Imagine a steamy July afternoon. Rays of sunlight beating down on your skin. Out of nowhere, menacing black clouds begin to shroud the sky. Monstrous claps of thunder rock the ground beneath your feet and a sharp burst of lightning ignites the air. You turn to your friends, they are laughing and carefree in the summer air, above them the sky is still bright blue and the sun is shining. You feel isolated, alone, and terrified.

Much like a summer storm, anxiety attacks often come with little warning. They rock our world, while those around us seem to be carrying on without a care.

In times of panic and distress, it can feel impossible to adequately explain your feelings to the people around you. Oftentimes, the thought of discussing the topic of anxiety brings on anxiety itself.

Every attack is a little different and every person will have different experiences with them, but I've found a few steps that can greatly aid us as we begun communicating about anxiety:

Anxiety is real, but it won't hurt you

The first key to communicating with those around you is to communicate with yourself about what is happening. Your legs shake, heart is racing, and you feel as if you might faint. The symptoms are scary and anxiety has a way of kicking our senses into overdrive. Calling out anxiety for what it is can go a long way in helping us bring ourselves back down. Anxiety can trigger a powerful "fight or flight" response. Sometimes we want to just fight through it and other times we long to run a thousand miles away and be alone. Certainly, there are times when it is best to press through and other times it is perfectly acceptable to spend some time in quiet while the moment passes, but in both scenarios it's important that we call anxiety out for what it is. If we can do that, we can go a long way towards communicating that to those around us.

Build a support system

Yelling into a crowd of strangers that you are mid-anxiety attack might not do much to help you, but having a support system of friends and family you can turn to is a powerful step in the right direction. It's helpful to share with people you can trust about what you're going through. It can be scary, but if they truly care about you, they will do their best to listen. You don't need to ask any of them or expect them to fully understand what you're going through. Just by sharing your story with them, you have gotten through arguably the two hardest steps of communicating.

Speak up

Once you have a support system in place, remember that they are there to help you. Don't let anxiety trick you into believing you must walk alone or live in isolation. Even if you're at work, class, or somewhere away from those you've put in your support system, they can still play a big role in helping you weather the storm. In my own experiences, I've found that even a quick phone call or text messages to a friend is a great personal reminder that people are out there rooting for you even while the storm rages.

Share your accomplishments

Finally, I believe that is is just as important to communicate during the good times as it is the bad. It may seem silly at first, but don't let that stop you. If you've made it through the day or finished something that you were nervous would trigger anxiety, share that accomplishment. We anxiety sufferers are often extremely hard on ourselves and don't take the time to celebrate those little victories over anxiety. Give yourself a pat on the back and thank your support system for being there for you. Let them know when you've won another battle.

When the storms of anxiety strike, remind yourself that it shall pass. Set up a group of people you can talk to and trust to walk alongside you as the lightning strikes, and when the storm has finally passed, celebrate your victory. You are strong, and I believe in you.