Panic attacks

[tinkerbell23]

Anyone suffer from these? How do u deal with them, and if u want to share your experiences with me ...... Thanks all xxxxxx <3 tinks x

[karenmac60]

My friend suffers quite badly from them Tinks - she's currently on medication and receiving therapy for them but she's got a few techniques she uses too. Firstly she steers well clear of caffiene as it seems to set them off. If she does feel one coming on she tries to distract herself - she often phones me cos I'm very unsympathetic and end up making her laugh which helps it pass. If it still hits then she has breathing techniques - keeping her hand over her mouth and only breathing through her nose or breathing into a paper bag help. She has ended up in hospital when they've been really bad though.

[Arti]

I sympathise with you. My friend has them and does most of the things karen has suggested. I haven't tried the 'unsympathetic' thing, karen, but I think I'll give that a go. My friend also finds that a lot of people are dismissive of these horrible episodes, in a sort of 'oh, pull yourself together' sort of way.

[dinkleboo]

Ive had them and so has my son, you have to remember that what your experiencing is just a feeling, nothing more, nothing is going to hurt you

[dinkleboo]

I was very sympathetic with my son, until I realised it was making him worse, I used to say things in the end like...I thought you were stronger than this and distract him,but not in a obvious way

[douglas9401]

In throught the nose, out through the mouth. Regular breaths, the exhale being slightly longer than the inhale.
Simple but effective.

[pastafreak]

I've suffered with them...and to have someone-such s my husband-be dismissive-was devastating and hurtful. Granted-if you've not experienced an attack,you have no idea what it is like-it's been described as feeling like you are dying,and that's not far off the mark.
There has to be a balance of sympathetic understanding,and practical advice. I was helped immensely by the writings of Dr Clare Weeks-a pioneer in the treatment of panic disorder...see if you can find her books-I know I've seen them in Waterstones.
There are also organisations like 'no more panic',and online forums.

[karenmac60]

Pasta - I know the unsympathetic thing won't work for everyone. That is the nature of our friendship and we always make each other laugh with it, we don't mean it but it does the trick when either of us is having a drama of one sort or another. I can understand that it would be upsetting for some and it's not something I would do with anyone else x

[pastafreak]

I understand,karen. Making your friend laugh is a distraction for her....anything that gently breaks the fear that goes with an attack is of great help.

[Buenchico]

You might find some useful information by clicking through the links here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...ges/Introduction.aspx
or reading here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Con...ges/Introduction.aspx

Chris

[chinadog]

Relaxation CD's are very good.

[tinkerbell23]

Thanks all for your brill (as usual) Comments....its occasional, i had something off the doc once just for a month or so! Not antidepressants or anything. Only happens when im stressed.....but it hits me like a tonne of bricks right out the blue!

Im an outgoing person so its probobly strange For those who know me! I honestly have to jump right up out my seat and breathe....i try to physically shake it off...almost try to shake the thoughts out my head lol and mabye try to distract myself. Its horrible so horrible :0( xx

[karenmac60]

My pal is the same - she's dead outgoing and cheery all the time, you'd never picture her as being the type to have panic attacks. It's good you don't get them often, but you should try to figure out what's behind them and what works for you when you do get one.

[supersuezy24]

I have suffered with panic attacks since I was younger. Have not had one in a long time thank God. The most trivial of things bring them on with me, when I look back now at some of the reasons that caused them I think the reason was so stupid but at the time it was major and knocked me for six.
When I have one I don't feel "okay" or "safe" until I get home. After I have a bad panic attack I get extremely tired.
My doctor told me it was due to high levels of anxiety however sometimes they just happen out of the blue when I am out with friends and not at all anxious or stressed.
I have been told to take deep breaths and such but 9 times out of ten I am too hysterical to think rational and practice it and the panic attack just runs its course and then I feel mortified that my friends have seen me so vulnerable(sp)...

[pastafreak]

if they are truly your friends,suezy-then they won't mind and will be there to support you.That's the worst part about panic and anxiety attacks-they make you feel so vulnerable. But sometimes it's a real relief to let others know what's happening,rather than bottling it up-and possibly making things worse.

tinks-my daughter is like you...has taken her studies -and everything else in her life very seriously-resulting in insomnia and panic attacks when she's very stressed out. I had to witness and talk her through one,after she'd had to give a presentation-a 'worst nightmare' for her. It's not easy seeing your own daughter suffer with the same anxiety as you always have.