Panic Attacks

[sekhmet2002]

I was wondering for the people who have panic attacks, what do you do to help yourself get through them?

[ManicQueen]

My anxiety is the worst it's ever been. I try to keep myself ridiculously busy so that I don't end up dealing with a full blown attack, but when it does happen, or when I feel one coming on, I tend to try and "shake it off", literally. For the most part I just deal with it and let it do its thing. 

If anyone has any tips, I'd like to know as well. 

[kat (1)]

I have had them for a long time. I actually take a benzo (Klonopin) to control mine. I have had them on the freeway too., the meds don't always work, unfortunately so I have to roll the window down, light a cigarette and crank metal music too deal with driving across a bridge or on the freeway exchange. Also, another thing that I have seen work is mindfulness, basically I take the focus off of what is happening in my head and find something in my environment to observe, like a tree, plant, anything else besides what I have in my head and pay attention to the details of whatever that object is, such as the color of the leaves, the form, etc..

[TronRP]

When I was at my worst, my mother used to send me out of the house on mini-scavenger hunts and errands. Things like picking up a menu at a nearby food stop or getting gas at a different location than usual. 

When I would have an attack while driving, I would pretend I was in a videogame like Pole Position or Gran Turismo since I did a lot of driving between Detroit and UofM.

Since I have done something akin to LARP since childhood, if I were having a panic attack at a time when it was necessary for me to have to interact with others, I would take on one of many character persona to help me through. The only issue with that was I would have to remember which persona I used with which individual in the event of a chance meeting in the future. So far I have only encountered that situation once.

However, now that life is not as fast paced as it used to be, I get more downtime than I used to. So nowadays, I do a lot more meditation and give myself more time to prepare for when I have to walk out of the door.

[Troy Spiral (13)]

4 hours ago, kat said:

I have had them for a long time. I actually take a benzo (Klonopin) to control mine. I have had them on the freeway too., the meds don't always work, unfortunately so I have to roll the window down, light a cigarette and crank metal music too deal with driving across a bridge or on the freeway exchange. Also, another thing that I have seen work is mindfulness, basically I take the focus off of what is happening in my head and find something in my environment to observe, like a tree, plant, anything else besides what I have in my head and pay attention to the details of whatever that object is, such as the color of the leaves, the form, etc..

Probaly should get the faster acting benzos for the actual attacks  Xanax/Vallium.   Klonopin is you know ... "for the long term". 

[Troy Spiral (13)]

I have a lot of panic attacks.  Lately I've been trying a combination of the "suck it up" and Breathing/meditation systems.   Seems to help quite a bit.  Still I have probably 1 "hardcore" panic attack a day on average, to which I have to resort to the Vallium/Xanax.    The medical weed seems to have helped my "overall" panic level somewhat.   (and has helped a lot with the every-god-damn-night nightmares)  

 

The old fashion blow into a paper bag and keep breathing till you drop the bag really does help.  Not just an old wives tale. 

 

I've been "working/researching" this subject for years, still have found no magic bullet. At least not one that still keeps you alive after.  

[TronRP]

24 minutes ago, Troy Spiral said:

I have a lot of panic attacks.  Lately I've been trying a combination of the "suck it up" and Breathing/meditation systems.   Seems to help quite a bit.  Still I have probably 1 "hardcore" panic attack a day on average, to which I have to resort to the Vallium/Xanax.    The medical weed seems to have helped my "overall" panic level somewhat.   (and has helped a lot with the every-god-damn-night nightmares)  

 

The old fashion blow into a paper bag and keep breathing till you drop the bag really does help.  Not just an old wives tale. 

 

I've been "working/researching" this subject for years, still have found no magic bullet. At least not one that still keeps you alive after.  

Just to clarify, you are saying affixation is an old wives tale cure?!?

[Troy Spiral (13)]

On 1/22/2016 at 0:32 AM, TronRP said:

Just to clarify, you are saying affixation is an old wives tale cure?!?

 

On 1/22/2016 at 0:06 AM, Troy Spiral said:

The old fashion blow into a paper bag and keep breathing till you drop the bag really does help.  Not just an old wives tale. 

