“Panic. You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order your lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you. They collapse, tighten, squeeze, and suddenly you're breaithing through a drinking straw. Your mouth closes and your lips purse and all you can manage is a croak. Your hands wriggle and shake. Somewhere a dam has cracked open and a flood of cold sweat spills, drenches your body. You want to scream. You would if you could. Cut you have to breathe to scream. Panic.”
Explore This Quote Further
Quote Analysis
In this powerful quote by Khaled Hosseini, the author vividly describes the feeling of panic. Through intense imagery and physical sensations, Hosseini conveys the overwhelming and uncontrollable nature of panic. The description of struggling to breathe, feeling like you're breathing through a straw, and the sensation of cold sweat drenching the body all paint a visceral picture of the panic one may experience. This quote effectively captures the physical and emotional experience of a panic attack, highlighting the sensation of helplessness and desperation felt in such moments.
The Importance of Managing Panic in Stressful Situations
In this quote from Khaled Hosseini, the intense feeling of panic is vividly described, capturing the overwhelming sensation of helplessness and fear. In today's fast-paced, high-pressure world, moments of panic can be all too common. It is important to recognize these feelings and develop strategies to manage them effectively to prevent them from escalating into a full-blown crisis.
Example of Usage
This quote from Khaled Hosseini vividly describes the feeling of panic and how it can physically affect the body.
“Panic. You open your mouth. Open it so wide your jaws creak. You order your lungs to draw air, NOW, you need air, need it NOW. But your airways ignore you. They collapse, tighten, squeeze, and suddenly you're breathing through a drinking straw. Your mouth closes and your lips purse and all you can manage is a croak. Your hands wriggle and shake. Somewhere a dam has cracked open and a flood of cold sweat spills, drenches your body. You want to scream. You would if you could. But you have to breathe to scream. Panic.” - Khaled Hosseini
Reflection Questions:
This powerful excerpt vividly describes the experience of panic and the feeling of being unable to breathe. It captures the sense of helplessness and desperation that can accompany a panic attack. Here are some reflection questions to consider after reading this passage:
- Have you ever experienced a moment of intense panic or anxiety that affected your ability to breathe?
- How did you cope with that feeling of being unable to catch your breath?
- What techniques or strategies do you use to manage stress and anxiety in moments of panic?
- Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed with fear or anxiety. How did you work through those feelings?
- How can you support others who may be experiencing panic or anxiety attacks?
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