Zainab Haque tells her own story about how she learned to cope with anxiety and panic attacks…
Imagine you have a test next period after lunch. Most students either eat their lunch and then practice or study to prepare for the test. But you are sitting on the floor of the bathroom trying to calm your rapid heart rate. Your breathing is fast and the walls close in, feel as if they’re trapping you.
You’re having a panic attack.
But unfortunately, panic attacks can only be limited to the 30 minute lunch period you have. So, you grip onto whatever consciousness you have left and you take the test.
This is one of the few experiences I have either dealt with or seen first hand in high school. The pressure of being a teenager is something many can relate to. Learning how to be autonomous, finding your identity, what you want in life. It’s all experimental. While high school can be a time of growth, it can also bring a lot of stress and anxiety.
But that’s all normal, right? The real question people ask is, what’s next? So you had a panic attack. And? What’s the next step? For some, they either rant to their friends nonchalantly or they bottle it up.
For me, I went to the choir room. It was in this room that I realized 2 important things: having a safe space and a knowledgeable person to learn from. the sofas in the choir room weren’t just for lounging, they were for discussing feelings with peers and learning more from one another. Choir class wasn’t just about learning a new song, but it was also a safe place to have conversations.
The choir room was my safe place. But what about others? What about the kids who don’t have the safe space either at home or at school? What happens to them?
And this is where I had my second revelation: the importance of mental health education. The choir room was just the beginning: I wanted to learn more about mental health and how I could help others and myself.
I met Boldly Me and took their lessons. I learned a lot from Alanna Powell and I use that information in my everyday life, both for myself and others. But that’s not enough. I wanted more. I wanted more people to experience the safe space and the reliable resources that I was privileged with.
Mental health classes are not your typical psychology class where you learn about different mental illness. No, it’s about mental wellbeing. Teaching students how to manage their stress, how to develop healthy coping mechanisms, etc. This is what we need. So many things can be avoided just by giving knowledge. For when a person has knowledge and guidance, then they can make better decisions.
So, you’re done with your test. You couldn’t focus too well on it, but you’re done. However, this time, instead of bottling up these emotions, you talk to people. You take those lessons you learned and try to apply them. You wipe away your tears and you realize you still have the next chapter test to do better.
Because if the walls are closing in, you can always break them to find a way out.
Zainab is a Youth Board Member of Boldly Me and is currently studying Psychology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne