Hey, hey, what are you doing away from me?
What are you doing awake?
Well, what time is it?
Okay, what's wrong?
It's the middle of the night. You're awake and you usually sleep like the dead.
Don't tell me nothing's wrong.
Hey, hey, sweetheart.
You're covered in sweat and, my god, honey, you're breathing like you just ran a race.
What? What's going on?
No, stop.
You're not okay.
You're not okay.
What's wrong?
Did you have a bad dream or you're just not feeling right?
Okay, define that right.
What is it?
Oh, honey, it sounds like you're anxiety again.
What's bothering you? What's on your mind?
Okay, okay, all right, hold on.
Okay, first of all, come here. Come closer to me.
Hey, look at me.
I know, I know you can barely see me.
We're gonna get through this, okay?
Just like we did the last time and the time before that.
It's gonna be fine, right?
Right?
Okay, all right.
Why don't you take some deep breaths with me, okay?
You'll breathe in at one, hold for four, and breathe out at five.
Ready?
One, two, three, four, five, four, three, two.
I know I didn't do it with you, but I'm gonna do it with you now, okay?
Ready?
One more time.
In.
In.
Out.
Again.
In.
Out.
Good, come on, keep breathing slowly, sweetheart.
It's okay, I know, I know.
I get scared when I have anxiety attacks, too.
Panic attacks, it doesn't matter what our logical brain knows.
All you can do is react to how you feel, and it's just your body overreacting, right?
Everything is okay.
Breathe.
Yeah, I know, I know it's hard, honey.
I wish I could take it away.
That's it, slow your breathing down again.
Do you remember when we started spending nights with each other, and I had panic attacks with you for the first time?
You told me that all those things that were happening to me weren't that scary.
You used to tell me exactly what they were, and why they were happening, and what was causing them.
I can do the same thing for you, you know?
I know your mind is racing, and it makes you feel confused.
It's a little bit hard to land on something, hard to focus.
Your heart's probably still pounding.
Yeah, I can feel it.
It's just the adrenaline, baby.
That's all it is.
It's just a chemical reaction.
Your body thinks it needs to run, but you don't.
You don't need to run.
You're safe.
I know, I know it makes it hard, just slow your breathing down.
Just keep trying.
Did you think of something that set you off, or was it something you just woke up with?
Oh, honey, you've been really stressed lately, and I'm not happy it's happening, but I'm not surprised it's happening.
You work so many late nights, and we really haven't been eating the best, and our weekends have been so busy.
We really haven't had any downtime.
I know, I know.
No, oh God, no.
No, stop.
Hey, this is not silly.
You are not silly.
This isn't something I put up with.
It's something I'm here to help you with, something you're going through.
It's something I want to help you deal with, just like you helped me.
It's okay, it's okay.
Of course I don't mind.
Oh my goodness, of course not.
No.
Okay, stop.
Listen to me, okay?
This does not make you any kind of burden.
I'm not angry with you.
I'm not upset with you.
None of those things.
None of those things.
All I want is to help you feel better.
And if it means that I need to be up the entire night with you,
talking to you, listening to you, letting you vent, just letting your breathing with you,
then that's what I'll do.
You're important to me.
It's important that, you know, just come, come here.
Put your back to my chest.
Okay, I'm just gonna run my fingers up and down your arm.
Just focus on how that feels.
Focus on my words.
Feel my chest rise and fall against your back as I breathe deep and slow.
Everything is gonna be okay.
All those thoughts, everything you're worried about, everything that's scaring you,
I know it all, it all seems so much bigger, so much scarier at night.
It doesn't feel like there are solutions.
It feels like those things are just so big, but they're not.
We can get through this together.
Right now, the racing thoughts, your heartbeat, your breath,
we're gonna take care of those things right now.
Everything else, everything else can wait until tomorrow,
when the sun is up and everything feels right-sized again, right?
Are you feeling a little better?
Yeah, it feels like your heart rate has slowed down a bit.
It's okay, honey, it's okay.
Shh, it's gonna be fine.
Everything will be fine.
I'm here, and you're safe.
Come here.
Yeah, you don't have to thank me, sweetheart.
It's part of taking care of you.
We're here for each other, right?
Yeah, you're feeling a little sleepy.
Good, just close your eyes.
I'm not going anywhere.
I won't fall asleep again until you're asleep, until I know that you're okay.
What?
If it happens again, then we'll do this again,
tonight or tomorrow night or every night from here on out.
I'll always do that for you.
But don't worry about that now.
Shh, it's okay.
I just want you to relax, fall back to sleep.
Relax your neck, all of those muscles right here.
They're so tight.
Relax, relax.
Relax your shoulders, good.
Your arms, your back.
Take a deep breath, deep breath, good.
Relax your hips, your thighs, your calves, your feet, and your toes.
And now, here, your hands.
Unclench your hands, baby.
Good, good.
You're safe.
You're safe with me.
I'm here for you.
It's okay to slip off to sleep.
Good night, sweetheart.