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I have struggled with panic attacks throughout my journey with my mental health. However, during COVID, they really ramped up. And they happened at the worst times…when I was driving. One minute, I would be driving and listening to my music, and the next, I would be completely engulfed in a panic attack, unable to breathe. More than once I had to call my parents to pick me up and abandon my car somewhere to retrieve later. It became a hindrance to my daily life. I didn't know when they were going to strike. Driving had become my safe space during COVID. It gave me the freedom I desperately wanted and needed while my family was quarantined together. I couldn’t let my mental health get in the way of the one outlet I had. I brought this up to my therapist and we began problem-solving. Eventually, she brought up the idea of making a panic attack kit!
“Panic attack kits” are useful, personalized tools that you can create to cope with overwhelming anxiety or panic. We decided I could keep one in my car so when I started having a panic attack I could easily pull over and have my coping skills all in one place. My panic attack kit included lavender essential oil, sour candy, fidget toys, and some comfort items. I put these into a small, cute, zippered bag I found at my house and kept that in my glove compartment. I wasn’t entirely convinced it would actually work for me, but I was desperate for a solution.
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