I find it impossible to do deep breathing or meditation in the middle of an attack. I would try practicing when you are not having an attack.

yeah i tried it when i wasn't having an attack but found that it just brought one on. i think i just need to trust my body and let myself relax, easier said than done. thanx for the reply xx

This happens to me too. It's funny because all you want to do is relax, but then you relax and it freaks you out because maybe you are too relaxed. My brother has really helped me with this because he has panic too. He taught me to read evrything I can about panic to make me feel less carzy (because you'll see how similar your symptoms are to other's) and also to talk to my panic and take control of it so I feel more powerful.

yes, i have had panic attacks doing yoga inthe past and getting a massage by the same masseuse i was going to for five years with no anxiety....so it can be hard when people say just relax, ha! But i am working on deep breathing and the feelings of anxiety throough it slowly again...years ago deep breathing didn't used to make me anxious.

I'm like that also. While I'm falling asleep, I pop up out of bed because I feel like I am gonna die. If I get too relaxed I fear that I am dying. I know exactly how you feel :)

Lucinda Bassett's self help CD's have helped me learn how to relax, but they are expensive. If you are interested in them, I would try e-bay. She also has some good self-help books, especially 'From Panic To Power'.

It is very hard for me to relax also. I have been in groups where a person would talk very slowly and say things likeconcentrate on certain parts of your body. Some people would fall asleep but I just couldn't relax.
Listening to the tapes though can help because it is different for everyone. Doing yoga or tha chi can help also. I haven't tried the tai chi yet but I want to. I have to get up my nerve to go to the library.

I agree that as when you have anxiety issues it is hard to relax on command!! However, I also have been doing a yoga DVD recently with attitude "it can't hurt" and I feel a bit calmer after I've done it. (It's a great workout, too and the endorphins help). I think instead of fighting the anxious feelings, if you sort of welcome them as you meditate, exercise or whatever, you're more likely to feel some relief. Trying to NOT think about anxiety just makes it worse, I think. When I go into a situation where I feel like a panic attack might come on sometimes I almost DARE it to happen...try to "bring it on" (words my doctor used). It seems backwards but the pushing-it-away approach can make it stronger.

Feel better!
J

Yeh, I've had this before also. When trying to meditate and with hypnotherapy. Its like I have gotten to used to keeping myself so busy to distract myself that I can't just sit and relax and be with my own thoughts. I even find it hard to sleep because of this. But the more you try the more you will get used to feeling relaxed.

I do one of two things- 1st, I sit and space out while staring at a candle, sometimes listening to soft music. I just let my mind wander, let my eyes get all big and googly, you know how that goes. I usually have my dog on my lap and try to match my breathing to his a bit, or at least pay attention to my breathing. I try to get air all the way down into my lungs at the bottom, fill them all the way, slowly, and release it slowly and evenly.
The 2nd way is that I close my eyes, or stare at the candle again, and imagine that I am swimming laps. I used to be a competitive swimmer, so I did that a LOT, and it was a zone-out kind of a thing. I just let my body feel what it was like to raise my arms and kick my legs, and turn my head to the side to breathe. Then I do a flip turn after a while, and swim another lap...so on and so forth, and it just allows me to get into that zone again, kind of like a runners high.
Oh I just remembered what we used to do as a group, when I lived with some friends. We would colour these abstract colouring books. They have just patterns in them, and you colour them and make your own pictures out of them....we all got kind of relaxed doing it. A bunch of 20 somethings sitting around doing it- our friends would ask to come over and do it with us, and the room would be silent. It was really neat. I've seen those colouring books at Michaels Arts & Crafts stores.

I have also felt like this and I know what you mean by 'slipping away', you are always on edge cuz us panic-ers always like to be in control. By being on edge all the time you are controlling that. It sounds crazy but we don't realize we are doing it. Just try to relax and remember how it feels to relax. Meditation might be scary for you at first to let yourself relax... but it can't hurt you, also try yoga or kickboxing that can let out some stress. Good luck

i find that i get a good night sleep when i sleep next to my mom or if im sleeping with my partner i cuddle. if im sleeping alone i always have multiple attacks, im so afraid that im going to jump up too fast one night and give my self a heart attack.

I also realise that in the mornings i have no energy and i feel dizzy and my left chest feel num, does anyone else feel this way

Hi,

Sometimes, I find it difficult to relax, especially when I'm in the middle of an important project. But what I do is that I stand up, leave my desk, go outside and enjoy looking at nature, walk or play with my dog for a while. Afterwards, I just go back feeling refreshed and raring to go. I find these helpful in relieving whatever stress I'm having.

Maybe you can also try doing this.

Regards,
atvsamala