Please Help! I feel out of control and get Panic Attacks?

Question

I am 16, I often have panic attacks where I feel totally out of control and black out, I usually shout out No. These usually occur when I think about death and that there will be nothing more of me, is there a way to feel in control and have peace of mind, or do I just have to suffer for the rest of my little life?

Answer 1

Not if you get help. Start with your medical doctor.

Answer 2

First ACCEPT this is normal (1 in every 10 people suffer it at some point in their lives)

Then ACCEPT that their is nothing you can do

Next time you feel an attack coming on take a deep breathe count to 3 and exhale , repeat this until the attack passes .

Do this and I guarantee that the attacks will lose their severity very quickly and may even stop altogether .

The fact is that the attacks are caused by stress and anxiety
(cigarettes and caffeine make it worse)

The trouble is the attack itself increases stress and anxiety so by accepting the problem you,re actually defeating it .

Good Luck

PS at 16 it is very unlikely to cause any real medical problems though almost all sufferers think they are dying !

Answer 3

I went through the same thing at the same age. My grandmother had just died and i went to see her in her coffin. Which , looking back wasn't the best idea. I think our thoughts start to run away with us when we think about death and at that age we are still trying to figure out who we are and what we are here for.Thoughts of our own mortality are common around this time because we need to know the answers.And our brains being so complex try to reason it all out. And if we cant find the answers we start to panic and question ourselves. But don't worry these panic attacks don't last long. You will start to feel in control again, i promise. But if thinks get bad go see your doctor, they can help. Teenage anxiety is very common, but we tend to try and keep it to ourselves. The only advice i can give when one comes on , is to breath deeply nice long breaths and make you control it, Not your body control you. I hope this of some comfort, you are not alone with this. And if you are strong enough it will pass.

Answer 4

Yep, I get them too. You do need to go to your GP for help. Medication is not always the best solution.
You may be recommended some books - sorry I can't remember the titles, but do a search on Amazon and I'm sure you will find them.
A couple of things help me.
1. When I am getting myself worked up I slip an elastic band on my wrist. When I start to have those stupid negative thoughts/ really bad negative thoughts I twang the elastic. The sharp pain often jerks me out of the cycle of negative thoughts.
2. If I'm having an attack I tend to hyperventilate and this makes me feel light I'm going to pass out. If this happens I need to breathe into a paper bag or even just my cupped hands. this slows down the amount of oxygen going into the bloodstream.

Take care. Get help. You can do things to make this better.

Answer 5

I have read some litterature about panic attacks. But they allways seem to have a more scientific approach and that is nothing I need in my struggle to survive those horrible panic attacks. This is a "hand on" and very practical book. I felt it was written to me. I am sure that you are going to feel the same.

Joe Barry writes exactly how I think. The examples are perfectly described. And the method is genius. I recommend this book and thanks Joe Barry for writing it. It changes your life

Answer 6

That's significant, you are afraid of death! The problem you have here is that, you are afraid of the inevitable.
Why be afraid of something that's going to happen to all of us at some stage of our lives.

There are nothing to fear about death, look at it this way, when you were being born, you was probably kicking and screaming because you didn't want to come to earth. Once you became accustomed to being on earth you have
forgotten about where you actually came from, now you have come to love earth and there is no place like it to you.

We are told stupid stories about death, that is probably the reason why we are so afraid of so called dieing.

Actually I don't believe in death.
This should sum it up nicely for you!
First the chrysalis then the beautiful butterfly.

Answer 7

Get your parents to take you to a recommended (by your physician) psychiatrist! Panic attacks don't just go away nor controlled by breathing! Anxiety can be excessive if there was any physical, sexual abuse in earlier years, and can be assessed by the psychiatrist! Panic attacks can also cause a loss of consciousness, I think, and leads to agoraphobia--fear of leaving their house/home.

Answer 8

Are you getting any help from your parents? It's their job to help you with stuff like this. Specifically, they need to get you some professional help. Panic attacks are absolutely awful and no one should have to endure them.

In the meantime, it might help for you to know that it's possible to control them. It takes practice. When you feel one coming on, try to remember that you aren't really in danger. Distract yourself from your thoughts and your building fear. Remember that the thing you're actually most afraid of, is the panic attack itself. I hope this helps.

Answer 9

Dear Jimbo, no, you don't have to suffer. The cure is simple, ask Jesus Christ into your life. Say "Sorry" to God for neglecting Him. In the meantime evil forces are ganging up on you, but they flee at the name of Jesus. Start reading the New Testament; you are sure to have been given one by the Gideons at school, but if not, ring them for one. You will no longer need to fear death. Seek another Christian to help you.

Answer 10

chill ok? you are not going to die from one moment to another... or maybe... we never now...

but the thing is, death isn´t a subject that you have to be thinking of... i mean, it´s irrelevant to fill your mind with thoughts about it when you should be LIVING YOUR LIFE.. not worrying about something so natural as sneezing or getting sick...
imaging if you were to be stressed by worrying for the next time you will sneeze? nah.. not worth it...

good luck.

Answer 11

I agree with the above post, go and see your GP. They can refer you to councelling where you can learn relaxation techniques and coping strategies. If you don't want to see your GP try your school nurse.