Distraction is the best solution. Curl up someplace safe, away from people where you can be warm and above all safe. This might be in bed, it might be in the floor of a closet, under blankets, or ever up a favorite tree.

Petting an animal works much better than any pill or cigarette. A stuffed animal is a good second, or even just a REALLY soft blanket to bury your face into.

I have been having panic attacks for almost 20 years now - wow, that is a lot longer than I want to admit. When I get triggered, I have a few minutes before I wind up on the floor screaming until I pass out - for up to two hours. There is no pill that works fast enough to help me.

I use a combination of breathing techniques and the softest distraction there ever was.... my 100lb Service Dog named Misha who is a Great Pyrenees. Google search for the breed and you will get 100s of pics of what she looks like.

Right now I am only having one or two panic attacks a month - but I take 4mg of clonazepam a day premptively. I was told that clonzepam is just a longer acting version of activan, which is faster acting

Well, I wouldn't advise smoking. Because, then what happens is you become addicted...and when you do not have your cigs it causes even more anxiety. Like, you have to keep smoking in order to prevent it.

Physical exercise works good for panic attacks but I realize that you can't always do that whenever you are having a panic attack lol.

I would just do anything that you can to distract yourself. Think of something that you enjoy doing and go for it. You just need something good to turn your mind around.

Exercise works for me - which means, scrubbing something so I'm focused on what I'm doing plus expending a lot of energy.

I guess I may not belong here with these replies.......I don't understand these replies did you have and anxiety attack or a panic attack that sends you to the ER wondering WTF........I went to a specialist for two years.....after i had one driving 75 on the highway and we had to do rehab for my driving for a long time......I carry a low dosage of xanax if I ever have to go above 65 miles an hr. on the highway but usually avoid the highway if i can........

RE: lillypotter At my hospital they have a separate area for psych patients, and they take your shoes, bag, phone, everything. Put you in a gown and the doorway doesn't have a door. someone stands outside and guards you like a criminal. Its degrading. Then they ask you allot of questions and allot of people I know got talked into staying the night for like nothing at all... I end up getting a shot and an emergency appointment the next day for 'further evaluation'. But then they realize that I'm not a 'crisis case' and refill my script and send me home. It's 6-8 hours I could better spend elsewhere.