This feeling of dread overwhelms you, and you feel as though whatever has triggered this pain in your chest will end your world. There is no other way to get rid of or end this sense of panic than to run, or scream or cry.
The overwhelming need to breathe and throw up at the same time takes over all of your senses, and there is no possible way to get out of it. The only thing that can solve this is time and deep breathing.
One breath becomes two, and then three and so on. Until, the nauseous feeling you once had is subsiding.
There is no longer the feeling that the world is crashing down around you, and the ceiling seems to lift itself off of you after a while.
Breathing gets easier, and your heart gets back to normal speed. But, no matter how much better you feel, you still want to cry. This urge to release all of the leftover tension and pain that five to 30 minutes of distress brought you is the only way to ease your body.
You may seem better externally, but internally, you are more conscious of how many steps you've taken backwards.
Consciously, you can feel yourself slipping, but you push it to the back of your mind. Then, you pick yourself up off the bathroom tile that you fell on, or the street corner that you ran to, and try to tell yourself everything is OK.
I know this may be intense and dramatic, but this perfectly embodies the feelings I have had when I have panic attacks. Sometimes, if I am lucky, they are easier to handle. Other times, they are worse.
There are periods of time where the episodes aren't as frequent, and you think you are getting better. There are also times where the episodes occur up to three times a week.
This is my honest experience with anxiety attacks.
Ever since I was in my early teens, I have struggled with anxiety and the ever-so-fun anxiety attacks that go with them. It is no joke and it is not pretty, but I think it is very necessary to talk about because people sometimes only see what TV panic attacks look like.
Honestly, breathing exercises never helped me. Only a good cry or a hug from my dad could solve a panic attack. But, there is hope, and there is another day ahead of you.
You got this.
Sincerely,
An Anxious College Girl
Reach the blogger at at mayafoxall@gmail.com or follow @mayafoxall on Twitter.
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