My Experience With Anxiety and Panic Attacks.

Sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chills… No, these are not signs of having a heart
attack, rather, they are signs of having a panic attack.

For a long time, I used to have anxiety “episodes” during which I experienced unexplained changes in my usual physical behaviour. A racing heart here, sweaty palms there, at some point, I was convinced that I must have a serious disease.

In my short life, I have had a few panic attacks. One memory I can recall vividly was an incidence that occurred during my first year in the university. I was intimidated, overwhelmed, anxious, and I had no idea how to deal with the things I was experiencing.

By the time exams came around, I had barely been coping with everything, and the serious consequences of not doing well hit me squarely in the face.

I remember walking to my exam venue one day, filled with worry and defeatist thoughts. As I
stood outside and looked around at how hard others seemed to be studying, a stronger wave of
worry washed over me.

Then came the sweating and trembling, followed by a sudden lack of breath and dizziness. I have never fainted, but I thought I was going to pass out right in front of the exam hall. Luckily, I got over that episode with the support of a friend, but as time went on, I saw that I had more to be anxious about and still no definite solution for what I experienced.

Recently, I have been exposed to resources that have offered me some insight into ways in
which I can better handle my anxiety. Breathing exercises, mindfulness and meditation are just
a few “in the moment” strategies I can use to help manage my anxiety symptoms.

Lifestyle changes like being conscious of my thought patterns, stress management and exercise also help to reduce the occurrence of these symptoms. I have tried to put many of these strategies into practice, which has been quite helpful, especially during this time.

I would say that I had two realizations about experiencing these physical symptoms which
helped me the most. One, when I am experiencing anxiety symptoms, I am not going crazy, I am
not going to faint and I am not dying. Two, I may not have the power to prevent them from
occurring completely, but I have the power to choose how I react to them.

– Hikmat Quadri