We are not perfect. Not one damn person.

Everyone has their own daily struggles, and most often we have no clue what something is going through. It may seem like something small to us, but it could be detrimental to someone else. Never judge.

This being said, there are many people who struggle with anxiety and panic attacks each and every day. I haven’t had one in a while. I’ve been on the right track to handling my stress and anxiety with music, dancing, yoga, and meditation. Unfortunately, this will not alleviate the anxiety 100% of the time.

My best bet is to take a walk and listen to music. Tonight, I said things I should not have said, and acted the way that I did back when I didn’t have much control over my emotions and panic. I was able to see myself from the outside and knew that was not the person I want to go back to being. I said “this is not me.” So I took a long walk outside. I had tears, and felt completely out of control over myself. I hate putting myself on others, but sometimes you need to reach out to close friends. It was a blessing that I did and did not keep my feelings bottled up.

My friend helped bring me back to myself. I realized that I have a purpose to help others in these exact situations. As a nurse, I have compassion for my patients. What really sticks out to me, however, is if they are anxious or panicking. I will always find the time to be there with them and help them come back to themselves. I understand the helplessness, and feeling of no control. When you have someone to help you, which can be as simple as sitting with them as they cry, it makes the world’s difference. Let them get vent, let them say what they want. Do not rush them and tell them to calm down. Let them feel your compassion. There has been no better feeling than making my patients less stressed. I’ve helped patients out of panic attacks, talked them through major stress, etc. These days are so rewarding. I know that I cannot thank my friends enough for helping me when I am in need. Today made me come back to my senses and realize that I am a positive person and will continue to be there to help others. Not every day will be filled with positivity, but you can take the few positive moments out of that day to remember.

Find a way to clear your thoughts. Sometimes in panic attacks we overthink. Let it go. Take a deep breath, and take a step back. Engage in a distracting activity such as walking or listening to music. Find a friend that you can rely on to be there for you to help you when you simply just need to say “I’m freaking out.”