Time To Talk

My First Panic Attack

I first started getting panic attacks towards the end of last (school) year. Whether they were triggered because of the building pressure of exams, or because of something else in my life, I don't know. What I do know is that when I first started getting them I was terrified because I had no idea what was happening.

The first panic attack I can remember probably wasn't all that bad, compared to the rest,however, because I had never had one before it was terrifying. I was sat in class, just an ordinary science lesson when, out of nowhere, my first panic attack hit me. I don't remember much about it because it was a while ago, but I remember my heart beating faster, my breathing increasing and my stomach twisting inside of me. I just wanted to get out of there. But I knew that if I walked out, I'd only draw attention to myself and the thought of that made me feel so much worse. So, I just sat there and tried not to draw attention to myself and after a few minutes I was calm again, although I was still a little shaky afterwards.

After a while, I talked to one of my friends, who also suffers from panic attacks, and she taught me a couple of breathing exercises that would help me calm down, should I have a panic attack.

I find that the technique that helps me the most is to breathe in for 7 counts, hold it for 8 counts and breathe out for 9 counts. I don't know how effective this technique will be for others, because everyone will react differently when having one, and I know people get panic attacks that are far worse than mine.

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Hey, so it's just a short chapter from me, but I'll talk some more in the future about how it's affected me more recently. I'll also include a chapter with techniques sufferers might find useful to help them when they have panic attacks.

-Emily

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