Dealing with Panic Attacks: Need Someone to Talk To

I'm also plagued by dangerous panic attacks that happen with no pattern or baseline. I went through a cutting edge program in 2018 to help me learn effective grounding techniques and ways to pull myself back to the present. What I can tell you is there are literally thousands of grounding techniques but it's different for every case. What works for me may not work for you and vice versa but I'm still going to share what helped me. I would recommend exploring what helps to calm you or distract you the most when you're having an acute attack. When I was having them really bad there were a few things that helped me pull myself out; very cold air (I literally stuck my head in the freezer because my panic attacks also cause acute respiratory distress and I stop breathing), getting down on all 4s and placing my head very close to or literally on the ground (helped me with the dizzying spinning sensation to have something constant and unmoving), holding therapy (having someone hold you REALLY TIGHT), ambience and nature sounds, and never understimate the power of keeping yourself busy because an effective distraction technique can pull me cold turkey out of one. I'm blessed to say the program I graduated from mostly worked and my panic attacks are now managed about 99% of the time. It took me 33 years to be able to say that. My disorder is a complex one created by being locked in a small dark space repeatedly at a very young age. So you can easily say I've dealt with this nightmare for as long as my memory goes back. I pray something I've said resonates and helps you in some way. And remember, you're never alone. That's the devil lying to you to isolate you from hope. ❤️

I've been there my friend! Don't worry. The key is to understand panic attacks aren't fatal. I'd say start talking to a therapist. They can help you stop catastrophic misinterpreting of thoughts which leads the panic cycle. Now I'm coming off meds and able to manage them.

So sorry that you're going through this. Just know that, even though you feel out of control during panic, your body still has control and is experiencing a natural part of life. Panic attacks are intense and scary, but your body knows what to do. I also find that the less I fight my panic and just let it happen, and experience it in the moment, the faster it passes. The more I try to calm down or fight it off, the worse mine gets. Also, I take Ativan for panic. It has to be prescribed, and I wouldn't recommend it for anything other than a "rescue" medication as it can be very difficult to come off of if you take it regularly. But, during really bad attacks, it's a lifesaver!

Oh no, bb, take lots of deep breaths. We have a lot in common, as I'm sure you do with tons of others on this app 💕🙌 what takes me out of it is focusing on something completely unrelated to what's making me panic, like watching a sad/funny video. Take care and be safe! ❤️