Anxiety In All Its Ugliness

The first time I had an anxiety attack I was 11. I was not anxious about anything, as a matter of fact my dad had just took us to get subs for dinner. Nothing dramatic was happening and out of nowhere, my chest felt tight. It hurt to take deep breaths. I began panicking and telling my dad I was having a heart attack. He talked to me and told me to calm down and breathe and said maybe it was indigestion from the sub. It happened again and that is when my dad made me the appointment to see a doctor. The doctor told me that what I was experiencing was an anxiety attack. My first reaction was confusion because when it happened, I wasn't anxious about anything. He explained to me that you don't have to be anxious to experience an anxiety attack. He walked me through exercises to help me through them when they hit. Panicking and thinking you're having a heart attack only worsens the symptoms. The exercises that helped me the most was taking slow deep breaths even though they hurt, stretching and opening up my chest by drawing my elbows back towards each other behind my back and mentally reminding myself that I was okay. Everything was okay. I still use these methods today when one strikes. It is bizarre how much an anxiety attack mimics an actual heart attack. One day I was with my granny at the grocery store, and I had a massive attack. I got so hot I felt like I was going to black out and literally had to go to the freezer section and stick my head in a freezer to cool down. I felt like my eyes were going to pop out of my head. It was terrible. I hope these tips help someone, or maybe even reach someone that are experiencing anxiety attacks and just don't realize exactly what it is they're experiencing. Love you guys and thanks again for following my blog!! I plan to start a podcast soon. And don't forget to go follow my Instagram and Facebook page!! If you would like to assist in helping me, get started a little faster, please feel free to tip me on Venmo @feistymommy or CashApp $feistymommy. Everything will be greatly appreciated! I am also working on a book. I am extremely ambitious to reach as many as I can and help as many as I can in any way that I can! All my love, feisty mommy!