Panic/Anxiety Attack Help

[shoeless]

There is no doubt in my mind I need professional help.  I have been extremely depressed for the last few weeks and now I'm having damn near paralyzing anxiety attacks.  However, I'm on business travel for another two weeks (and have been traveling for the last 4 weeks).

For the last three days I seem to be getting anxiety attacks.  They seem to be hitting 2-3 times a day and lasting for 1-2 hours.  When they hit its all I can do move, my heart is racing, stomach churning, trouble breathing (but not hyperventilation).  Logically I know I'm 'ok', but when I'm in the moment- I don't feel ok.

Are there any tricks, meditations, OTC medications I can try until I get home? 

Aside from my gyno I don't really have a regular doctor, so I don't feel like there is anyone I call home to and ask for a script.

[cc]

Something my psychiatrist has suggested I do is sit there and concentrate on my breathing. If I have a clock nearby that is not digital, look at the second hand moving and count down with it.

Panic attacks suck and I am sorry you are having them. ((hugs))

[Deleted]

I agree with breathing. It sounds stupid, but sometimes if I put all my focus into breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth, it quiets everything else down and helps me stabilize.

[thedutchgirl]

My H uses guided meditation that he listens to on his iPhone a couple of times a day. It is about 15 minutes long, and he says it is very helpful. Perhaps you could download something like that until you get into the doctor?

I'm sorry you are struggling.

[shoeless]

Thanks girls- I'll try anything.
It looks like there are a lot of guided meditations on itunes so I'll give some a try

[Deleted]

Breathing. Also, if I tap my legs with the palm of my hand in a rhythmic motion that seems to help.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

Maybe try meditating too. It has really helped me.

ETA- I also have a 'calming place' in my mind and when I am breathing I focus on that.

[Deleted]

Also, if you can't find any relief you could try going to a local urgent care and explaining your situation to one of the doctors there. I don't know if they would be able to give you a prescription, but it might be worth a try to get you through until you get home. I'm sorry that you're struggling.

[Saint Monica]

calamity too

holyfuck these changed my life:

www.amazon.com/Serious-Nutrition-Solutions-Picamilon-150/dp/B004JZPPR0


ETA: helped anxiety & majorly helped with depression. 89 Billion times better than prozac.

[shoeless]

Feb 26, 2013 8:45:00 GMT -5 kevin arnold said:

Concentrate on slowing down your breathing, but don't do big deep inhales and exhales. That might seem like a good thing to do to calm down, but often anxiety attacks come with hyperventilation, so big deep breaths will just make it worse.

I would practice something calming to meditate on. I wish I had better advice, I know it can be debilitating. Definitely find a dr when you get home to help you get your anxiety under control. I'm sorry you're dealing with it.

Thanks KA- every time I tried to focus on my breathing in the past few days this is exactly what I was trying to do... thank you

[thedutchgirl]

I just looked in our iTunes account, and my H uses stuff by Belleruth Naparstek. There is a lot available in the iTunes store, including an album entitled Guided Meditations for Panic Attacks.

[tulip]

You should try calling your gyno and explaining the situation. I'm sure they will call in something to help you.

Panic attacks are the suck and I'm sorry this is happening to you.

[BaileyAyres]

YouTube also has some guided meditation videos.  I've watched them from my phone before when I've been in a pinch and really need something to help clam me down. 

[kcr1972]

Valerian root or kava kava may help.

[sweetredheadx]

I use something called grounding to help with serious emotional stress like panic attacks.(I work with trauma survivors so we also use it for flashbacks and triggers) It is a way of refocusing, staying in the present, and feeling safe.

Physical-run hands under cool water
Lotion your hands thinking about what you are specifically doing like "I am putting lotion on my pinkie. Now I am optioning my palm ect."

Mental-think of lists. I use my favorite movies or music. But you can do any kind of list. Types of dogs. List the states and capitals. Anything that takes your thoughts and directs them to something benign
If at a store, go to a secluded aisle and look for anything that has a certain color like green or blue. Anyone walking by will think you are just looking for something in particular.

Soothing- these are like mental but you are treating yourself well. Saying things like "I am sweetredhead and I will be ok". "This too shall pass". Take a hot shower and say I deserve to be calm and happy.

Hope some of this helps.

[shoeless]

Thanks POG and everyone else. I'm downloading some of the recommended guided meditations right now. I never knew how much anxiety attacks could suck.

[caddywompus]

Try this: Take a deep breath in thru your nose (like you're smelling a flower) for a count of FOUR
Then hold the breath for the count of FOUR ---- Then breathe out thru your mouth (like you are blowing out a candle) for a count of FOUR.
Repeat as long as needed.

[walterismydog]

yoga + breathing.

distraction helped me a lot, too, when I was going through a similar situation. Taking on projects, volunteering, getting my mind off of ME and my crap.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this.

[chalupabatman]

Feb 26, 2013 8:50:02 GMT -5 @cse1960 said:

Get some serious vitamins, with lots of Vit. D. Like 10k units a day, and 500 of magnesium. Eat a lot of protein at each meal, esp. when you first get up. You'll feel better, I swear. Does your hotel have a place to exercise? Get some daily exercise, even if it's just a treadmill walk. I hope you feel better quick.

I agree with this completely.  I do deep breathing in the middle of a panic attack, but I work out, take vitamins, eat healthy to try and head some of those feelings off.

Meds are lovely.  I wish you lots of luck and hope you feel better soon.  If you have a regular GP she might be able to prescribe to you without seeing you, given the circumstances.

[Deleted]

I agree w everything here.

Especially about the breaking a sweat.  This helps me a lot.  Even just my morning walk now helps burn off that energy.

Break a sweat.  But DON'T do this when you feel like you're already on the edge of an attack (at least, I wouldn't recommend starting out like that).  Do it when your body is calm.  Then burn the fuck out of all that latent anxious energy. 

I recommend HIIT exercises b/c they are short and timed w sprints.  Or just run til your balls fall off.

[MrsAggie]

I didn't read all of the responses but you could go to a minor emergency clinic and they could prescribe some Xanax for now.

[Saint Monica]

Feb 26, 2013 13:27:57 GMT -5 loonylunalovegood said:

Feb 26, 2013 8:45:20 GMT -5 Saint Monica said:

calamity too

holyfuck these changed my life:

www.amazon.com/Serious-Nutrition-Solutions-Picamilon-150/dp/B004JZPPR0


ETA: helped anxiety & majorly helped with depression. 89 Billion times better than prozac.

I need to know more about this. Does it have any wonky side effects? Who told you about it? What about other drug interactions?

**I am not a doctor or pharmacist

Possible side effects (I have had none): Increased peeing, flushing of the face/body (maybe I had this but dont know I'm always kinda ruddy)

A hot guy at GNC

Dont know about other drug interactions. 

I just know my own anecdotal experience.  I went from being in a very very very black place to being okay.