What is the best way to stop/feel better after a panic attack?

[Roland00]

What is the best way to stop/feel better during/after a panic attack.

I mean as a short term solution, to get yourself over a hump? I know meds/doctor/fixing the root psychological cause is what you should do long term, but how do you deal with the short term symptoms?

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

My advice is to break "the freak out" into segments. When you think you can't make it, that adds to your anxiety. Tell yourself, I can get through the next couple of minutes. Then, when you see you have conquered that. Say, "Good". Then tell yourself, I can get through the next couple of minutes. When you make that, tell yourself, "I made it through". This can be expanded it to 5 minutes, or 10 minutes, or 30 minutes, or 1 hour, or day, etc. Or do one minute at a time.

Or do the breath in, breath out method. Sometimes, when I get into a "freak out", I concentrate on my breathing. Don't think about anything, other than your breathing. In-Out.

Or, are you talking about a longer period of time? Like a bad day? If so, do the things that you know you can do. If you can't do anything to correct the situation, then let the situation go, until you can do something about it. If your mind is running away with itself, do some busy stuff. Like wash dishes, sweep, wash your car, or something you can do, until your mind settles down.

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

Or if that doesn't work. Take a nerve pill. And hold on, until the pill kicks in.

 

[DiaryOfAMadman]

The hospital I work at is in the shape of a square for its main building, its only 8 floors high yet only floors 1-6 actually are part of that square shape. I take the elevator up to the 6th floor and start walking around the longest part of the hospital in the square pattern of the hospital and take the stairwell in the one corner of the building down it usually takes about 15-20 mins to walk the entire distance but I try not thinking about anything in particular while I'm doing it, by the time the walk is over I feel very "calm" no matter what the situation.

Best way that I've heard of to stop a panic attack......... pop a xanax. But try "marinading walks" it works wonders.

 

[Aussieguy01]

I have only had one panic attack and that scarred the living fuck out me , all i can remember doing was crying for hours afterwards non stop.

 

[Roland00]

On a scale of 1 to 100, 1 being no anxiety 100 being the worse your body can take before shutting down. (This is physical body anxiety /stress/how wound up you are, your body feels and records stress/anxiety )

I constantly run now a days on 15-20. I used to be always running on 30 ever since I was born, most people can't tolerate that, but it was what I was used to and pretty much I have always known. I have always been anxious compared to other people.

Well this Sunday I had a panic attack and it was alternating in a manner between 80 to 95. I was trying my best to feel better, to calm down, but I really couldn't (some people understand what I am saying) I start to feel better then it goes up again and continue to do so for a couple hours.

Eventually it stop and went down, (unfortunately or fortunately) by its own I didn't cause it to stop. I hate when I wound up for its literally painful, it scares the shit out of me, and even after it stops I am still like on 50 for a few days. It just doesn't go away.

The good news if I were to put a number on it right now I would say about 40 which is a good thing for any stress right now is just left over from the attack. It just sticks in your body for a few days licked its locked into your muscles. The good news is that its mostly reactionary stuff and thus I should be back to normal in a few days.

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

That is good news. I'm glad you are doing better. Have you tried medications? My problem is mainly depression. I have tried five different types of pills, none of them worked. So, I went back to Elavil, very low dosage. Also, I take a small dosage of Ativan. When I feel like I'm going to come "unglued", I take that.

What I'm trying to say, not all drugs help all people in the same way. You might have to try different drugs to find one that works for you.

I tried meditation for awhile, and that helped, but I didn't stay with it. I really need to start back up.

 

[Pushover]

Speaking as one who has an anxiety disorder, I take Paxil, and it seems to help quite a bit, in the long run.

On your scale of 1-100, my attacks were around 60-70 when I was younger and on average a 30-40 throughout the day. After I started learning to control myself, it's been down to 30-50 during attacks at most, and on average a steady 10-15 during the day. During the past several months, i've finally started to live normally, and if I can do it, so can you. Thousands of people have anxiety disorders, and almost all of them can eventually lead normal lives.

Short term: In the middle of a panic attack, the best thing I can do is just breath, and attempt to relax. I think about the irationality of the situation, and try to think on how I could continue without the disorder, and how much better it could be. It also helps to think about other things that are not even remotely attached to your current situation, too. That's what I do, at least, and it does help. I guess what it boils down to is a contest of your strength of will.

I know how you say it tends to go up and down, and eventually goes away. That happens to me, too, but not for hours on end. Usually it lasts maybe 4-60 minutes before I calm myself down. It takes practice, though, and learning to control your fears and not let them control you.

If you don't mind me asking, is this a social anxiety disorder or a generalized?

 

[ladygrey]

I like to watch film. Now, I know that sounds crazy. But a soon as I feel one come on, I do these things:

Get alone as fast possible. Prepare myself for whatever is going to come. Sometimes, I shower and alternate hot/cold water. I put on a film and stare at the screen. I mean, like I try to block everything out but that screen.

It sometimes helps me.

But really.......you kinda of just have to accept that they happen, it's going to happen, and try to live life as completly as you can.

 

[mydrew1]

Have a drink of water, etc.

 

[morgaes]

I've only had a panic attack a couple of times, but what calmed me down was to watch a movie, preferably some mindless teenage feel-good chickflick, it helps you to block everything else out.