I've been asked about my panic attacks. How they affect me, why they happen, when, how often do they happen? What could someone do to help me or another person having a panic attack? I'll tell you right here!
Panic attacks are a body's "fight or flight" reaction to the person's surroundings, situation or possible problem. A person may feel frightened, nervous or be overthinking about an impending or current (or sometimes past) situation. Attacks are really weird things, truth be told. I know personally, I hyperventilate, find it hard to speak, and get chills. It's very weird. It clouds my judgement and my thoughts. People ask me questions and I can either stutter, breathe heavily or I speak words that don't make sense with each other or the question. They might ask me if I'm okay, and I will just talk about a bad cookie I ate, because my brain isn't functioning the way it should. I usually shiver and sometimes I cry, but I don't like people to know that.
In fact only one of my friends actually knows about my having these attacks. Unless my friends are reading this now, she's the only one who knows. I hide my panics. I, as well as most panic-ers, know when an attack is going to happen. When I feel the panic coming, I immediately get away from people with whatever excuse I can use. "I'm not feeling well." "Just need some air." "I have to make a phone call." "Just going to use the bathroom." I just get away from others so nobody can see me in my weak state. That's what I refer to it as, my weak state.
For me, I get a panic attack anywhere from twenty times per month to five times per month. If the situation that caused the attack is really bad, then I have multiple attacks, one after a five minute gap after the last attack. The attacks last anywhere between five and twenty minutes, again dependent on the severity of the situation.
To help someone when they're having a panic attack is a really difficult thing. I know that there are things that I like, and there are things that I don't like for people to do when I'm having a panic. Nobody has ever witnessed me having an attack, but I know what would be helpful. Since attacks are very personal, each person will feel a different way, but I'm sure there is somebody else who feels as I do. I want comfort and warmth. I know a jacket or a blanket would help the chills. I don't want to talk, since I cannot, but I do want comfort. Take that as you will, but comfort is comfort, and it's different for each person.
It's hard dealing with panics, but it is all okay in the end. It's just a part of my life that I'll get through one way or another. I hope you learned something from this!
Until next time...
Learn to love the skies you're under!
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