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How can I calm down during a panic attack?

298 Answers
Last Updated: 12/29/2020 at 6:10pm
How can I calm down during a panic attack?
★ This question about Panic Attacks was starred by a moderator on 5/12/2016.
1 Tip to Feel Better
Canada
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I specialise in respectfully helping people navigate their way through trauma and relationship issues. The adversities in our life can actually transform us.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
December 17th, 2015 4:19pm
Breathing techniques always helps. Just close your eyes and focus on your breath as you breathe in and out slowly while you count to ten. Also, you can try acupuncture techniques. Google a couple of them. And if you are feeling nauseous or faint, then try keeping one of those smelling salts or something with you all the time.
Anonymous
December 17th, 2015 6:55pm
You can help the person by doing the following: Stay with the person and keep calm. Offer medicine if the person usually takes it during an attack. Move the person to a quiet place. Don't make assumptions about what the person needs. ... Speak to the person in short, simple sentences. Be predictable.
milkteeth
December 17th, 2015 9:17pm
This is a hard thing to do, so don't beat yourself up if it takes time. Most people and mental health professionals will recommend belly breathing, which is where you use your diaphragm to breathe. It's a healthier, stress-relieving way to breathe that humans are supposed to breathe but don't tend to anymore because of stress. Generally, you inhale so that your stomach inflates, not your chest, and exhale so that it falls. Focusing on this breathing helps your muscles relax and calm you down. Afterwards, I generally ground myself by focusing on objects around me and naming them in my head or out loud, or touching them if I can. There are many other techniques, but these help me most with my panic attacks.
Nakuu
December 18th, 2015 1:35am
Take a deep breath and count to ten, try to do something to distract yourself. Like reading a book or listening to some music.
Anonymous
December 18th, 2015 3:58am
Depending on how severe. If you can still think somewhat clearly, my personal way of handling it is praying. However, I do know when they are so bad you can not think at all, been there done that. Close your eyes, picture your favorite place, count to 10 and take slow deep breaths (In through the nose and out through the mouth.)
victoriousSoul94
December 18th, 2015 7:54pm
The best way to calm down during a panic attack is simply to breathe. Taking large, deep, slow breathes forces your heart to calm down and slows your brain's release of adrenaline, calming you down. If you can close your eyes or cover your ears, do anything you can to block out whatever is making you panic. Another thing you can try is to visualize a place in your head that you feel is calming and safe, going into intense detail to visualize your safe space. All of these things have helped me deal with my own panic attacks and I've been told they have helped other people as well. Something I like to tell myself during my panic attacks is three deep breathes is enough to change your life.
philosophycoffee
December 18th, 2015 10:05pm
Its best to try not to even act like its happening, it will just alert your brain and make things work. Try to do thinggs as usual like reading, doing dishes, ect. alos dont run from the area your in, because again it will just alert your brain and you will freak out even more. Another thing is to hold your breath for around 12 seconds and breath out ( repeat as needed) this will help regualte your breathing :)
Kenzielynn
December 20th, 2015 3:49pm
There are some different stos that you can take to calm down during a panic attack. Breath in for 4 seconds through your nose, hold for 2 and exhale through your mouth for 6. Listen to music. Anything that you find relaxing
bouncyPower95
December 20th, 2015 6:06pm
Different things work for different people during panic attacks. Some common things are doing the traditional breathing exercises, many of which can be followed on a youtube video, or just done by yourself. Something else that's been popular and helpful lately are anxiety applications. They have programs that will walk you through different things to do in order to calm down and feel under control.
NoCranberryJuice
December 20th, 2015 8:22pm
Breath deeply, tell yourself that its alright and it will be over soon. It always does. You don't have to feel guilty or weak, panic attacks are normal and they happen to so many people. There so many circumstances in life that we can't control. When you are having a panic attack, try deep breathing for atleast a minute. Inhale deeply, exhale slowly. Firstly, look around yourself and notice three things around you that you like. Touch them and remind yourself that its just a normal day with normal things around you, it isn't a disaster, everything will become fine. Now try making a list of everything you think can be the reason for your panic attack. Try to list all you can do to avoid things from still going wrong. Then list your consequences if things DO go wrong. YES. Trust me, you will much better when you face the thought of these consequences sooner rather than later. Now try to write all possible solutions and ways you can handle those consequences. Lastly, you have to try and make things better because no one else will. And also that nothing will change unless you really try.
crispNutella54
December 23rd, 2015 9:23am
The way to calm down is to find a safe place. Mine is personally my bedroom. But if your somewhere you can't go to the bathroom and sit on the toilet and think of a happy place.
enchantingForever73
December 23rd, 2015 4:50pm
taking deep breaths,lying on the surface...and not getting tensed are some of the ways in which a panic attack can be faced calmly.
