This is a Safe Place.

8/5/19

So yesterday, I went to Walmart with my grandmother because she needed a few things and so did I. Anyways, we went in one aisle that was really crowded so my grandmother went to go get the things she needed there while I stayed with the cart.

One aisle over (I don't know exactly what happened) a cart was slammed into the divider and the whole thing tilted, sending boxes flying to the floor. The aisle righted itself but left a lot of people a little shaken up.

I ended up having an anxiety attack in the middle of Walmart (real fun) and ended up having one later as well.

The weird thing is, usually I'm able to get to a bathroom or something before it hits full force but this one was there right away.

So, in case you guys have similar episodes and don't know what to do, here's this:

What an attack looks like for me-

First, I start shaking and feel really lightheaded, this happens before an attack is even there.

Second, the heavy breathing and sometimes crying will come. Sometimes I will also feel extremely emotionally vulnerable in this phase of an attack.

Third, comes the need to sit down and more shaking, accompanied by extreme lightheadedness and heavy breathing. This is when some people may black out but that has never happened to me.

Then lastly, if my attack progresses this far, I tend to block out the world and will not be able to hear you talking to me. This is hard for some, like my father, to understand. He constantly gets upset at me for "ignoring him" during an attack.

What seems to help during a bad attack (help from others)-

You can't count on people being there to help you but when they are, sometimes you need them.

I reccomend telling your close friends about your attacks and seeing what works best for you (what they can do).

For me, some one holding my hand or sitting down very close to me helps but don't trap me somewhere.

It's human nature to be nosy when something is going on but if you see someone having an anxiety attack that you don't know very well, give them some space please.

What I can do during an attack-

I'll say this as many times as you need me to... grounding.

Grounding exercises really help but can take a while to master.

In an attack you may or may not be aware of what's going on around you, therefore you may or may not know what you are doing.

However, an easy way to stop an attack right as you notice it coming on is to do grounding exercises.

All you have to do is pay attention to your senses.

For example, in Walmart, the cart felt very smooth, since we were in the chocolate aisle, it looked very colorful, it smelled very chocolatey, I couldn't do taste because I wasn't eating anything, and it was very loud around me due to the commotion.

So that's all you do.

I hoped this helped you guys and as always,

Love you all,
   Stay strong,
      Don't give up.