Rewatching Ted Lasso this summer, I got to the episode where Ted has his first panic attack while everyone around him is celebrating a big win at a karaoke bar.
What should have been one of the happiest moments of the season suddenly became something completely different.
It took me back to the first time I had a panic attack.
I was 21 years old. Standing alone in a parking lot. My heart was racing, I couldnāt catch my breath, and I was absolutely convinced I was dying.
No one tells you that panic attacks donāt always come during your worst days. Sometimes they show up in the middle of ordinary moments. Sometimes they interrupt celebrations. Sometimes they come out of nowhere.
If youāve never experienced one, itās hard to explain. If you have, you know exactly what Iām talking about.
Looking back now, I realize I wasnāt dying. I was struggling. And there is a difference.
If youāre fighting anxiety, panic attacks, or battles no one else can see, youāre not alone. Keep talking. Keep asking for help. Keep moving forward.
You donāt have to fight it by yourself.