Anxiety attack...are you kidding?
Have you ever noticed that since the pandemic, or maybe long before, you'd hear the word "Anxiety attack" and you'd be wondering "What the heck is that?!" or "Are you serious?" it sounds like a joke if someone told you that they have an anxiety attack because this is all so new to you. But believe me, I'm not kidding.
Before I'd go any further, let's see what is anxiety...
What is anxiety? (https://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-disorders-and-anxiety-attacks.htm)
Anxiety is a normal reaction to danger, the body’s automatic fight-or-flight response that is triggered when you feel threatened, under pressure, or facing a challenging situation, such as a job interview, exam, or first date. In moderation, anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can help you to stay alert and focused, spur you to action, and motivate you to solve problems. But when anxiety is constant or overwhelming—when worries and fears interfere with your relationships and daily life—you’ve likely crossed the line from normal anxiety into the territory of an anxiety disorder.
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/307863) Anxiety can cause physical symptoms, which people may describe as an anxiety attack. These include:
- feeling lightheaded and dizzy
- a churning feeling, or a “knot” in the stomach
- restlessness
- faster breathing
- diarrhea
- sweating
- hot flushes
- nausea
- pins and needles
- headaches and backaches
- a fast or irregular heartbeat
- have a specific trigger, such as an exam, workplace issues, a health issue, or a relationship problem
- have symptoms that are less intense than a panic attack
- usually develop gradually when a person feels anxious
Now, I've encountered myself a couple times, that I could remember. The one that I could give an example of was the day when we had a Halloween event in the office. I didn't expect to have so many kids in the office so I just went to the office as usual. In the afternoon when it all started, the office was flooded with a great number of kids and parents. the noise attacked me, and suddenly I felt uncomfortable and I felt dizzy, then nauseous. My heart was beating so fast, then I felt suffocated. I had to get out of that space so I told my teammates that I had to leave and will start working somewhere quiet. You are wondering, what's the difference if I was in a crowded place. That didn't happen often prior to the pandemic so I'm not quite certain if I should blame the pandemic for being stuck at home for the past 2 years.
Now I don't even like going to the shopping malls. Airports seemed to be ok. So, I assume that I'm more specifically about the small crowded space.
So, when someone told you that they have an anxiety attack, please try to understand that we all have differences and issues, physically and emotionally, and maybe any disorders that they cannot explain to you and are afraid to tell you about. Try to have your knowledge ready and acknowledge the differences. Try to be a good listener without being judgemental. Do you know how many people have a depressive disorder and commit suicide? Just because nobody understands and judges them for being different.
most people with mental disorders do not die by their own hands. The risk of suicide has been estimated to be 5–8% for several mental disorders, such as depression, alcoholism, and schizophrenia (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/)
Nowadays we cannot only have sympathy but also need a bit of empathy. Since there are not many nice people out there, maybe you can try to be one. I know you may think that those people are joking and made it up to avoid something. You just wish that it will not happen to you. Be nice and be kind will not cost a cent but it will cost a life if you ignore it. Just a thought...
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