Instagram Model Posts Video of One of the 'Worst' Panic Attacks of Her Life

If you’ve ever felt completely fine one moment then experienced debilitating anxiety the next, Instagram model Kharina K. can relate.

On Monday, she posted a video of her panic attack in an effort to raise mental health awareness. In the caption, she wrote:

No, this is NOT an act, this is REAL LIFE. This was me earlier having one of THE WORST panic attacks I’d ever had that happened to be caught on camera… I’m posting this not for attention or sympathy, but because I have been given this platform on instagram and would like to do some good with it. You guys see most of my life as rainbows and sunshine (cuz no one likes to post the bad parts anyways) , however this is my reality. Constantly having anxiety and being fine one minute, and like this the next. I try to post as much as I can about mental health to bring AWARENESS to it because it is REAL, and is not taught very well in Malaysia

Kharina’s video has been viewed over 185,000 times. To watch the video and read her full caption, check out the post below.

View this post on Instagram

⚠️WARNING! VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!⚠️ No, this is NOT an act, this is REAL LIFE. This was me earlier having one of THE WORST panic attacks I’d ever had that happened to be caught on camera. Why I had this attack isn’t important so I’ll leave that bit out. I’m posting this not for attention or sympathy, but because I have been given this platform on instagram and would like to do some good with it. You guys see most of my life as rainbows and sunshine (cuz no one likes to post the bad parts anyways) , however this is my reality. Constantly having anxiety and being fine one minute, and like this the next. I try to post as much as I can about mental health to bring AWARENESS to it because it is REAL, and is not taught very well in Malaysia, however I have never been able to show you guys until now. I didn’t choose this, I do not want it, and it’s a horrible thing to be constantly fighting a battle no one knows about or sees that’s in your head 24/7 and constantly feeling like a crazy person. It burdens not only you, but the people around you & yet all you can do is apologize when you yourself don’t even want it which is one of the worst feelings ever. I’m very lucky to have a great support system around me that loves & takes good care of me in times like these, however not everyone is as lucky as I am… and so this post is to remind those who suffer from it that you ARE NOT ALONE, & to hopefully bring awareness to the people who don’t know/understand mental illnesses. If I can enlighten even 1 person by posting this, I’ll be happy and will feel like I have used this platform to do something useful & good instead of just for selfish nonsensical reasons. I may or may not delete this, but I just thought that after everything today, & the fact that someone had actually gotten this on camera, that it felt almost like it was my duty to do some good with it. I hope if someone you know has any form of mental health illness that you try your best to be patient with them time & time again which I know can be hard, but is sometimes the best or only thing you can do for that person… to just try your best to understand, and just BE THERE. ❤️❤️ #mentalhealthawareness

A post shared by Kharina K. (@kharina97) on May 6, 2019 at 9:16am PDT

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, a panic attack is an abrupt onset of intense fear that usually includes symptoms like sweating, accelerated heart rate, feelings of choking and nausea.

If you’ve never experienced a panic attack before, Mighty contributor Anna Lente explained her experience in her piece, “What My Panic Attacks Feel Like.” She wrote:

My senses heighten. My mind and body go on full alert. I feel chilled, though my face is flushed. I feel like a deer caught in headlights, overwhelmed by the blinding lights of a situation I’m trapped in.

My body is frozen in place, but ready to flee. My thoughts curdle and scatter in a million directions. I hear an alert sounding in my head. Danger, danger! Escape, escape!

Though Lente’s experience is relatable for many, it’s important to remember everyone’s experience with panic attacks is different. If you or someone you know is struggling with panic attacks due to anxiety, talk to your doctor to come up with a treatment plan that works best for you.

Kharina ended her post with a word of advice for anyone supporting a loved one with mental illness.

“I hope if someone you know has any form of mental health illness that you try your best to be patient with them time & time again,” she wrote. “just try your best to understand, and just BE THERE.”

To read more about anxiety and panic attacks, check out the following stories:

• Panic Attacks: What They Are and How I Cope With Them
• 5 Kinds of Anxiety and Depression We Don’t Talk About
• Why We Need to Take ‘High-Functioning’ Anxiety Seriously

What do your panic attacks feel like? Tell us in the comments below.