“Having an anxiety attack is one of the most helpless feelings in the world,” sophomore Lindsey Lucas said.

Lucas has been having panic attacks since she was in 8th grade, and like with many other students, these panic attacks are primarily caused by school. The symptoms for panic attacks vary based on the person.

“I feel light-headed, my heart races, and I have nausea.”

However, there are ways to cope with a panic attack.

“One thing that helps me is to breathe deeper and listen to calming music.”

Music helps her with panic attacks; it can take her mind off of the stress or off of the panic attack itself, she said.

“You can also go to online panic support groups,” Lucas said. “Just don’t give out any personal information. A really good support group is anxietypanicsupport.com.”

She said it’s important to just remember that you will feel better sooner or later.

Sue Caimi, a counselor at Pattonville High School, shared her opinion.

“It’s hard to give an actual number of how many students come into my office with panic attacks, but I would say about 10 percent.”

School itself is one of the causes of anxiety, but students may have test anxiety, or maybe they have anxiety because of something that is going on in their family or personal life.

If students get a panic attack at school, they can go to the counselors, and they will do their best to help them.

“If they are currently having a panic attack, I would try to get them to relax, sit down and take deep breaths, or do whatever helps calm them down,” Caimi said.

If students have a panic attack at home, Caimi said it is a good idea to talk to someone else in the house, or call a friend.

“Just remember to take one day at a time,” Caimi said. “Prioritize things and stay positive.”