How do I explain Panic attacks to my friends, partner, boss, so people won think I am going crazy? Should I try to conceal these attacks, or be open about them?
This is a difficult question to answer because each person’s situation may be different. Explaining your emotional discomfort to others who have not experienced them may not lead to increased or appropriate understanding on their parts. On the other hand, concealing such information frequently leads to self-destructive feelings and perceptions; e.g. shame, depression, etc. Personally, I do not discuss my Panic attacks with anyone except close family members and my partner as I do not want people to view me differently or think I am ‘mad’. When I have told some work colleagues they are not very sympathetic and associate Panic with being weak and unable to cope with life. You also get the few who just laugh and tell you not to be so silly and pull yourself together!
