The real story behind the video of a mom comforting her daughter during an anxiety attack

We recently published a story featuring a video of a mother laying down in the rain to help her daughter get through an anxiety attack. The short video clip went viral on Twitter last weekend causing people across social media platforms to discuss mental health issues and the incredible power of a loved one's support while battling them. We've since heard from the mom in the video, Desire Messick, who spoke to Upworthy about the circumstances behind the compassionate moment caught on her home security camera. Messick, a school teacher, revealed that the incident took place in April last year when her daughter Grace—who was 13 at the time—became overwhelmed by the seemingly endless COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges presented by it.

"In this video, you do see me arriving home from work, where my daughter is laying in the rain in her school uniform. This was on April 17, 2021. Due to the pandemic and all the challenges that it had brought, she was having an anxiety attack," Messick explained. She shared that in the video, you see Grace doing what she felt would help her through the anxiety attack until her mom got home from work.

"She was afraid she would be in trouble for being out in the rain but she literally could not get up. She tried to raise her head and say something, so I knew something was wrong. I got out and just laid with her. The minute I took her hand, she began to sob and was able to tell me how she was feeling and what was going on," said Messick. "In that moment all she needed was for someone to just listen, to sit—or lay—with her and allow the rain to wash the pain away."

Messick revealed that she decided to post the video online so that Grace would always be able to look back at that moment and know that she's not alone. "Later that night I remembered we have security cameras and went back and created a TikTok video for her on my page @dizzymae89. It was the first video I'd ever made and wasn't sure what I was doing. I just wanted her to have something to look back at when things get rough again. When she's struggling and I can't be there at that very moment. She would have something to remind her that I'm always with her and that she is loved," the loving mom shared.

She admitted that she had no idea the video—which has racked up over 7.3 million views on her profile—would become so popular or that it would spark internet-wide discussions about mental health struggles. "I always tell others to be for other people what you needed someone to be for you," said Messick. "My video began to go viral and was on nearly every social media platform. My friends reach out to me every week telling me my video is in private groups on Facebook. Or someone they know but I don't, shared it. I am thankful that it's bringing awareness to mental health around the world. Because mental health is so important regardless of a person's age."

"It's all too often overlooked and misjudged," she added. "As a mom and as an educator, I feel it's something that we all need to be more aware of. We need to show more compassion to those who are hurting and even to ourselves when we're struggling."