Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Anxiety Disorders
/ Panic Attacks Support Group

I hate panic attacks!

rskb3
rskb3
I had my first panic attack when I was on my way to meet my sister and my nephews in a town about an 1 1/2 hours away from my home. I had my 2 children with me and by the time I meet up with my sister I was having a full blown panic attacks. I was sick to my stomach, shaky, and looked like I was having convulsions. It was the scariest thing I have ever experienced and then to have to drive home feeling so horrible, It was a nightmare.
Having panic attacks has changed my life so much for the worse because I feel like I can't live my life for fear of having these symptoms in public. It is so hard to put on a fake face and pretend everything is ok when inside I am freaking out. I wish that we all could be cured from dealing with these panic attacks. I have read this book called "From Panic to Power" and she says that you should just ride the panic like an ocean wave so I have been doing that. But if I have to do something major like a class field trip with my son, or going to another town for an appt. or just a fun day I have a hard time dealing with my anxiety and panic attacks then.
Allimacdee
Allimacdee
Oh, you poor love! It's terrible to be screaming on the inside while trying to remain normal on the out. No-one must know - right? I know so well how you feel and, believe me, we've all been there and some of us still are.

Remember your breathing, talk positively to yourself - you'll get by it.

God bless and keep well,

Alli
harry3333
harry3333
to control any panic attack, simply breathe deep and slow and dissolve any mid range valium type pill under tongue, some sufferers become addicted to their panic attacks and actually enjoy them
release2find
release2find
First thing I do is self-talk as Alli said. Positive self-talk--"This is panic and I can handle it"..deep breaths and notice the chane--the calm and reel it in. As harry said, meds can help as well. I have benzos (PRN) in case I need help to accept my self talk and to speed up the effects of the deep breathing..Also, kudos for sharing --sometimes that relieves my panic--when I can share it.
xmandycatx
xmandycatx
Yes, the book "From Panic To Power" is a really great book. I haven't read it in years, but I know when I did, it helped me a lot when I found that I wasn't alone.
I recently started having panic attacks when I've been driving and I found that I have to take my anti-anxiety meds (Clonazepam aka Klonopin) before I know I have to drive somewhere, but if it ever happens while driving, it's perfectly okay to pull over, look down at the floor and breathe, close your eyes if need be. But it's perfectly alright to do so and doesn't make you and less of a person or feel weird. You have to do things to make yourself better regardless what others think.
Keep trying! xo
rskb3
rskb3
Thank you everyone for your comments and advice I really appreciate it.
nmsu2000
nmsu2000
Great book suggestion. I'm going to buy it. A good book that had helped me is The Panic Attack Anxiety and Phobia Solutions handbook by Muriel MacFarlane. It goes everywhere I go! Serious its like my Linus blanket. When I have an attack I grab the book and flip to some bookmarked pages. It really does help. It mentions that you should invent a happy place in your mind and when you have an attack goto that place. My place has angels and flowers and it is safe. It does help.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i don't know how to use this thing properly. My girlfriend and I broke up. I have been suffering from anxiety and depression for the last couple months and got help.I was suicidal. I'm purposely coming off my medicine so that i get suicidal again and this time pull through with it. I'm fed up of living.
nmsu2000
nmsu2000
I would encourage you to stay in your meds and perhaps call your local crisis hotline. We've all been through the heart ache of losing a girlfriend or a boyfriend. One thing is for certain, time heels all wounds. I went through that in high school. I thought my life was over but a few months later I met a wonderful person and I moved on and so will you . Hang in there and stay strong.