Scars// Adopted by Markiplier

T h r e e

Pipers pov

TW stay safe babes

You know that sudden feeling you get when your chest feels like it's being crushed? Or- or when you can't get in enough air?

That's the feeling I'm getting right now.

I'm sitting at the table, eating cereal. Just minding my damn business when the feeling just creeps up on me.

Your muscles get all tense, hands get shaky, your heart is pounding like it's having major heart palpitations. And oh, the worst feeling, the dread.

Because I know what's about to happen.

I just don't want Mark to see it.

I quickly set my spoon down, and try to take deep breaths. I keep putting my fingers up to my pulse and feeling around for it on my neck, something I do when I get nervous.

Just when I feel like calling out marks name he's coming down the stairs, whistling.

"Are you done with your cereal yet? We gotta- oh my god."

Mark immediately comes over

Next thing I know Mark is holding me and pushing my hair out of my face.
"Hey, listen to me, yeah? There's nothing to be scared of. Just remember this will be over in a little bit. It'll go away in just a little bit, you're okay." Mark keeps brushing my hair back while I'm trying my hardest to calm down.

"Hey, you know what I like to do? I like to play the guitar. I think that you would be good at it, are there any hobbies, that you like to do? Or that we could do together?"

I nod my head and he puts my hand against his chest, right on his heart.

"Focus on my heart. You feel it? Bum- bum. Bum-bum."

He mimics the beating of his heart. And I can feel myself calming down,
Mark smiles at me like he's won a trophy.

"Want to take breaths with me?"

He starts breathing in deeply and I do the same, he breathes out and we do this for a while until I've completely calm down.

After a while if just sitting, both of us kind of stunned at what just happened. We both decide to go to the living room to watch a movie.

I feel like Mark handled that too well,

almost like he's has to do it before.

We were watching a Disney movie when he speaks up.

"I had a girlfriend that had a lot of panic attacks. I don't know what happened to her because I didn't want to force her to tell me, but I quickly figured out what to do to help her through them."

It was silent for a while, a peaceful silence, not a painfully awkward one. And I find myself saying something that I sadly don't say too often.

"Thank you for helping me."

• • •

Yo yo yo.

What Mark did in this is exactly what your supposed to do when someone is having a panic/ anxiety attack.

I've had anxiety attacks that happen just out of the blue for no apparent reason (much like what happened to Piper) many times.

For example, in class one time I was quietly working on  a worksheet when I had a feeling that wouldn't go away. An anxiety attack. I quickly had to excuse myself for awhile to compose myself. (Which took about 40 minutes.) and I carried on for the rest of the day like normal.

I had another one about a few weeks after that and my friend helped me out of it by starting a small conversation with me to ease me out of it.

So with that, here is what to do when someone else around you is having a panic/ anxiety attack.

1. Remind the person that they don't have to stay where they are. You can go to another room or outside where they can feel more comfortable.

2. Assure them there is nothing to be afraid of. Remind them that they are safe.

3. Let them know that it's only temporary. Panic attacks don't and will never last forever. Tell them they will be okay.

4. Remind them to breathe. Someone having an attack may forget to breathe properly.

5. Attempt to having a conversation with them. Causally bring a topic up. Don't bombard them with questions. Try to slowly catch their interest and lead them away from panic.

6. Stay with them. This is a MAJOR one. If the person wants you to leave, it's most likely the anxiety taking. If the person keeps telling you to leave, calmly tell them that you are staying with them and keep going through the steps above.

I really hope this helped. As someone who experienced many, many panic attacks over the years, I wish the people around me would have known this stuff.

If you would like to ask personal questions, regarding you or someone you know you can always dm me.

I'm always here for you guys.