Panic Attacks
I had a panic attack in a public recently. Usually I know what triggers them, and they happen occasionally so I haven't been worried about it ... until now. I have no idea what triggered it, and I've been wracking my brain trying to figure it out.
My whole week has been messed up and effected by it. I can't concentrate, I'm anxious, I feel deflated, and empty. It's almost like I'm no longer thinking rationally.
What would someone do in a position like that? Any tips on coping with anxiety, and panic attacks?
attacks
I like!
No thanks!
Favorite
14 commentsReplies
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@Agent Lover no ... I've considered it before but I can't afford it at the moment
El Indio said, (228 days ago)
ive been taking klonopin for like...a dozen years. i dont recommend that route, though
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@El Indio (navin...) I've never really had a problem with panic attacks, usually I can suppress them or cover it up as something else. I've never considered medication until now.
El Indio said, (228 days ago)
well, i dropped out of HS half way through my senior year because i knew not what was happening to me. it got even worse later. eventually, some drugs and a bit of insight helped.
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@El Indio (navin...) oh :( that must have been tough. Yeah my sister told me yesterday that I (figuratively) need a slap in the face ... to snap out of it. I should probably spend less time alone, I won't find insight sitting in my room by myself.
blahblah said, (228 days ago)
@ Unicorns: What's going on in your life? Maybe you are trying to tackle too much and you just let your self get taken under by all the stress and emotions you are feeling. Like an overdose of life something.
I did get panic attack when I was younger and they really freaked me out. A lot of mine were because I was way to concerned with everything going in the world and the helplessness I felt about it. Once I realized there was this balance to the world a lot them eased. Though I do occasionally get from time to time. I just tell myself 'This all will pass with time' and repeat it and breath in my mouth and out my nose. Its helps me . Just some thoughts.....I hope you figure it out! <3
jill said, (228 days ago)
I've found homeopathic remedies to be very helpful, particularly Ignatia amara and Natrum muriaticum. I know I've had and have anxiety issues, I was just wondering the other day if I've ever had a full-blown anxiety attack, I'm not sure.
I'm partial to tinctures, they taste horrific. I almost always have Good Mood Tonic by Herb Pharm. When I am really frazzled I'll have a droppersful of Kava tincture which tastes like moldy death, but is really deeply relaxing.
Branwell said, (228 days ago)
I know that feeling... I suffer from occasional panic attacks myself. I used to suffer from them a lot more until a couple years ago, when I realized that they WERE panic attacks; needless to say, this realization helped a lot in dealing with them. And generally, I know why they're happening, and can stop them before they occur. Every few months, I'm in a situation where I can't avoid them -- usually because I'm out of the house with no access to a car or public transportation.
I mean, I don't know the situation you were in when this happened -- were you already upset? Were you doing something you didn't want to do, or dealing with people who you don't like? Some triggers make less sense -- I once had a panic attack triggered by a woman doing a comedy routine which involved her clicking her tongue for the better part of a minute. (But I was already pretty upset that night.)
Generally speaking, I leave. I leave, and I write off doing anything other than going to work for the next day or two. If I can't leave, at least getting out of the room helps. Bright light helps. Trying not to talk about it helps... I mean, if you're around people and don't mind admitting it, you can say "I'm having a panic attack". But when I have a panic attack and try to talk about anything else, I tend to get paranoid and/or lash out at people, which certainly doesn't help my mood.
But in this case, unless it starts happening more often, I'd write it off as a fluke. I treat unavoidable panic attacks the way I treat colds -- every few months, you get one, and you're stuck with it, but it goes away in a few days.
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@Dr.Cthulhu It's so weird ... I'm usually pretty stable. Granted I do worry about everything and fixate on stupid little nothings.
I had been out with my friend Jeff all weekend, and we were restless so we headed out and went to Chapters (Canada's Barnes and Noble), and pretty much went off in our own directions. After awhile I got bored and went to find him, I couldn't so I sat down near Starbucks. I started to feel really anxious kinda out of the blue, so I do what I usually do breath, walk, and breath some more. You know get a mantra going. Jeff came up behind me and I loss my concentration and just started to shake, feel faint, and feeling faint, and nauseous. I was so scared. He helped me find a place to sit down, but then I just started to hyper ventilate and cry so we went outside and after about 5 mins I finally calmed down. I was so embarassed about it, which made it worse.
I was thinking that maybe it was my whole weird situation with Jeff that triggered it, that or anxiety about my future once I graduate. So many things. I think I need to find that balance and I'm too stressed with school and exams right now to be able to focus on helping myself ...
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@jillosity thanks :) my mom recommended I try homeopathic remedies and I'm looking into it.
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@Branwell it was frightening ... I can usually suppress panic attacks through breathing, drinking water, walking around anything. I mention above what the situation was like, and now that I think more about that weekend I was upset at my friend Jeff. I was staying over at his house and I was staying in the guest room in the basement and he didn't come down until like 3pm the next day. I had never been to his house, and only met his mother once so I felt really awkward trying to go find him in a place I was unfamiliar with. I had felt like he had forgotten I was there, and was upset about that as well as being frustrated with the lack of clarity in regards to our relationship. But I didn't express this, and that's probably part of what triggered the panic attack.
I'm trying to move past this, I'm better today then I was on Monday but I still don't feel like myself if that makes any sense?
blahblah said, (228 days ago)
@ Unicorns: Well I wish for you to be better....maybe its just growing pains!?
I had a lot of those growing up and still do and I am 28 so go figure.
Hugs and maybe try not to get to concerned until it gets out of hand.
Talking Unicorns said, (228 days ago)
@Dr.Cthulhu Thank-you, it'll pass and I'll get through it. I'm strong and resilient!! Plus I'm leaving the city this weekend to remove myself from the confines of my apartment. Hopefully I'll be able to figure this out soon. <3
Do you see a therapist?