Experiences: Panic Attacks

Jun 15, 2017 by Fidget Spinner

Psychology 20

Mrs. Hasse

June 15, 2017

Dear Billie Joe Armstrong, I’m maybe one of your biggest fans ever, and the reason I am writing to you for is because from learning about you and your music, I know you used to suffer from massive panic attacks and anxiety. I also suffer from this and when I found your music it helped me know that I wasn’t going crazy and that I’m not the only one who suffers this hell. I can only say it as your music saved my life, and If I said otherwise then I’d be a liar. I started to suffer panic attacks after my father passed and they usually happened 3 times a week, and it scared the hell out of me every time that it happened. I started to think that this will pass and that by the time I’m 16 or in my teens that it will be much easier, that high school would be better than my elementary years. Sure enough here I am, 16 and in grade 11, and now my panic attacks have moved from being 3 times a week to a max of 3 times a day every single day of every months and has been for a good 2 years. One of my solutions to trying to solve the problem is to listen to your music or to pick up my guitar and play my own music, and sometimes one of yours. I know I’m starting to get a panic attack when I start to shake violently get cold and numb and sweat starts to poor, and then the next thing is my ribs, stomach and head starts to throb excessively. I feel like someone has beaten me up with a metal pipe and is now proceeding to put me in a choke hold as I lose my breath and I struggle to grasp for air. This can last up from 30 minutes up to and hour straight. In a shorter much more fit way the best way to describe the attacks, is the greatest hell on earth. I always thought I would be better by this time in my life, and now my depression has multiplied, I’m always angry, scared, sad and I feel as if I’ll never be free of this. I feel alone and that no one understands me and that I’ll be alone for the rest of my bitter time, and quite frankly I feel its best that I end up far away from people and alone. I just want to know how you got over your anxiety and panic attacks, and if you ever got the sense of being alone and that no one wanted you, and if you did. How did you overcome it? I can’t live like this forever and when I have one everyday it gets worse, I’ve had them for 5 years and every time I get them they are still so bad that I think taking my life is the only option.

P.S. – Please keep this anonymous.