Personal Narrative: Severe Panic Attacks

In 7th grade, I began experiencing severe panic attacks. They began small; my hands would go numb, I would tune out everything, and I would feel disconnected from the world.
As time progressed the attacks became worse. I was sent home at least twice a week for the first half of the year, until my mom ran out of sick days to come pick me up. After that, I stayed in the office for half the day, hyperventilating to the point of unconsciousness over nothing.
After searching for treatment options, my mom decided that church might help with my social anxiety. I wasn’t sold on the idea of going to youth group with complete strangers and she had to practically drag me to the first meeting. But standing in that building, for the first time in years,