Anxiety attacks?

Question

I'm a healthy adult male with one critical ailment- I get suddeny fits of anxiousness that I can't seem to calm down without extensive physical exertion. It was easy to deal with this back in college because I worked at a gym and could go swim or run whenever this feeling came on. Now that I'm behind a desk it isn't so easy.
I imagine it has something to do with stress (I remeber these fits were very pronounced around exams), but that doesn't make dealing with them any easier. Anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Anxiety and nervousness cause you to increase the rate of breathing, bringing more oxygen into your bloodstream and adding to the body's automatic flight or fight response. Try square breathing to slow down your rate, to reduce oxygen in your bloodstream and to calm yourself:

Take one breath in to the count of four.

Hold it to the count of four.

Exhale to the count of four.

Hold it to the count of four.

Repeat.

Also, try to focus on all the positives and try to set the negatives on the back burner. You can't win anything when you stack the cards against yourself.

Answer 2

I have real bad anxiety attacks like that and Like you I work in an office so I cant just get up and run around ya know. What I did was I bought some noise cancelling headphones and I turn on the music really loud and concentrate on that. That usually helps.

Answer 3

been there..done that..you are on the right track..lots of cardio to release those endorphins...the plus is that you'll get in great shape....deep breathing until you can get to the gym...know that you can get there and that you'll feel better...maybe a little legal pharmacology assistance to help you get through the tough patches...you can do this....