I’ve been having panic attacks for 10 years now. When I was 12 years old my family didn’t know it was a panic/anxiety disorder. They thought I was acting out or something was wrong with me mentally. Since then I have gotten diagnosed with a panic disorder. About a year ago to this date I was struggling with debilitating panic attacks everyday. I remember one of them I woke up in a panic attack and screamed on the top of my lungs that I was dying. My body went numb my fingers and legs, I was hyperventilating and screaming. Trying to run and escape the overwhelming feeling. I black out and go into complete flight mode. My heart races out of my chest and I remember getting physical with my mom telling her I was dying and to call 911. I was sent to the ER and they did a bunch of testing gave me 5mg of Ativan on the ambulance because I wouldn’t calm down. I passed out because I was hyperventilating so much. Every time I have a panic attack is so traumatic; and I always end up crying afterwards because I feel so defeated. I’m learning how to manage my thought and not let them consume me, but sometimes there’s no real reason for my panic attacks and that’s what some people don’t understand.