What helps you the most during a panic attack?
i've been having really crazy panic attacks… Just need some reassurance
@theunknownkid it can definitely be a scary experience and it takes some self control
@theunknownkid
Panic attacks can be really scary because they feel like something terrible is going to happen. In actual fact our body is going into 'fight or flight' mode - a response system in our bodies, which is supposed to help us in times where we would have needed to fight or run away from a predator. Unfortunately, our body can set this ancient response system off when we feel fear. There is a wonderful app called Panic (it is blue and white), and I think you have to pay a few dollars to purchase on the apple app shop, but I highly recommend it. I haven't had a panic attack in probably over 6 months.
Peace and light to you.
@theunknownkid
Welcome! Im Lizzy and Im currently a trained listener and intern. I hope you find what you are looking for here in 7 Cups. Please feel free to message me whenever. I will usually reply within the day and if Im online, you should expect a reply straight away! I specialise in anxiety, panic attacks and loneliness mostly but you are always free to message me for other reasons!
https://www.7cups.com/15248074
@Jamie0906
I have been dealing with panic attacks for almost 20 years. The first 10 years I had day panic attacks, then they turned into night attacks.
The first times were just horrible, for my personal experience, it's worse to wake up in the middle of the night in total panic than feeling panic coming while awake.
Now I can go 1 to 3 months without one, and then have one every night for several days. They usually last 30 to 60 minutes, only once I had a devastating one that lasted for 5 hours....and, guess what, after so many hours fighting, it just disappeared when I openly said "come and take me, do what you want!". It was one of the weirdest experiences of my life.
Coming to what helps me during an "ordinary" night attack, I must find something to concentate on. The best is usually any stupid video on youtube (a makeup tutorial, clothes haul...you name it, the more stupid it is, the better it works!). Reading is also helpful, again, maybe a magazine is better then a book.
During a panic attack I can't speak...my stomach gets messed up and I have the feeling that I would throw up if I open my mouth...so I stay around the toilet. I usually freeze, so I put on clothes, and then I sweat, feel trapped and I gotta get undressed...due to these weird behaviours I prefer being alone. If I have people around it's a disaster. People try to help, and it's hard to explain them you just wanna be alone.
I travel pretty often, and more than once I had a night attack while sharing a room. This is for me terrible. I have started avoiding hotels and always renting apartments where I have enough space to "do my weird things" without being noticed.
One thing I figured out is good to prevent night attacks is not eating too much or too late in the evening. I believe the trigger for my attacks is feeling my stomach too full. I am emethofobic...if havong panic attacks, depression, anxiety, suicidal tendencies and bla bla bla were not already enough...
@MeMyselfAndHer Sounds rough, I myself am dealing with a similiar situation. Though, my anxiety began less than a wek ago. And heck, I really do hate it. There will be times where I feel calm, and then if I worry about my heartrate (sometimes it goes fast) I will freak out even more.
See, I'm only 15 years old, and I already worry too much about life and death. Death is the main issue. I've been to urgent care, and they said it's normal for these symptoms to happen. When she said that, I felt a little better. But god, it came back later that night. It just happens whenever my mind focuses on my breathing and heartrate, and I just worry that it might be a heart attack or something.
After that night, I felt worse the next morning. It came to the point where I felt sick in the stomach, so I ran to the bathroom and tried to throw up. Though, nothing came up and I was sitting against the wall worrying. I wanted to cry. I wanted to believe that this will end. I wanted to feel normal again. Hell, I would never cast this feeling to anyone, even my worse enemies...
I stopped by the ER to get a EKG (I'm not sure if that's the name, but it's like a scanner thing that checks if your health is normal) and they said everything was fine. It was just anxiety. They prescribed me with meds that day, Aderax is the name. It felt like it worked, but after a few days, the attacks would come back but worse. I would sweat, get the shakes, and get cold flashes. It sucks man...
/Skitten ❤
@Skitten
That is more or less how it began for me... I was more or less your age, I got very sick, I was rushed to the emergency...and I was told it was a panic attack...
Knowing what it is helps, you know you're not gonna die or anything like that, but it's anyway a horrible feeling and a terrible experience, absolutely.
I warmly suggest you to not do my same mistake, go and seek for help now, don't wait! I kinda gave up, it's just a part of my life after so many years living with it. But if I could turn back in time I would definitely try to solve it.
<3
@MeMyselfAndHer There's a lot of options for me to take, the docs suggest for me to take meds before anything so serious. I'm giving Prozac a shot later today, if my doctors can get a move on and get them ready x) I was suppose to get them yesterday, but I'm still waiting for them :v
I hope these meds work, everyone's saying that it will really, really, really help me out tons more! And I believe that, but we'll have to wait and see. :)
I wish the best for you, peace and light to you 🙏❤
@Skitten
Good luck! 
