It's one thing having panic attacks.

It's another experiencing anxiety, dread, and low-level panic as you merely anticipate having a panic attack.

Then there's the shame: Is there something wrong with me? Am I doing this to myself? Why can't I just keep it together?

Stop stop stop.

We don't shame a child into feeling safe. In the same way, it is through kindness, compassion, and tenderness that we help guide the nervous system back to safety.

I used to struggle with debilitating panic attacks. The worst of which happened in a whole foods and yes, I caught many nervous glances my way after I started to settle.

But guess what? It wasn't until I flipped the story and started saying, "I'm excited for the panic, bring on the panic! Show me what you've got!" that the attacks starting to naturally go away. I began to see them for what they were: a message directly from my body as it continually let me know that the pace in which I was living was no longer an option for me. After years of ignoring the whispers because I felt I couldn't slow down, my body got LOUD and clear: time to change course. Time to slow down and take a good look at what my body needed instead of continuing to shove down my emotions and carry on.

If you start to see panic attacks as just a sign from the body asking for help, what do you think your body is asking for in order to feel safe?