Woman Shares Photo Taken Minutes After Suffering Panic Attack

A woman from the UK, penned a brave post on what it is like to experience a panic attack and it’s resonated with thousands of people around the world.

Amber Smith shared two images of her on Facebook, one of her wearing makeup and dressed up and the second of what she looks like right after a panic attack. The photos are cropped side-by-side, and the difference is very visible.

According to her write-up that accompanied the photos, she’s bravely sharing the images in order to tackle the stigma associated with mental health.

“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,’” she writes.

Her hope in sharing the photo is that others will realize that what someone looks like isn’t always the full picture. “People that think that because I physically look ‘fine’ that I’m not battling a monster inside my head every single day.”

She continues, “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?’”

In the post, Smith urges others to reach out for help and for other to offer it.

“To anyone who is going through the same, please do not suffer in silence,” she writes. “There is so much support around – Don’t be scared to ask for help.”