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Anxiety is no joke, and anxiety attacks are terrifying experiences that can rattle a person to their core. People describe the attacks like this: you can’t breathe, your mind races uncontrollably and you can’t focus. They can be so scary that some people literally believe that they are dying.
To show people how traumatic the experience is, a woman named Amber Smith opened up on Facebook and shared photos of herself before and after suffering an anxiety attack:
Photo Credit: Facebook, Amber Louise Smith
In addition to the photos, Smith shared a heartfelt message about why she posted the photos:
God knows why I’m doing this, but people need some home truths..
Top picture: What I showcase to the world via social media. Dressed up, make up done, filters galore. The ‘normal’ side to me.
Bottom picture: Taken tonight shortly after suffering from a panic attack because of my anxiety. Also the ‘normal’ side to me that most people don’t see.
I’m so sick of the fact that it’s 2016 and there is still so much stigma around mental health. It disgusts me that so many people are so uneducated and judgemental over the topic. They say that 1 in 3 people will suffer with a mental illness at some point in their life. 1 in 3! Do you know how many people that equates to worldwide?! And yet I’ve been battling with anxiety and depression for years and years and there’s still people that make comments like ‘you’ll get over it’, ‘you don’t need tablets, just be happier’, ‘you’re too young to suffer with that’
FUCK YOU. Fuck all of you small minded people that think that because I physically look ‘fine’ that I’m not battling a monster inside my head every single day.
Someone actually said this to me one day ‘aren’t you too young to be suffering with anxiety and depression? What do you actually have to be depressed about at your age?’ Wow, just wow.
I’m a strong person, I’ve been through my fair share of crap in life (the same as anyone else) and I will be okay. I have the best family and friends around me and I am thankful everyday that they have the patience to help and support me.
To anyone who is going through the same, please do not suffer in silence. There is so much support around – Don’t be scared to ask for help.
This is why I can’t stress enough that it costs nothing to be nice to others. Don’t bully others, don’t put others down and the hardest one of them all (as we have all done it at some point) don’t judge another person. We’re all human regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, job. So build one another up instead of breaking each other down.
Peace & love guys ☮❤
EDIT: Please don’t be afraid to share this, there needs to be more awareness. The more awareness there is, the less people who will suffer in silence. ?
People supported Smith’s decision to speak out about mental health.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
Photo Credit: Facebook
We need more people to open up about anxiety – otherwise, those who don’t suffer from it will never understand how profoundly it affects those who live with it every day.
h/t: Pizza Bottle
