Panic attacks?

Question

I started to have panic attacks, two years ago. There was a good reason, and i was given medication to help, and got over them.
I am now getting them again, and i am desperate to know how to deal with them, without medication. I have a lot going for me, a good life, and a lot of good things going on, but certain people, family, run to me for support, when their life is troubled. I want to help, but i am getting stressed, and i get attacks, where, i cannot breathe, my heart races, i cannot sleep, i feel faint, can`t catch my breath, and just end up crying. It goes off for a few hours, then attacks me again. I have had a medical, and have a healthy heart and lungs, told it is just anxiety attacks. I can`t cope with them, i feel terified when they come on, please can anyone tell me how to calm down during an attack, so it goes away?

Answer 1

yes my love deep breathing is amazing having had them my self I went to Yoga and learned soma amazing teqniques for breathing and one or two classes wwould benifit you greatly xxx also you can get a natural remedy called bachs rescue remedy from boots this is a really great thing for stress and anxiety xx you know after a while with this condition it s wise to sttart moving outta your comfort zone xx read a book called feel the fear and do it anyway xx marvelous xx all the best babes xx

Answer 2

Panic attacks are awful and cannot really be understood by anyone who has not experienced them.
You sound like a brave sort of person and I would advise that you do not run away from your fears but face up to them (if you can).
Try to remember, when you are experiencing an attack, that no-one ever died from one (although they may have wanted to at the time)
Try to keep calm, try not to hyperventilate (breathing too fast and overloading your system with oxygen) if you do, then breathe in and out of a paper bag for a minute or so to reduce the oxygen in your blood and replace it with carbon dioxide.
My wife and I have both experienced panic attacks at different times and we have come through it OK even though we were scared to death at the time.
I really hope that you can control this but don't be afraid to ask your Doctor for help (either drugs or counselling)
GOOD LUCK

Answer 3

Oh I know just how you feel. I suffered from panic attacks several years ago. What I did was, when I felt oone coming on, I would either get away from crowded places, or simply go and stand with my back to everyone, and tell myself "it's only a panic attack, I'm not going to die, it will pass in a minute or two". Just concentrate on that and you should be ok. Yoga helped me too as I found concentrating on my breathing when I had an attack to be enormously helpful. If you have the willpower to concentrate on the fact that you know what is happening, and it will pass, instead of allowing the fear to control you, you can get through it.

Answer 4

You are not alone, I have suffered with them on and off for many years, I was OK for a while but in September my mum died and BAM I was back to square one again. I find that concentrating on breathing helps because while you are concentrating on that you are not thinking about the actual feeling of panic, breath in for a count of 10 and breath out for a count of ten and do this for as long as is necessary, they are horrible but not life threatening, and the worst thing is getting people to understand, I am very fortunate in that I live in a small village and the shopkeepers all know that if I suddenly disappear out of the shop that I will be back in a few moments, I usually go and sit in my car where I feel safe! Ask your GP if you can be referred to a counsellor or ask him/her about joining a group therapy class as these can really help.
Remember you are not going mad and you won't die, there are also good websites you can visit where you can download exercises and information to help you each day, I will have a look for the one I used a while back and I will put an edit to this a bit later.
Take care. X

EDIT. you may find this very helpful. I know I did/do.

http://www.panicportal.com/index.htm

Answer 5

Time will get rid of them and until that happens you can get throught it.
Panic attacks can't kill you; they make you feel like you're going through hell but they can't kill you and you can cope.
Remember that you are having an adrenaline rush, and it takes your body 20 minutes to deal with the adrenaline.
So time the 20 minutes, count it down and keep reminding yourself that in 20 minutes you'll be through the worst of it.
Take deep, slow breaths, focus on an object, walk slowly up and down to burn off the adrenaline.
When you feel it 'break' (you know how that feels!) go wash your hands and lightly clean your teeth. The adrenaline gets broken down and you'll subconsciously be able to smell it on yourself.
You probably feel like a wrung out wet rag when its done, when you reach that stage give yourself a pat on the back and have a snack, something like a cereal bar or digestive biscuit to replace the energy you used up.
Do whatever it takes to deal with them. Stick to a routine, break the routine, treat yourself and make the most of it when you're having a good few hours.
Try baths, physical exersize, gardening, walking - even if its just walking up and down the hallway. It helps you burn off the adrenaline.

Stop supporting everyone else while you are going through this, people should be there for you. Its ok to say no, I can't deal with that or no, I can't help.
If they can't handle it it really is their selfish problem, not yours. Look after yourself.
Hang on in there, and best of luck.

Answer 6

Panic attacks occur because you have unresolved issues in your life. You may be revisiting old problems or there might be some longer term issue. Counselling may help you identify the issues and come to terms with them.

In the shorter term, panic attacks can be relieved by relaxation therapy (also called self-hypnosis although it's nothing to do with Paul McKenna!) Most chemists sell tapes and CDs with relaxation exercises on them.

The symptoms of a panic attack are caused by an adrenaline rush. The same thing that makes bungee jumpers enjoy their hobby is making your life a misery. Relaxation regulates the production of adrenaline and it is impossible to have a panic attack if you are deeply relaxed.

Answer 7

panic attacks are caused by stress. You must remove the stress from your life.

#1... Learn to say no. You must protect yourself

#2...Take deep breaths when feeling tense. Breathing exercises help a great deal.

#3... Stay away from alcohol and other stimulants. Too much coffee and cola can get your nerves strung out.

#4....Go for long walks..... exercise is good for the soul as well as the nerves.

Hopefully some of these suggestions will be of some help to you. Best of luck.

Answer 8

I can sympathise with you as I too have suffered from these in the past almost exactly as you describe additionally you probably feel a bit uneasy being too far from the loo!

In my own instance I was being treated for depression and the tablets I was prescribed were the culprits as I felt better generally but the side effects were these panic attacks. When I stopped taking them the attacks slowly eased away and disappeared.

My guess is that if it is not related to prescribed drugs, that you probably have some very deep inner physcological trauma from your past that is causing these attacks. Being at a sub-conscious level it is therefore, from your perspective, very difficult for you to control on a conscious level

My advice would be to see a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Specialist, you can get to one of these by asking your doctor to refer you to one.

What they do is work with you over a period of time. Several visits are usually required but it is probably the best route for you to be able to get on top of this problem once and for all.

Can I wish you the very best of luck and also say that when having one of these attacks the best thing is to do something quickly alternative to distract your mind like - sing a song loudly over and over, or jog on the spot and tap your head repeatedly.

I know it sounds stupid , but the real purpose is to distract you from the attack and it starts easing away.

Warmest Wishes

Answer 9

yes you need to start taking care of your self and not takeing on other folks problems, who will care for you if you are ill if you dont and when you get panic attacks sit down and keep taking deep breaths until the attack goes i get a lot of panic attack due to stress i never go out alone due to this not nice is it

Answer 10

You need to chill out- ex cerise and drink water. Also the world will not fall apart if you don't help people and u need to go see a therapist
about the cause of the panic attacks.Your cells have memory
so any similar stimuli to the trauma will cause the same reaction.Alot
of abuse victims have panic attacks , so do perfectionist(OCD)
If you have been abused either emotionally or sexually in your past/present your fight and flight mechanism is on overdrive.Usually if these secenerios aren't the case, You may be a bit of a wuss and you cant deal with pressure or expectations of others.