Just walking around the shops, and all of the sudden I get sweaty, clammy, my vision blurs and there’s ringing in my ears. Every step is heavy, my heart flutters as it races and there’s a tightness in my chest that stops me breathing normally - only small, soft, shallow breaths. This is it. I feel like yelling out for someone to call an ambulance. 

I stop. I analyse all the feelings. You’ve felt this before, what happened last time? It sucked and then it passed. Surely this time is different. But I have health problems, surely this is actually it. No. 

So I’m in the supermarket, crouched down so I don’t pass out, pretending to read this soup packet. I give myself a minute to just FEEL it all.

Don’t run. Don’t ignore. Listen to it all, learn what it feels like and how it presents in your body. 


I’ve had enough panic attacks now that I know what it can feel like. I know how it can change. I know (hope) it passes. And so far, 100% pass rate. 

It still terrifies me and it always feels like i’m dying. but now I know what my “dying” feels like. It doesn’t hurt to tell someone your symptoms as you’re them. It doesn’t hurt to be medically checked out - because in future you’ll know it’s a scary feeling but you’re safe when you feel it. 

i’ve had panic disorder for a decade. I used to be agoraphobic. The only way out, for me, is feeling the scary feelings. overtime it gets easier to come down though


The panic attack itself has never gotten less terrifying though. At least now I don’t fear my next panic attack