Ah the joys of Anxiety. You know, waking up and feeling nervous for no reason. Walking outside and smelling the smog in the city, afraid that you’ll get mugged even though you have three people with you. Going into a building and thinking that anyone who dares to laugh is laughing at you. Yeah, it’s great.
Not really. It fucking sucks. Anxiety attacks and panic attacks are very similar but the way my doctor describes it is that anxiety attacks are triggered by an event, and panic attacks aren’t always.
I had a panic attack at my friends house. And an Anxiety attack. In the same day. At my friends house, and they had no idea what to do.  I’m staying with her for a few days while my guardians work thinks out. That almost makes me laugh. Guardians. I suppose I should call them my parents, but I don’t see them like that. Maybe if I was a little kid when I was adopted then I would, but I don’t know. I just can’t. It doesn’t feel right.
Anyways, back to spreading panic. I was watching How I Met Your Mother and I got the feeling again. My heart started racing, I got weird chest pains. I had trouble breathing. I went upstairs for a glass of water because for some reason that helps me when I’m having a panic attack. I’m pretty sure I scared the crap out of my friend when I walked up the stairs as a sweaty mess. She said that my pupils were really small too.
After I got my heart rate down like fifteen minutes later and explained to her what happened we went on a walk. I know you’re supposed to sit down and rest after a panic attack, but I couldn’t.
We walked around the city for a while until I had fully calmed down. But on the way back we had to go through a long alleyway. To most people it wouldn’t be that bad, but I’ve been mugged before, and I just got really nervous. And I have bad anxiety so literally the whole time I basically walked backwards. All while having an anxiety attack.
So much for taking a relaxing walk. I don’t know what I expected though, we live in the city after all.
I freaked out her whole family in one day. That’s a new record.
4 comments
So that is the difference between a panic and anxiety attack. I never knew.
I get them both, mostly panic attacks, but sometimes anxiety ones too.
If you need someone to talk to about anything, I’m here.
Email me, brl.cents@gmail.com
Through the years I found out what helps ME to calm down. I still dont know what triggers my panic attacks, but at least now I know, what they are and that it will stop … Drinking water helps for me too, also eating something really sweet and focusing on counting – I just count cars going buy, breaths that I make, … something to ocuppie my minde.
Sadly, my panic attacs never stopped. Im 33 now and still have them. BUT, I learnd to live with them.
Good luck!
@smusmu I doubt mine will ever stop. I’ve been dealing with them since I was a little kid. I think you just have to learn to live with them, like you said. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to having them odd as it is, but I’ve learned what to do when they happen.
Thanks:)
Your a good writer