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How can I stop myself from having Panic Attacks in public?

11 Answers
Last Updated: 04/06/2020 at 6:16am
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Alex DS Ellis, MA, LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

Feeling depressed or anxious can be so overwhelming. I want to help you feel better and be able to enjoy life. You are not alone and you deserve emotional support.

Top Rated Answers
ThePeachTree
March 4th, 2015 2:13pm
Try to take slow easy breaths. Count 1 to 100. Think about something happy or that you enjoy doing or your pet. Excuse yourself to the nurse or bathroom if you are in school or working. It's okay to have panic attacks, you're not alone.
listeningandcaring
March 14th, 2015 6:33pm
Keep calm. Practise deep breathing and think of a happy or peaceful memory. If you focus hard enough, it should help.
HealingLotus
May 5th, 2015 6:11am
By conditioning yourself to become more comfortable with the idea of panic attacks in public, and working with desensitizing yourself.
JustNiall
May 24th, 2015 11:30pm
The advice I can give is, that people don't panic in the present. People panic when they imagine something bad happening to them in the future or in the past. This is why your panic attacks are almost always accompanied by some "what if...?" thought. If a dog just bit my leg, I don't say "what if a dogbite?". The reason you say "what if...?" is because what you fear is not actually happening! You need to engage in the activity prior to your attack. If your shopping, read the labels, check prices, ask yourself questions to keep your brain occupied. If your in the park, sit on a bench, go to the fountain and chuck a coin in the water. Engage with your surroundings, as it will help with the goal of you overcoming panic attacks.
LinaMae
June 30th, 2015 9:43pm
I usually try to take a minute, try taking deep breaths and thinking about something calming, being mindful of my body and why it is reacting the way that it is. Being mindful is a good way to
Teddy009
September 28th, 2015 7:00pm
You can't. But you know something? Firstly, they'll eventually go away. Then secondly, you can hide it from people because most of the time they don't even pay attention.
HelpfulListener34
November 16th, 2015 10:22pm
There is a technique called Progressive Muscle Relaxation Therapy. basically, you learn to control your breathing and the tension in your muscles as when you suffer anxiety, your muscles tense up. This is done by: 1. Breathing in with your nose and holding the breath for 2 seconds, and then breathing out through your mouth. Do this a few times to lower your heart-rate and calm your nerves. 2. Tense up your thight muscles, hold it, then release. Do the same with your toes (bu pointing towards your shoulders), your shins and your shoulders. Make a deep frown with your eyebrows and then release. Doing this regularly helps relieve feelings of tension from the body.
Anonymous
July 5th, 2016 1:12pm
Find a little thing that's comforting to you and helps you calm down and bring it with you in public
MissLisa
August 13th, 2019 3:59pm
Having panic attacks in public can be very frightening. You could always try not to fight the feeling as this can intensify your emotions. You could try to practice mindfulness. Being in the here and now. Try to regulate your breathing, focus on how quickly you are breathing firstly, then breathe in for 4, hold for 2 then release for 4. Repeat this over and over again. Often when we focus on our breathing it distracts us from other feelings. Then think about how your feet are pressing in the ground, find two noises around you and focus on things you can see. This is a grounding technique which helps you focus on the here and now.
Avery227
October 29th, 2019 1:36am
Panic attacks can come on suddenly and unfortunately, at inopportune times. I've dealt with this before personally. I find that by taking deep breaths when I realize that a panic attack is starting to come on helps. Also, there's a technique called grounding. In which you name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 good thing about yourself. This can help you to focus not on the impending panic, but on what's really happening inside. This technique may help you to have enough time to gather your thoughts and emotions and find a private place where you can break down if you need to. Sometimes I find if I do this technique properly I can manage without leaving. It's really about finding what works for you. You can find more support here on 7cups by joining a community or using the guides.
moothemoose
April 6th, 2020 6:16am
I do many things when I start to have a panic attack in public. I normally try to go to a place where not many people can see, I then close my eyes and try to relax. If that doesn't work, I then try to close my eyes and plug my ears and just take deep breathes. One of the best strategies, (at least for me) is to get a snack. Snacks always help. Just try not to think about the Panic Attack. Put something else on your mind like what your going to do that evening or something else like that.

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