How do you survive a panic attack?

**homemaker66** · 08-18-2009, 06:32 PM

I have panic attacks when I am tired out. I know how to prevent them. I have to talk to someone just to keep my mind going. After a while they do go away. I know that I have to get enough sleep each night so I can prevent them from coming on. I would like to know how everyone else gets through theirs? I would like to learn more ways of getting through them. I find they are very draining emotionally and physically to myself and to my poor family. So lets pull together and help each other of new ideas of getting through the panic attacks.

**frugalfranny** · 08-18-2009, 06:44 PM

How often do these happen? If they are daily shouldn't you be telling your dr. about them? Are you taking any meds. for them?

I am not much help but wish you the best in dealing with them. Have you tried some deep, slow breathing when they are coming on?

**LeeCee** · 08-18-2009, 06:46 PM

I use to get very bad attacks along time ago. I would hyperventilate and would go rushing to the emergency room. I started on antidepressants which helped somewhat. I stated getting them a few months ago but not as bad. it is the most terrible thing to deal with and no one understands. I get them from very bad stress and or depression. medication does help ,supportive friends if you can find any helps also. it is not easy. reading message boards with people going through the same thing also helps. good luck and god bless

**2ndGenGranola** · 08-19-2009, 03:31 AM

The counselor suggested a "no strings attached" hobby (meaning one that I wouldn't start thinking of how to turn into a business or such which would then turn it into something stress producing). I sit down now and play some of the silly games on facebook.

**homemaker66** · 08-19-2009, 06:54 AM

I take zanax every night to help me sleep and this seems to help. Lately I have a lot of stress among my one child and there is nothing I can do to help him, but I know things will work out in the long run I just got to give it time. I know this is why I have been having my panic attacks. I just hope some of the other people can reach out and share their methods because this will only help me but other frugal family members. Thank you for the hugs...

**jas** · 08-19-2009, 07:22 AM

Last year I was having dozens of panic attacks a day. To the point that I was becoming agoraphobic. It was the worst point in my life. I ended up in the hospital twice for them. At first I was adimant that I was not going to take anything. I was bigger than whatever had taken over. Well, in the end I did start taking something.

I am better now after talking to a counselor and taking for a few weeks the meds.

What I found to be extremely helpful was a site on the net called panic away. The site does want to sell you the main tip, which I did buy. At that point I was desparate. Glad I did but, they tell you in a round about way even if you don't buy it.

There is so much great info on there. That you don't have to buy. They practically give you the main tip anyway. Which is really to try to bring them on (a panic attack) and face the fear. Crazy I know. It works though. I am amazed from where I was to where I am now. I am not scared and I am not on meds.

You should check it out, don't buy anything just read what info is free.

the site is panicaway.com

Remember don't buy anything

**Debbie-cat** · 08-19-2009, 10:25 AM

My Mother suffers from very bad panic attacks. She is on a mild tranquilizer which helps her somewhat. When she gets them she has to sit for quite a while until it passes, focusing on slowly breathing. Once she feels she has it under control then she has to lay down and take a nap. I realize this isn't possible for everyone as she lives alone and has no responsibilities except her part time job. It does seem to help her though.

**madhen** · 08-19-2009, 10:55 AM

I used to have very bad ones when I was younger, although I didn't know what they were then, and I eventually learned that certain visual patterns triggered them. Even now, I can't handle flickering lights, stripes, and certain other patterns. I have left restaurants because the pattern of the wallpaper or carpet disturbs me, and driving over bridges that have equally spaced support posts that whip by me at a uniform rate of speed is also uncomfortable. I haven't had anything resembling a major attack for 20 years, but I can feel them under the surface. I just try to limit my exposure to the triggers, including sitting with my back to patterns that I can't control and not having anything with stripes in my house. If I can't limit my exposure, I find that I quickly get very wound up, to the point of being irrational, quick to temper and very intolerant of external irritants (noise, crowds, etc).

**lmbaker520** · 08-19-2009, 11:06 AM

I have dealt with panic attacks for the past few years and until last year I really didn't understand what was going on. They are always triggered with some sort of stress in my life whether it is family problems or my job which tends to be very high stress at certain points during the year. I ended up at the doctor a few times thinking that something was really wrong because of the way that I was feeling. We tried to work through it without medication but I ended up on an antidepressant in the fall of last year. It has done wonders in helping me. I feel that I have much more control of stress now and am able to turn it off if I feel myself getting worked up. I know that he will eventually try to get me off of the medicine but I am no hurry.

**jas** · 08-19-2009, 11:06 AM

Madhen, I hear you about the noise. There are certain places that I can't stand to be in. My places are in the refrigerated parts of the grocery store, all that noise that comes off of them drives or used to drive me into a panic attack. Also most stores at the check out have those coolers with drinks in them it used to create such a heavyness in me I wanted to ditch my cart and run. The hum of the things gets to me.

Also there are some stores that have certain kinds of lighting that give off a hum noise. All I know is that I am sensitive to them. I have a better handle on it now and don't go into the stores already in panic mode.

I hated bridges also, along with the movies, grocery stores, the mall, just about anywhere. I was a mess. I woke up with my nerves buzzing and they did not let up till I went to bed.

Looking back at that time in my life not that long ago I can't believe how far I have come.

**baxjul** · 08-19-2009, 12:42 PM

When I have mine, I take an ativan. I always have a prescription on hand. Hugs.

**homemaker66** · 08-19-2009, 07:54 PM

Thank you everyone for sharing. I had one yesterday and I was wiped out after it was over it. I learned just talking to someone or to god this helps me out. I just don't know why I have them but one night just before I went to bed I had my first one and it scared the heck out of me I thought I can going to "die" nine years latter and I still have them time to time. This is something that I have to learn to live with. Love to hear some more feed back because I know talking about it helps.

**ruby3** · 08-19-2009, 09:55 PM

I had them a lot in college and they were very scary. I went through a congnitive behavioral program at my university. It was free because it was for research. I didn't want to take medication, so this seemed to be the best route for me. The therapy involved doing things to trigger them and then letting me just deal with them naturally. I have not had one for years. The most important thing to remember is that the panic attacks cannot hurt you. Once you convince yourself that this is true they lose their power very quickly. I wish you luck. I know you will get through this!

**jas** · 08-19-2009, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by ruby3

I had them a lot in college and they were very scary. I went through a congnitive behavioral program at my university. It was free because it was for research. I didn't want to take medication, so this seemed to be the best route for me. The therapy involved doing things to trigger them and then letting me just deal with them naturally. I have not had one for years. The most important thing to remember is that the panic attacks cannot hurt you. Once you convince yourself that this is true they lose their power very quickly. I wish you luck. I know you will get through this!

The panic away program that I did was basically the same information you have just shared. As crazy as it sounds it works. At first I was like are you nuts, go on purpose to my trigger places and actually will your self to have one and then like you said deal with the sensations knowing they won't kill you or you are not going to die.

Sometimes when I think of doing things that in the past would have had me shaking in my skin I have to remind myself that I CAN do them or go places. It is so freeing.

I am sure I will always have to deal with thought I may have one again but now I can nip them in the bud and just roll with the sensation and let it pass and move on. Not get in the viscious cycle of them again.

**spyzvixxen** · 08-19-2009, 11:00 PM

I mostly get them when driving in traffic and on bridges. The thought of nowhere to pull over/no way out scares the bejesus out of me. We're talking blue knuckles, sweating, heart racing, trouble swallowing, etc. I usually just turn the music up, call my mom, smoke a cig, talk to myself....anything to get me through it. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone and treatment/remedies really vary on an individual basis. Good luck to you and hang in there!