Does anyone out there have any experience with dealing with panic attacks? What has worked for you?

Answer 1

paniccure.com has some good stuff. Key is the CBT therapy -- check out the link on that site for finding a good CBT therapist who knows about panic attacks (they have a book they recommend on that site). If looking for a psychologist, see if they're at least aware of the work done by Barlow and Beck & see if they use those techniques (they're simple techniques). Here's a link to people who trained w/ Beck's institute: http://www.beckinstitute.org/FolderID/197/SessionID/{CFA95DF1-3C23-4C6E-86C6-B7EFE9588EF2}/PageVars/Library/InfoManage/Guide.htm. What I used years ago was a modified form of CBT and I used meds [an SSRI, not a benzodiazepene like Xanax]. I had a long history of severe OCD, depression and then severe panic disorder where i couldn't leave the house. The combination of the modified form of CBT, the meds, and spiritual mind training helped me. Note: I've talked w/ a number of psychologists and clinical studies show that CBT alone is as or more effective than CBT + meds for treating panic attacks (but this is overall; individual people vary).

Answer 2

What really helps me is exercise. I walk everyday for about 30 minutes and it has some of the same positive affects as an anti-depressant. Which is what is given to ppl to help cure panic disorder.
Also i have read(but not tired yet) about this natural product called Bach Rescue Remedy. It's available at health food stores in a bottle or spray. For whatever reason ppl say that this floral spray calms them down during a panic attack. So, look into it or look it up on the internet. Hope this helps some. good luck.

Answer 3

There are several medications and techniques available for dealing with panic attacks. Professional mental health counselors should be able to help teach you guided relaxation, deep breathing excercises or assist you with gradual exposure therapy to specific things that trigger your panic attacks. You shoud start by keeping a journal, documenting how you feel at the time of the attack, your surroundings, emotions etc. You may be able to find a commonality in your panic attacks and focus on more effective individual coping mechanisms to help deal with the situational anxiety. PRN (as needed medications) have been shown to have somewhat high success rates in conjunction with counseling, try to stay away from narcotic anxiolitics as they may be habit forming. Medications such as Paxil or certain SSRI's have also shown good results.

Answer 4

Xanax, Wellbutrin, Quitting the job that was giving me the anxiety/panic attacks. (same thing really.) Reducing the stress in my life is what basically helped, though I still feel anxiety at times I haven't had a full blown anxiety attack since 2001.

Though my anxiety attacks were nothing like what these people are describing. I basically felt a crawling sensation across my skin like I needed to jump OUT of my skin right then and there to get free and everything was closing in around me. Usually accompanied by chest pains and general feelings that I was going to die.

All this crap about screaming and yelling sounds to me like someone throwing a temper trantrum, not a panic attack. hehe.

Answer 5

Try this you are experiencing the symptoms of a panic attack:
First, relax your shoulders and become conscious of any tension that you may be feeling in your muscles.
Then, with gentle reassurance, progressively tense and relax all the large muscle groups. Tighten your left leg with a deep breath in, for example, hold it, then release the leg muscles and the breath. Move on to the other leg. Move up the body, one muscle group at a time.
Slow down your breathing. This may best be done blowing out every breath through pursed lips as if blowing out a candle. Also, place your hands on your stomach to feel the rapidity of your breathing. This may allow you to further control your symptoms.
Tell yourself (or someone else if you are trying this technique with someone) that you are not "going crazy." If you are concerned about not being able to breathe, remember that if you are able to talk, you are able to breathe.

If medications are prescribed, several options are available. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and fluvoxamine (Luvox) are often the first choice. Clinical trials have shown SSRIs reduce the frequency of panic attack up to 75-85%. SSRIs must be taken 3-6 weeks before they are effective in reducing panic attacks and are taken once daily.

Other choices of drug treatment include benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), or diazepam (Valium). They effectively decrease panic attacks by up to 70-75% almost immediately; however, they must be up to 4 times per day. Additional drawbacks include sedation, memory loss, and after several weeks, tolerance to their effects and withdrawal symptoms may occur.

Answer 6

6 years ago I was car jacked. While pumping gas- someone snuk into the back seat of my car and when i got back in I was held at knife point and made to drive 200 miles away from my home. For years i had severe panic attacks. We moved away from this state and I was doing so well. Now we live opnce again in the state I was carjacked in and alot of times that fear paralyzes me to this day! I always try to count-deep deep breaths and if that doesnt work- for awhile I took a medication called Ativan and it was amazing! Im here if u need a friend

Answer 7

Sweetie, I have panic attacks every day.

Sometimes I can work through them by breathing very slowly, in through my nose, out through my mouth. Other times, I simply remove myself from the situation, either by taking a potty break, or going home.

I do take Prozac on a regular basis, and it has helped greatly with maintaining control during panic attacks.

If you are finding the attacks debilitating, you need to talk to someone.....doctor, friend, parent.....and have your self checked out. It's possible it's a simple imbalance, and can be easily corrected.

Answer 8

when you feel one coming on your suppose to not fight it, and try and act normal (although this is often impossible) it is important because the more you fight it the worse it becomes, keep taking deep long breaths through your diapham, and often distraction is the key.Just say to yourself 'it's just a panic attack it's not going to kill me...When you get them just keep practising this, it may not work the first time because it does require practise, i've had them lately and i totally freak out which only makes it worse so now i just really try and calm myself down and it is slowly working. It is really a mind over matter type thing. I get like chest pains, and sometime my heart starts pounding and feel like everything is closing in around me too, i feel like i have to get out of where ever i am, and sometimes i feel like i'm going to faint... and when this happens i always feel like i'm going to die and that's what freaks me out even more it's such a scary thing to go through and for people that have never experienced it think that you can just 'snap' out of it, if it was that simple i would have done it by now

Answer 9

Actually I get panic attacks. Whenever I get really scared,upset,,anxious,or mad I have a panic attack. I get all breathless and start gasping for air and I start screaming and shouting and my face gets red and in really bad cases I will get a nosebleed and I can't stay still or sometimes when I'm really scared I can't move. Usually the best thing for me is for someone to grab me and calm me down,ya know remind me to breath and make me calm down. I can't really calm down on my own and need someone to help me or else it can get bad.

Answer 10

my daugter got hit by a run away teen in a truck , and she started getting dizzy every time she got behind the wheel, the doctor told her to breathe into a paper bag, which she did, but she quit her job and sat at home for two years before getting back on her feet, she didnt take any pills or anything, but she was basically cured by othes she knew that she had to get out there again or her life would be ruined, she would never drive the old car though, we got her a newer car that was listed as quite safe and she has been fine ever since.