We all know that running is good for us, right? But what if that very activity that you love to do a few times a week can out of nowhere make you feel that you are going to have a heart attack and probably die?

I know that may sound dramatic but as someone who has lived on and off with having panic attacks that’s what it can feel like.

When ‘normal’ runners get a pain in the chest during a run they probably think “Ah ha, I am pushing myself and when I stop this will disappear and I will feel great”. Me with my over thinking mind thinks “Oh oh, I have a pain near my heart, it’s going to get worse and I need an ambulance”.  The more I fixate on this, the worse it seems to feel of course.  My breathing may become erratic and my thoughts are all centred on something bad happening.   I then go into “flight or fight” mode and want to get to a safe place which is usually back home.  Most of the time I try to distract myself when I feel one might be starting  - listening to rock music on wireless headphones (the best invention ever!) and everything is fine again.

My rational head KNOWS I am going to be alright as nothing bad has happened in the 20+ years that I have been running,  but try telling that to my irrational head with a body that may also be sweating and breathing heavily – some of the symptoms I associate with having a panic attack.

So how do I deal with this?  Well, it doesn’t happen often and overall running makes me feel really good.  I could happily run solo all the time but I joined Farsley Flyers running club to be part of a social, friendly and non-judgmental group of runners of all abilities.

I really want to run as I see it as an important part of my physical and mental health strategy and I hope by sharing my experience others who may be dealing with mental health issues do too.