I don't know much about medications, I have never taken any, but I can tell you that getting in touch with professionals about your problem may be a safety net when you need it.
I have been alone all the time, and when I fall, I just fall. I wish I could have the chance to have some support, and I regret not seeking for help when I could.
That is why I tell you, you have to try! I wish you all the best! 
@MeMyselfAndHer
Oh wow ..this was an interesting read for me... Surely not a fun feeling or something anyone would want to deal with. And yes, i agree, as if the rest weren't enough. I truly admire your willingness to post this. Its not always easy to share and talk about. I am just learning to myself.
@PoliteOcean
Thank you 😊
I am happy when someone can get something out of my experience ❤️
Friends :)
@Jamie0906 It sounds so weird, but ice. I think it's because I get really bad heat flashes. Distraction helps me as well. Things like watching television or playing games on my phone.
@XtinaSunshine I have actually heard about ice before 😃
@Jamie0906 My therapist recommended starting to compare things in the room ("The chair is brown but the table is black. That lamp is taller than the pot"). The logical portion of your brain shuts down during a panic attack, and the goal is to get it functioning again.
Another thing I've found that helps me is to sit putting both feet on the floor, and then push down with my legs into the floor. Somehow it helps my brain feel grounded.
Hope that helps! Panic attacks are no fun but there are lots of tools to get through them
It's hard for me to cope with panic attacks... I'd usually listen to some of my favourite songs, but it doesn't work lately.
@Jamie0906
I usually take long, deep breaths. I just close my eyes and take several long, deep breaths. Then after I've calmed down a little, I tell myself that I am in complete control of my life. I repeat this for as long as I need.
@Jamie0906
Something that really helps me during a panic attack is "Challenging Negative Thoughts" by asking myself if I have any proof that what I'm thinking/worrying about is actually a valid thing to be worried about in my situation.
For example, if I'm thinking that:
"I'm worried if what said at a party during a conversation the night before was weird and start to think that - if I could have been weird during that 1 conversation -- I was probably weird during the whole party & now everyone at that party probably thinks I'm a weird and I start a cycle of thoughts that fixate over how everyone thinks I'm weird"
Technique - Asking myself if I have proof for any of these thoughts that worry me:
I ask myself:
"Well - do you have any proof that ____everyone thinks you're weird_____?"
"No, I guess I don't have any direct evidence or proof of this."
"Is there anything of evidence that disproves that____everyone thinks you're weird_____?"
"I might... a lot of people seems to be willing to talk to me and if everyone thought I was weird would a bunch of people at that party be responsive to me if they ALL thought I was weird? I guess not..."
"What would ___Insert a friend's name____ think if you told them you were thinking that____everyone thinks I'm weird_____?"
"My friend Lila would probably tell me that that's not true & that she didn't think so or that I'm overthinking it."
"Will this matter a year from now? How about 5 years from now?"
"A year from now? If every person from the party I went to last night thinks I'm weird -- even if that IS true -- I don't think that 1 night experience will really matter 1 year from that night or 5 years from that night. So I guess, it's just 1 night -- but maybe I was just overthinking what everyone else thought and don't really need to be worried over it...."
@beautifulPudding72 Thank you. I'm thinking about it. This past year has showed me anything can seem one way one day and completely twisted the next. I will have to use that question whenow I have the anxiety attack.
"Will this matter a year from now? How about 5 years from now?"
I listen to music and watch funny videos of animals and children on youtube. It does help me calm down a bit. Once Im calm, I pray. I also look outside my window for the sunshine and try my best to tell myself that things will be fine.
I have panic attacks only when in crowds, extremely small spaces, and extremely loud areas, so my experiences are different from most. Having someone there to hug me normally helps me because it isolates me from my surroundings and helps me forget what area I'm in, but usually if the panic attack is bad enough my body just nearly shuts down and i start to lose blood pressure. Luckily I've never passed out, but I've had teachers and friends say it looked like I was close. In those situations I don't know what to do
@Youpnc
Mindfulness section on 7cups has some great audio to develope habit of refocussing at any moment no matter where you are or what you're doing. There's even "mindful" eating. Once learned you won't need to be near a computer or an app. Regular practice helps keep general anxiety at a lower level so that when you run into a stressful situation even if it's a phobia sort of thing you'll feel more in control of your response to it. Doesn't require any prior knowledge or focus level. Not sure what else to say other than not to wait until you feel an attack coming on to give it a try.