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zeroooo

555d

I usually have 1-3 panic attacks everyday because of my emetophobia. Sometimes I feel extremely anxious about stomach aches, eating certain foods, taking medication which is what usually triggers my panic attacks. How do you deal with panic attacks like these?

Top reply
    • zeroooo

      554d

      @Janelle21 Thanks!!

    • Janelle21

      554d

      I highly recommend reading the emetophobia handbook by Ken Goodman. There are a lot of great techniques for combating emetophobia

      • zeroooo

        554d

        @Janelle21 Thanks!!

    • SmileySnail

      555d

      I generally try and recline slightly somewhere so I am no longer tensing my abs and making stomach cramps worse. Then I do some slow breathing and statistical work, like "how many times out of the last 100 times I ate this particular food did I get sick" and the answer is generally zero because I typically avoid foods that I have gotten food poisoning from previously (scallops, at the moment). Then I just placebo effect my way out of it, I'll drink some ginger ale, or take an antacid (can't throw up acid if there is no acid!) or start sipping water and pay attention to the cool liquid going down... Then I distract myself heavily and usually after a half hour or so I'm not shaking any more. I used to take a benzo for panic attacks but then I got worried about dependency so I stopped. If I'm REALLY worried, I go sit on the freezing cold floor of my bathroom so I'm safe (at least in an easily-cleanable place) in case anything happens, and generally the boredom and cold will annoy me worse than the panic after about 20 minutes and I'll be able to get back to regular life.

      • zeroooo

        555d

        @SmileySnail Thank you so much!!

☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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