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Open Poetry #49
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JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2016-03-17 03:36 PM


panic attack
hyperventilation is a grim taskmaster
frustration is its foreplay
but you don't recognize it . . .
there are no warnings
no flashing bright lights that scream
look out! look out! danger! danger!
it creeps upon you like a deadly anaconda
wrapping its coils around you
slowly making it difficult to breathe
much too late you realize
you're suffocating
as you are deep into the death throes
you try to trace down this hyperventilation
from whence it came
an easy task
it was there all along
you knew it
you just decided to look the other way
for a moment
meanwhile the anaconda keeps on constricting

©February 27, 2016 / Jerry Pat Bolton


~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

© Copyright 2016 Jerry Pat Bolton - All Rights Reserved
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
1 posted 2016-03-18 08:19 PM


Whew! Jerry, you have this way of making dark important so you can deal with it.

I've always thought that a panic attack is a learned response from some past history of deep rooted fears.
The modern day solution is there's nothing beyond a panic attack on the other side. It becomes a waste of adrenal surges to compensate for the emotional upheaval caused by the anxiety.
But there's nothing beyond it's just the same place you were beforehand and you've put yourself through the grinding mill of insecurity.
Nothing accomplished. Dirty stuff all the same.

You are a very interesting man!

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
2 posted 2016-03-18 08:36 PM


Some call them panic attacks, some call them anxiety attacks, Eric. I prefer to call them panic attacks, because that is what they do to me. Put me in a complete, shut-down panic mode.

I have no idea how and why they come. I do know they are sneaky and causes me to think I am going to die very soon because I am unable to breathe.

Thank you for your thoughts on the subject.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
3 posted 2016-03-19 12:21 PM


Jerry, many experts claim you will never die from a panic attack because the body is made to compensate for the stress.
However, having a panic attack 10-12 hours a day can hardly be good for anyone.
It's a real mind to body issue that is simply unpleasant but can be dealt with.
When people learn that a panic/anxiety so called attack will not really do much damage in the long run then they tend to ignore them.
Many people have these attacks for years and are still around to talk about them.
In no way am I trying to undermine the content of your poem as these invasions of one's mind and body are as real as the sun and moon.
It can only get so heavy and that's as far as it can go........
Write on my friend you're doing great!

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
4 posted 2016-03-19 12:31 PM


Oh heck, Eric, I understand all that. I have been having them for many years, and although they are very, very invasive I have learned how to live with it. But to ignore it? No way can you (I) ignore it. I think I have written about it all wrong in the poem, and now I guess I'll remove it.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

jjote
Senior Member
since 2002-12-25
Posts 1088
Ontario, Canada
5 posted 2016-03-19 03:27 PM


oh no don't remove it..I am intrigued by the image of anaconda creeping on you during panic attacks...maybe if you do focus on this image when it comes, it will disappear...just trying to make it light, though perhaps I'm making it worse.
JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
6 posted 2016-03-19 03:36 PM


No jjote, you certainty are not making it worse. Thank you.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

DaysofView
Member
since 2014-04-01
Posts 433
Just A Slice Of The Pie
7 posted 2016-03-19 07:26 PM


I always read your poems because they always tell something about you that I didn't know before. I hide alot of myself but you don't. You do what ever you feel like doing if it feels right and good to do it. If that means taking down what you write then I say I'm with you! Like I've heard before if it feels good do it and if it don't then don't as you wish!

If I were more than I am, I'd see things differently instead of the same all the time.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
8 posted 2016-03-19 08:05 PM


Thank you for your refreshing comments, DV.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
9 posted 2016-03-20 05:15 PM


Sorry Jerry, I really just had your best interests at heart.
Don't take the poem down because many will see it different than me, and I have been wrong many many times..
Take care

Eric

true love never looks after it's own interests

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
10 posted 2016-03-20 05:21 PM


No, Eric, I have no attention of taking it down now. That was just a quick thought, and a wrong thought at that.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Cari
Member
Posts 411
Englnand
11 posted 2016-03-20 08:28 PM


Never had a panic attack, the closest I’ve come was face to face with a Boomslang snake in Chad. I was a new boy from England and we don’t have these beasties. You’re hardy going to be torn to pieces by a posse of rabid squirrels, are you?  
We looked at each other then it decided I wasn’t worth the bother and slunk away. I asked later if it was poisonous,
‘Yeah, you have around four hours to get the anti-velum.’
‘Where would I get that?’
He pointed to the east.
‘About 300 hundred miles over there’
It was then I felt I was getting underpaid for this bloody job.

Sorry friend I don’t have any way to help except. Keep in there slugging.

Cari.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
12 posted 2016-03-20 08:57 PM


Cari, the fact that you care and take time to comment about it is all the help I need. Thank YOU so much!

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

Honeybunch
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-29
Posts 7115
South Africa
13 posted 2016-03-22 03:23 AM


A pretty scary thing to go through I'm sure.  You describe it well for those of us who are fortunate to not ever having been there.  We learn to live with a lot of difficult things in this life but I don't know why that should be.  Life is definitely not all it's cracked up to be - and now I'd better get my brain into a more positive mode.  You think it helps?  I wonder sometimes.  

Be well, Jerry.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
14 posted 2016-03-22 07:31 AM


I'm not sure anything helps, Helen. Don't mind me, I haven't had my first cuppa joe yet. Thank you for being here.

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

latearrival
Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499
Florida
15 posted 2016-03-23 01:45 PM


Excellent depiction of a panic attack.
best to you, JO

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
16 posted 2016-03-23 02:06 PM


Thank you, Jo!

~ If they give you ruled paper, write sideways. ~

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