms are usually constant, instead of being
Stop everything. This is a sales article. Have I justtriggered by things that remind one consciously of
totally lost it? Regrettably, the answer is "no".the traumatic event. In other words, our minds
Many prospects have very light anxiety attacksare on the hunt for anything resembling anxiety,
(unconsciously) when we get remotely close toand then we avoid it. Would bad past decisions in
squeezing the trigger. The dreaded "close" canbusiness be included?
really scare them, and you thought it was justNIMH also asks, "Why do some people get PTSD
you.and other people do not?" They continue to say
It should be said that the average prospect is notthat many have what they call "resilience factors"
going to recognize what they are experiencing aswhich include having coping strategies and seeking
an anxiety attack. What they would say ifout support.
interviewed (I have done this) is that they had aSales consultants who are apprised of this can
bad feeling, or decided they felt like they weretake action, as the main cure for this disorder is
wasting time, etc.called talk therapy. This is what we do for a living.
Well, it is interesting that when a salesAccording to Mayo Clinic, "talk therapy is simply
psychological process is done on past issuestalking about what is bothering you. Talk therapy
discovered in a Targeted Needs Analysis, wherecan be practiced with a friend or loved one, a
the prospect picks from a list those things thatfamily member, or...". We have fine-tuned the
might need improvement, they move forwardactual questions to help solve this problem This
without this 'bad feeling'.could be called "Targeted Talk Therapy". Perhaps I
What has been discovered over the years is thatshould write a book? There is a lot more
to a small degree we all suffer from a light sortinformation on the what to do and how to do it
of Post Traumatic Shock Disorder, and if it is lefton our website.