Woman shares brave post about what it's like to experience panic attacks

LONDON -- A British woman's post about what it's like to experience a panic attack has been shared thousands of times. 

Amber Smith from Rugby in Warwickshire shared two photos on Facebook, one of herself dressed up, with her makeup on, the second of her immediately after a panic attack. 

Posting the two pics to tackle the stigma associated with mental health, she says that while she physically looks "fine" she is "battling a monster" inside her head every day.

"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?' Wow, just wow," she wrote on Facebook. 

In the post, Smith urges other people to seek out help and support rather than "suffer in silence."

"We're all human regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, job. So build one another up instead of breaking each other down," she wrote. 

Smith's post in full:

God knows why I'm doing this, but people need some home truths..

Top picture: What I showcase to the world via social media. Dressed up, make up done, filters galore. The 'normal' side to me.

Bottom picture: Taken tonight shortly after suffering from a panic attack because of my anxiety. Also the 'normal' side to me that most people don't see.

I'm so sick of the fact that it's 2016 and there is still so much stigma around mental health. It disgusts me that so many people are so uneducated and judgemental over the topic. They say that 1 in 3 people will suffer with a mental illness at some point in their life. 1 in 3! Do you know how many people that equates to worldwide?! And yet 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'

FUCK YOU. Fuck all of you small minded people that think that because I physically look 'fine' that I'm not battling a monster inside my head every single day.

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?' Wow, just wow.

I'm a strong person, I've been through my fair share of crap in life (the same as anyone else) and I will be okay. I have the best family and friends around me and I am thankful everyday that they have the patience to help and support me.

To anyone who is going through the same, please do not suffer in silence. There is so much support around - Don't be scared to ask for help.

This is why I can't stress enough that it costs nothing to be nice to others. Don't bully others, don't put others down and the hardest one of them all (as we have all done it at some point) don't judge another person. We're all human regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, job. So build one another up instead of breaking each other down.

Peace & love guys

The UK's National Health Service defines a panic attack as a rush of intense anxiety and physical symptoms, that can be "frightening and happen suddenly, often for no clear reason."

Symptoms include sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness, and it can last anywhere from five to 20 minutes. 

It advises people who experience regular panic attacks to see their doctor. 

More information about panic attacks can be found here.

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