Trapped - #TNTWillContest

Trapped, my entry for the #TNTWillContest

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Panic attacks.

Maybe you've only heard of them, maybe you know someone who gets them, maybe you've gotten them yourself.

They're a result of long-term, cumulative anxiety. They happen when your body's fight or flight response has been engaged, and your body surges with adrenaline. They can be in response to a trigger, or more likely, they can just occur out of the blue. You can get just one, or you can get them on a daily basis. Either way, there is no harm to them, they can't physically hurt you.

Scare you, though, they can. Hence the word panic.

Let's start with the physical symptoms first, shall we? The physical symptoms of a panic attack include dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain, throat and chest tightening, shaking, weak knees, and a racing heartbeat. Even having a few of these symptoms is enough to make you think something's seriously wrong. Coupled with the fact that your body is telling you something is off, and you're not sure what, it's pretty dang scary.

The worst part is, you can't think. Your thoughts don't slow, they just keep racing through your head, no matter how rational they are. It's thoroughly exhausting, and mentally brutal.

Imagine feeling like that in a middle of a lesson. Imagine that the lesson is in the middle of a 7 hour long day where you are constantly surrounded by people, and don't get time alone for more than 5 minutes. Imagine just wanting to run away, as fast as you can, or wanting to go find somewhere private to hyperventilate and cry until you can calm yourself down enough to appear fine in front of others, but you can't. Imagine feeling utterly and completely trapped with yourself and your out-of-control emotions, and it keeps happening day after day.

Not how you want to spend your time, right?

This was me, almost every day of my freshman year of high school. Panicked, afraid, and most of all, trapped.

Welcome to my story. This is Trapped, enjoy.