 

I think you missed that last part there.   Everything I posted was "positive ideas" rather than debunking anything.  

[sekhmet2002]

Thanks guys. These all help. I have been on Xanax for nearly 20 years and it helps but I still get really awful attacks every once in a while. They are crazy bad when it happens. Troy has helped me through a few of them but when he's not available is when I really need the help. I have tried to focus on different things, such as an imaginary pond with fish in it and it seems to help but not fully fix the issue. I have not really given meditation a sincere try since there is always music in my head (another health issue altogether). It makes it hard to focus on anything for any real period of time.

On 1/22/2016 at 7:51 PM, kat said:

I have had them for a long time. I actually take a benzo (Klonopin) to control mine. I have had them on the freeway too., the meds don't always work, unfortunately so I have to roll the window down, light a cigarette and crank metal music too deal with driving across a bridge or on the freeway exchange. Also, another thing that I have seen work is mindfulness, basically I take the focus off of what is happening in my head and find something in my environment to observe, like a tree, plant, anything else besides what I have in my head and pay attention to the details of whatever that object is, such as the color of the leaves, the form, etc..

Not a bad idea kat. The music may help me out. I'll have to try that next time.

[TronRP]

On 1/23/2016 at 6:49 AM, Troy Spiral said:

 

I think you missed that last part there.   Everything I posted was "positive ideas" rather than debunking anything.  

I see where you missed my meaning....

To state that something was, "Not just an old wives tale." imples that is was originally an old wives tale. Therefore, "The old fashion blow into a paper bag and keep breathing till you drop the bag really does help." Brings to my mind imagery of a person breathing into a bag, eyes roll up into head, hand slopes to side, thus dropping the bag...implies - affixiation. 

You're not dead, but at the very least, slightly cured...

[TronRP]

19 hours ago, sekhmet2002 said:

Thanks guys. These all help. I have been on Xanax for nearly 20 years and it helps but I still get really awful attacks every once in a while. They are crazy bad when it happens. Troy has helped me through a few of them but when he's not available is when I really need the help. I have tried to focus on different things, such as an imaginary pond with fish in it and it seems to help but not fully fix the issue. I have not really given meditation a sincere try since there is always music in my head (another health issue altogether). It makes it hard to focus on anything for any real period of time.

Not a bad idea kat. The music may help me out. I'll have to try that next time.

Actually, in my case I need sound. I meditate to this:

Meditation for the 7 Chakras

https://youtu.be/JhtFG9VRtP0

[the_fairy_gothmother]

I also use sound. nature sounds and thunderstorms really soothe me. I have been trying to be less reliant on chemicals. I know they are no good over long periods of time for our bodies. I really am trying to put more natural things in my body.

[torn asunder]

14 hours ago, TronRP said:

... Brings to my mind imagery of a person breathing into a bag, eyes roll up into head, hand slopes to side, thus dropping the bag...implies - affixiation....

asphyxiation?

[TronRP]

17 hours ago, torn asunder said:

asphyxiation?

Correct...

My proofreader rarely logs in anymore so I have really been at the mercy of my literary shortcomings. 

[torn asunder]

6 hours ago, TronRP said:

Correct...

My proofreader rarely logs in anymore so I have really been at the mercy of my literary shortcomings. 

[kat (1)]

On 1/24/2016 at 9:36 PM, sekhmet2002 said:

Thanks guys. These all help. I have been on Xanax for nearly 20 years and it helps but I still get really awful attacks every once in a while. They are crazy bad when it happens. Troy has helped me through a few of them but when he's not available is when I really need the help. I have tried to focus on different things, such as an imaginary pond with fish in it and it seems to help but not fully fix the issue. I have not really given meditation a sincere try since there is always music in my head (another health issue altogether). It makes it hard to focus on anything for any real period of time.

Not a bad idea kat. The music may help me out. I'll have to try that next time.

Anytime! I understand it so much, we know it isn't real but at the time while it's going down. 

[sekhmet2002]

On 1/24/2016 at 5:36 PM, TronRP said:

Actually, in my case I need sound. I meditate to this:

Meditation for the 7 Chakras

https://youtu.be/JhtFG9VRtP0

I'll have to try this Tron. Maybe it will help me too.