Uncovering mental disorders Part 1: Panic Disorder
- Jan 4, 2018
- 2 min read
It all started when I was just 17. Seventeen, the age when you should only be worried about school, friends, physical appearance and relationships. My worries did not even begin there, nor did it end there.
One night I felt myself reaching towards my neck, a sudden urge to feel my pulse. What a strange sensation. Brushing it off as nothing, I carried on with whatever I was busy with. I felt very uncomfortable during the course of the evening. A feeling of unease, as if I am about to write an exam that will determine my future. That night my duvet cover felt too heavy and I was tossing and turning, barely getting any sleep. Pacing the hallways of my house, I realized then, that something was wrong.
Fast forward a few weeks, with symptoms only getting worse, I found myself in a hospital bed, admitted to the psychiatric ward. After a couple of meetings with both a psychologist and a psychiatrist, my symptoms finally had a name: Panic Disorder.
After extensive research, I finally knew what this meant. Panic disorder forms part of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can be brought on by many things, but in my case- these 'things' were unknown. I did not know when the next one will strike and what might trigger it, how long it will last and whether I will make it out alive on the other side.
Panic disorder affects about 6,8% of the world's population at a certain stage in their lives. It can be brought on by many things like stress, separation, poor lifestyle, disease etc. I guess I was not prepared for this stage of my life, especially at 17.
To this day, 5 years from the initial onset, I still find it hard to lock my panic disorder away for good.
Do you have a panic disorder? I would love to hear more about it.
If you want to learn more about Panic disorder, I advise you to follow this link:
MUSIC SUGGESTION: ALIVE POD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxAcx8jyqoY
Sneak preview: Uncovering mental disorders Part 2: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
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