Panic attack rescue
I’d been suffering debilitating panic attacks for about 18 months. On the way back from work, I had a huge one, stumbled off the bus and lay down in the middle of the pavement in central London. Hundreds of people stepped over me as if I didn’t exist. I couldn’t move, couldn’t use my phone, couldn’t breathe. Suddenly, a very petite lady crouched down and asked if I was ok. I couldn’t event speak, so I just shook my head. She then asked if I was having a panic attack. I nodded, weakly. She said that she was going to help me up and and sit me down on a bench. Luckily, although she was very petite, so am I. It somehow worked. She pulled me up, we stumbled to a bench nearby together and sat down. She asked me what I needed in that moment. I told her that it would really help if she could tell me about herself, and distract me, until I regained use of my fingers, so that I could call my partner. She told me her life story. She was an artist and I asked her to show me some of her work. She obliged and I absolutely loved her art. After about 20 minutes, I regained enough energy and motor control to call my partner. He came to meet us and I felt totally rescued. The petite lady was an absolute angel and I will never forget her. I try to pay it forward whenever I can.