Anyone can say, "I had a panic attack today because (insert reason here)". I don't think it's necessarily accurate to say when you don't even know what it's even really like especially when you don't even suffer from anxiety. I understand this may sound a bit harsh, but when you constantly feel like your whole world is crashing down on you for no apparent reason, you tend to have a strong opinion on the matter when people just throw around the term.

There are many forms of an anxiety attack and sometimes people wouldn't know if someone is having one if that person didn't say anything. They can occur at any moment, any time, with no warning. I really want people to do more research and educate themselves on the disorder and anxiety attacks itself because people don't seem to understand or want to understand, which turns into them making unkind and hurtful comments.

Heart palpitations, sweating, feeling faint, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, etc. These are just a few of the symptoms that may occur during an anxiety attack. It is not fun, it is very real, and contrary to popular belief, IT IS NOT ALL IN OUR HEADS. Many people have gone to the hospital thinking that they are having a heart attack because of the similar symptoms. Imagine how terrifying it is to not know whether you're actually have a heart attack or not. Anything can trigger these attacks such as: driving, words, places, nothing at all, memories, noise, etc. If someone says they are too scared to go somewhere, drive somewhere, listen to a certain story, it's best to listen to them because you don't want to accidentally cause them to panic.

How can you help someone? Stay with the person and try to keep them calm but do NOT tell them to calm down, it only makes things worse. Make sure that they are in a quiet area and not too many people around. If they take medication, get it to them. Not everyone wants to be touched but certain people do like to be hugged, it makes them feel safe. Also, help them with breathing exercises. This disorder is no joke and should be taken seriously. Be patient and be understanding. These are the two most important things to remember. Be mindful of people's reasonings and fears and don't tell them to "get over it", or "just do it", because it's an extremely debilitating thing and nobody can be forced out of such a feeling.

I'm really happy that each day, more and more people are becoming open minded on anxiety and other mental illnesses. This is something so important because you never know what someone is going through and we have to be so careful with our words and the way we think about things. Continue to grow, to educate yourselves, and to be a supporter.