You realize you are out of options

You realize you are out of options. It’s time to run.
You excuse yourself from the line looking embarrassed as it
is now that it is your turn to pay. The cashier is looking
bewildered as you leave your shopping behind and stroll
towards the door.
There is no time for excuses—ou need to be alone.
You leave the supermarket and get into your car to ride it
out alone. You wonder whether or not this one was the big
one. The one you fear will push you over the edge mentally
and physically. Ten minutes later the panic subsides. It’s
only 11:00 in the morning, how in the world can you make it
through the rest of your day?
If you suffer from panic or anxiety attacks, the above
scenario probably sounds very familiar. It may have even
induced feelings of anxiety and panic just reading it. In fact,
it was difficult for me just to write it!
The particular situations that trigger your panic and
anxiety may differ. Maybe the bodily sensations are a little
different. What’s important to realize is that panic attacks
are very real to the people who are having them and they
should never be pushed off to the side.
I remember one evening at home when I was by
myself watching one of my favorite television programs. I
thought I was in a safe place. There was no obvious trigger
and I felt completely relaxed. Out of nowhere, I began
having symptoms of a panic attack. The four walls of my
living room were closing in around me. I couldn’t breathe
and felt like I was dying.
I stepped out on my front porch for some fresh air and
began deep breathing exercises. The symptoms eventually
went away, but it left me wondering why exactly I had that
attack. There was no obvious reason, no stressful situation,
and no indicator that a panic attack might be impending.