Trigger Warning

A stirring inside that will not abate,

No matter how long I stop and wait.

A fight or flight response; primate,

My system triggered; on automate.

Blood wells in my chest,

Heart beating out of my breast.

Muscles tensed; body stressed,

No time for leisure; no time for rest.

Panic surges as my brain shuts down,

In anxiety and overwhelm I fear I will drown.

People watching; all around,

Nowhere private can be found.

Lightheaded and faint in the head,

Stomach churning and filled with dread.

Skin clammy and wet with sweat,

Hair standing on the back of my neck.

Danger, danger, ever near,

Where, oh how, can I disappear.

Heart gripped with looming fear,

Internal cries for help heard in my ear.

Help myself I must to survive,

So panic does not enslave me; does not deprive.

Deprive me of living where I can’t thrive,

It's much like death; not being alive.

Bring myself to the ground I must,

Use simple grounding techniques to adjust.

Take it slow; slow down; don’t rush,

Use all five senses the panic to confront.

Look around and verbalize in detail,

Details of old and young; weak or frail.

Size paints a picture on a measurement scale,

Sight helps ground us with all that it entails.

Sniff the air as the oven door opens,

Watch as the taste buds on your tongue are woken.

Smells soothe our soul like waves of the ocean,

Tend to evoke strong and vivid emotions.

When driving along and out of the blue,

A panic attack sneaks up and hits you.

Roll down the window and turn on some tunes,

For tunes will help you hear your way through.

Pop the chocolate and savor it,

Let it dissolve while on your tongue it sits.

Swirl it around and taste every bit,

Watch the panic attack slowly remit.

Melt into the furry coat of hair,

Hair of our emotional support animal’s care.

Touch is powerful; touch repairs,

A statement, “I love you,” it declares.

Senses engaged; attention gained,

Panic attack halted and arraigned.

Trigger identified and framed,

Grounding practiced and claimed.