Anxiety

Anxiety. My guide to understanding and coping with it from my own experiences. I hope this is helpful to many.

When a person is panicking is can look like so many things.

1) A person can rock themselves sitting or standing and they will make themselves small by wrapping their arms around themselves or putting their elbows in front of their face as if for protection. It helps them feel safer and guarded as well as hidden from most of the world or at least the parts they cannot manage to face

2) They may thrash and shake. Hard. This is mainly caused from fear as many people with anxiety are often already a bit if not very jittery. They can be still or often sob whilst this is happening.

3) They will look scared and continuously search the area and maybe scratch themselves as if they're itchy all over and soft touches like their own hair may cause them to swat and become frustrated. It’s almost as if they are having a sudden wave of very severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

What It Feels Like for Them

1) They can't breathe. The air is thin and dry. They are suffocating and often feel as if something heavy is pressing them to the ground. Some describe it as drowning. This sometimes lasts for hours depending on the person and how severe the panic.

2) They're petrified. Literally. They don't often run because they feel as if they've lost control of their own body. Very common when one is shaking hard and or thrashing. This is more often than not, involuntary.

3) The past is going to get them. Or sometimes a person they fear or they panic at the fear of being alone and losing people. Often as well as upsetting people. They are fearful of any person's reaction with them that is not pleasant.

What do they need?

A person panicking needs to be reassured. Over and over, because they often find it hard to feel okay by themselves. They need everlasting support to find their own strength. They will need a very warm blanket and a fan to keep their face cool. This will help with the unwanted feeling of suffocation.

They will need someone to hug them and hug them tight. As tight as a human can manage without causing any physical harm. It's as if forcing the body and mind to recognize comfort and bring the shaking and thrashing to a halt. Sometimes moaning and yelling as well. More often than not, if in a safe place, those who are suffering with these details will fall asleep before completely calmed and will wake feeling exhausted, but no longer in a panic.

They will need continuous encouragement. Say things like "You are okay and in control. Take control." The more you build their confidence and believe in them, the more likely they are to accept it and start to believe it as well which will help them gain control of their emotions. Help them remember little exercises because when they realize they are indeed in control they will slowly relax.

An exercise that has often been helpful to me is to count my fingers, raising or curling each one separately as I call it. This is proof one can control their own limbs. Another one is to simply speak. The more one talks and is encouraged to have a calm conversation the more the stutters and shaking will slow and will trick the body and mind into a whole new focus. For others it works to try to walk with support and listen to soothing music.