A Woman Took Before & After Photos Of Her Panic Attack

Amber Smiths Facebook post is sparking some huge attention and discussion about mental health.

22 year old Amber Smith from England, has been struggling with anxiety and panic attacks since the age of 16, but was only diagnosed 3 years ago. She took to Facebook and posted a photo of her made up face, and a photo after a panic attack she had suffered with this caption. (There is some explicit language.)

“God knows why I’m doing this, but people need some home truths..

Top picture: What I showcase to the world via social media. Dressed up, make up done, filters galore. The ‘normal’ side to me.

Bottom picture: Taken tonight shortly after suffering from a panic attack because of my anxiety. Also the ‘normal’ side to me that most people don’t see.

I’m so sick of the fact that it’s 2016 and there is still so much stigma around mental health. It disgusts me that so many people are so uneducated and judgemental over the topic. They say that 1 in 3 people will suffer with a mental illness at some point in their life. 1 in 3! Do you know how many people that equates to worldwide?! And yet I’ve been battling with anxiety and depression for years and years and there’s still people that make comments like ‘you’ll get over it’, ‘you don’t need tablets, just be happier’, ‘you’re too young to suffer with that’

F**K YOU. F**k all of you small minded people that think that because I physically look ‘fine’ that I’m not battling a monster inside my head every single day.

Someone actually said this to me one day ‘aren’t you too young to be suffering with anxiety and depression? What do you actually have to be depressed about at your age?’ Wow, just wow.

I’m a strong person, I’ve been through my fair share of crap in life (the same as anyone else) and I will be okay. I have the best family and friends around me and I am thankful everyday that they have the patience to help and support me.

To anyone who is going through the same, please do not suffer in silence. There is so much support around – Don’t be scared to ask for help.

This is why I can’t stress enough that it costs nothing to be nice to others. Don’t bully others, don’t put others down and the hardest one of them all (as we have all done it at some point) don’t judge another person. We’re all human regardless of age, race, religion, wealth, job. So build one another up instead of breaking each other down.

Peace & love guys”

Since being posted, the photos have been shared almost 28,000 times and counting and has sparked some serious discussion and love around crushing the stigma of mental health.

Amber says since posting, she has been flooded with messages and comments from people struggling with mental illness who have been inspired to seek help.

YOU GO GIRL.

MARY