therealgingerninja123
December 23rd, 2015 8:12pm
One of the best ways to calm down during a panic attack is to acknowledge your breath, and to breathe deeper. Hyperventilating tends to make things worse. The next thing you could do is to put your panic into words, to explain to yourself why you are panicking. This makes it seem a lot less scary, and makes it seem more reasonable. For example, if you were panicking, and you knew you had a big test coming up, you could tell yourself that you were panicking over the test, and that it is not just you going crazy.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2015 5:40pm
For me think of my breathing like a beat that I need to keep at a steady pace. Usually I count in my head and try to keep the beat steady. Also try to focus on yourself and no things around you.
enigmaticSunshine79
December 24th, 2015 7:46pm
One thing that really helps is taking breathing exercises. If you're sitting down, get up and walk around..
DreamersDisease
December 24th, 2015 10:11pm
What I do during a panic attack is go to a dark quiet place. I put on headphones and listen to my favorite music. Hope that helps.
Anonymous
December 24th, 2015 11:51pm
There are many ways to calm down during a panic attack. 1) Count to 10 until you calm down 2) Take multiple slow, deep, full breaths 3) Stretch 4) Listen to music 5) Write what is panicking you down 6) Talk to someone about it.
Nicoll
December 25th, 2015 11:19am
For me it's really helpful when there's someone around and hold me tight, then some breath exercises. You can try to close your eyes and take a deep breath, imagine something that calm you down.
StormyAngles18
December 25th, 2015 8:19pm
The things you can do to help calm you down during a panic attack is... 1)Deep breathing, it may seem silly but if you deep breathe it lowers your heart rate ad relaxes you. 2) Meditation it has been known recently that meditaton is not only good for your mental health its also good for your physical health. 3)Journaling. Write down each time this happens ad right down whats going through your mind and how you are feeling physically Hope this helps Much love
Anonymous
December 27th, 2015 4:48pm
You have to breath in and out slowly, and sit down for a minute. Focus on your breathing and try to make you're head empty
CatieCatWhispers
December 27th, 2015 6:46pm
One method is to breathe into a paper bag which brings your pH level back to a healthy range. Another is to stop what you are doing and focus on your breathing. Believe it or not, the more you focus on it, the more you begin to watch it slow down and calm. When your breathing in calmer, your body begins to follow suit since it is no longer registering that it needs to fight or flight.
Anonymous
December 30th, 2015 2:42am
I try to focus on one thing. An object in the room, the feel of the carpet, a clock, etc... I look at it and try to slow my breathing until I can see it clearly. I also hug myself tightly and pull my shirt taunt. The close, tight feeling is scientifically proven to calm people down.
WhisperingPiano
December 30th, 2015 10:29pm
Everyone is different and different techniques will work from one person to another. Below is what I find helpful. Get up slowly and move around. Panic attacks make you want to scream and run in all directions. There is nothing wrong with moving about to help ease the mind. Drink water Put your hand on your belly and take deep breaths. Feel the air extending your belly and deflating it as you move out. This shows your mind that you are actually breathing and not suffocating.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 12:06am
You need to remove your self from a situation, or if that isn't possible, sit down and breathe. Imagine you are in a jungle, face to face with a lion. If you run, the lion will chase you and keep chasing you. If you wait and just keep calm, the lion will leave. A panic attack is the metophorical lion.
Anonymous
December 31st, 2015 4:00am
Lots of people have panic attacks but a few can calm down so when you have a panic attacks just close your eyes and don't think about nothing and breath deeply inhale in 4 sec then don't breath for 2 sec then exhale in 6 sec and I'm sure you will feel better
listeningturtle18
December 31st, 2015 5:16pm
Try to stop yourself from getting all anxious and sit down on your bed or chair or just stand still, do some deep breathing, and calmly sort out the problem.
AD20
January 1st, 2016 8:09am
You breathe and try to distract yourself with other things. Try to talk to a good friend of yours that you can trust and go to for anything to help you calm down.
Anonymous
January 1st, 2016 2:55pm
You could listen to your favourite music or do breathing exercises such as breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth slowly
Lalaxoxo
January 1st, 2016 5:49pm
Here's something that may help. Look around. Find 5 things you first see. Find 4 things you can touch Find 3 things you can smell Find 2 things you can hear Find 1 thing you can taste Also, I find relaxing the body by listening to relaxing music or meditating is good. For those who believe in Tarot, turning to them can be quite relaxing. For those who doesn't, then a bath may help before bed. It helps calm the body. Also, i'd recommend a lush bath bomb with that! XO
TinyMermaid
January 2nd, 2016 12:40am
I'd suggest focusing on some activity that requires your physical, and distract yourself at the same time: Anything from jumping jacks to ripping a bunch of paper apart, If needed, remind yourself that this will go away very soon and it will all be okay again.