The Conversation (0)
Lowenna Waters
Jun 05, 2019
When you go on social media and scroll through people's curated profiles, it's possible to think that their lives are completely perfect and that you're the only one who has ever had problems.
However, this most certainly isn't the case, and this powerful video of American Malaysian model Kharina Kharuddin suffering a severe panic attack is the perfect example of the reality of people's lives behind the perceived perfection.
21-year-old model Kharina Kharuddin, who has 93,000 followers on Instagram, uploaded the distressing clip to her Instagram account, where it has had nearly 500,000 views.
In the caption, she wrote:
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.
In the clip, she can be heard wheezing, shaking and gasping for breath, as she claims that she is unable to feel her arms and legs. When she finally manages to catch her breath, she's comforted by her mother, who breaths along with her.
When she manages to catch her breath, she says:
I’ve never felt like this before.
Many other social media users have praised Kharina for her honesty in sharing the reality of a panic attack, and for aiming to help others.
One said:
Oh kharina thank you for posting this. This is one of your best post yet. So raw and real. You’re beautiful and strong and I mean it and whatever you’re going through I pray that you’ll one day overcome it.
Another added:
Thank you for posting this. I myself have anxiety and knowing I’m not alone helps heaps. Much love, K!
A third echoed these sentiments:
Here I am beating myself up over not being able to make it to work earlier because of uncontrollable anxiety and panic attacks. Thank you so much for sharing this video, it's so hard to remember that I'm not alone in this.
HT Someecards
More: Anxiety: Six simple ways to help keep your mental health intact
More: This is why some people with mental illness say they're 'tired'
Top 100
x