Sweaty palms, chest tightness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, tremors and nervous wees.

Have you ever had those moments where you start panicking or feel like you are running away from something that isn’t there?

One moment you will be going about your day, brushing your teeth, straightening your hair, putting on your make-up while listening to your favourite Spotify playlist; and next thing you know, without any warning your heart starts racing, your palms are hot and sweaty and your hands start shaking.

It’s kind of like that feeling you get when you’re walking alone at night and feel like someone is following you. But really, there’s no one there; you are still in your bathroom putting on your make-up and everything about your day is in perfect order. You stop what you’re doing for a few seconds, shrug your shoulders and continue with your day; later realising that this feeling has left the house with you.

You leave for work with 30 minutes to spare because you know that being late will make you even more anxious. You make sure you use the staff toilets before the start of your shift even though you know you went just before you left the house and that there is probably nothing left inside that little organ and not so good friend of yours, the bladder.

By now you have got your breath back. Your heart starts pumping more softly and you start mentally prepare yourself for the day ahead. Once you’ve finally worked up the courage, you take a deep breath and head down stairs.

You worry that people will think that you are easily distracted and that you don’t really care about what they have to say. You worry that people will notice your hands shaking when you are asked to sign a form or when you notice that someone is standing over you. You avoid drinking from a glass while someone else is watching because you are afraid that they will notice your tremor.