Hugs. Panic attacks are the worse. I try to distract myself. Sometimes I set small goals. Like "I'm panicking now but as soon as I get an Orange Julius I will be fine" (don't laugh I get them at the mall). Breathe. Call someone I know will answer.
I weaned off cipralex 2 weeks ago and I had my first one in a few years today.
I took a cold and flu that hit me hard and I was convinced I was dying and had an awful panic attack.
I basically told myself it was a panic attack and forced myself to keep busy to distract myself. I GBCN'd for a bit and then made lunch.
When I get them on airplanes I do deep breaths with counts of 4-6 until it goes away. It WILL go away within 20 minutes. Your body can't really allow it to happen much longer.
I just read about a breathing technique that helps me (usually nothing does), it is something like inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold it for 8, exhale via mouth for 6 and repeat. Good luck! I have 4 young kids and i generally just lay down or do dishes to distract myself.
Post by mainelyfoolish on Jun 22, 2015 6:46:48 GMT -5
My mom had panic attacks when I was a kid. I remember she used to wear a rubber band around her wrist and she would give it a little snap if she felt herself start to head down that path.
I weaned off cipralex 2 weeks ago and I had my first one in a few years today.
I took a cold and flu that hit me hard and I was convinced I was dying and had an awful panic attack.
I basically told myself it was a panic attack and forced myself to keep busy to distract myself. I GBCN'd for a bit and then made lunch.
When I get them on airplanes I do deep breaths with counts of 4-6 until it goes away. It WILL go away within 20 minutes. Your body can't really allow it to happen much longer.
Sometimes I get these strange cyclical panic attacks that do end in 20 minutes but then another one starts in less than 5 minutes, and then in less than 3 until I am having them right on top of each other even when I sleep ( I will wake up in the middle of a " cycle" and then have another one right after, kinda like contractions LOL) I can actually force myself to fall asleep in between them, but am certain the sensation keeps happening in my sleep. Sometimes getting into " child's pose" and rocking on my knees helps, other times distraction can lessen the feeling, but it's still there ( like playing with DS, reading an article, completing a task). Sometimes saying out loud " I CAN'T BREATHE" will snap me out of it briefly because I realize I am obviously breathing and then move on.
Mine all occur around 5pm, but earlier and more severe in the winter months. This past winter I had a week straight where they kept happening over and over again. This has happened once or twice right before I get my period.
I take a Xanax. The dose I have isn't high enough that it would effect my ability to parent if needed, although Ive never had to take one when with DD. I used to get them at my old job, pretty frequently.