It happened to me. I had (what felt like) a panic attack! Okay, I am going to be honest and say that I do not suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. And, to be fair, I did not have an actual panic attack. BUT, I definitely got a small taste of what happens to my courageous clients when they have one. It happened when I was pregnant—very pregnant. 

I was pregnant carrying my twins with a large “baby belly.” Anyone who has been pregnant understands that it can be hard to breathe as the babies grow and your lungs get more and more squished–especially towards the last trimester of pregnancy. I was in a hurry (don’t remember why) and decided to “walk-run” up a flight of stairs. When I got to the top, I realized I was having trouble catching my breath. I sat down and tried to take deep breaths, but felt like I could never get a deep, good breath.  Realizing my predicament—a lack of oxygen–I started to feel anxious. My heart started beating faster and I started sweating—though again this could just be because of my larger “baby belly.” What made it more unnerving was that I was alone and kept thinking if I passed out no one was there to help me.  Anyway, I sat very still and practiced deep breathing for a few moments and finally caught my breath.  Slowly, I began to calm down. My heart slowed and my body temperature cooled. That moment of feeling panicked did not last for long, but it was definitely real and I will always remember it. 

Again, what I experienced is probably nothing in comparison to what my clients experience during panic attacks, but it did make me think. I thought of how my clients must feel during a panic attack and how real (and scary) those moments are for them.

If you deal with panic attacks and/or anxiety, a trained psychotherapist can help you. She can help you identify and implement coping skills to reduce your negative feelings and promote peace and balance in your everyday life. With the right help from a seasoned counselor you can live your best life now. Please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services today at 407-443-8862 to make an appointment with an experienced mental health counselor.