Panic Attack
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- vitamins
My sister got panic attacks this weekend. Any advice on how to help her cope? Her insurance plan isn't that great, so therapy or the emergency room is a last resort for emergency.
- JayCee0
Scotch
- Continuity0
Breathing meditation helps a bit. Loads of resources on the net for it. She may want to consider alternatives to therapy or medication, like yoga.
- Rand0
don't resist, go with it
- CygnusZero40
Xanax or Valium. Other than that, just relax, breathe deep, try to think about something else. People dont die from panic attacks.
- pillhead0
What was the panic attack about.
- cannonball19780
- jkcannonball1978
- guy on the right of the table looks like the dude from kill bill who got his head loppedbigtrick
- Red on black, poison lack. Red on yellow, could kill a fellow.JackRyan
- Centigrade0
Don't go to emergency, they can't do anything for her. They'll give her a brown paper bag to breathe into and a pill thats all. It's a physical manifestation of a underlying emotional problem. If she has good friends tell her to talk it out with them or you. Much cheaper and more effective than a therapist (I'm guessing here). People with really good friends don't generally need therapy.
Of course I'm a designer and not a doctor. So...
- PonyBoy0
you have no choice but to ride out the attack...
... and immediately chill out when one comes on... and I do mean chill out... relax... sit... lay down... OR... a warm shower w/the lights out... ...long enough to get your wits back...The 'real' ones I deal w/regularly (just had one literally before getting out of bed about 20 mins ago) start off by overwhelming me w/this 'sadness' that consumes you... ... but it's all chemical. Deep chills... resulting in goosebumps etc... ... often finishing w/a few moments of vomiting if I don't control it up front and just RELAX the moment I feel one coming on...
I don't know about taking Xanax or any of that other shit - as they're the reason I have occasional attacks... ... I never had a panic attack until AFTER I started weening myself off antidepressants...
... now regardless of how long I've been off them - I still have the attacks.
The attacks can also be triggered by lack of sleep - or being exceptionally hung over etc... ... I've found the best thing to do to limit them is just eat right and stay on the meds the doc has prescribed this time around...
...my best to your sister, vity... ... oh - and get on some form of meds yourself you loopy bastard. :)
- Jesus, that sounds terrible. Best of luck with that.dMullins
- maquito0
I suggest prescribed meds.
Anxiolytics.
Alprazolam for eg.- Alprazolam = XanaxCygnusZero4
- Thanks! I didn't notice cause in my country meds are named by the drug and not by their commercial namemaquito
- JSK0
There is a medication that she can take. Its more of a relaxant but its usually taken after the fact.
Therapy works but its a long process. Few rapid treatments uses 3 week cycle of intense psycho analysis but must be committed to it.
One thing she needs to remember is that when she is having one, she needs to tell her self that she is having one and know that it will pass shortly. And she wont die from it.
Anti depressant does not help with panic attacks.
- Mal0
1. recognize you are having a panic attack
2. tell yourself you're not going to die
3. recognize that it will soon pass
- ckentish0
there was another thread all about this a while ago.
yep recognising the attack is key - ie realising it is the attack that is causing the problems and all the awful feelings/symptoms are not real, just temporary - you will not die! although often feel like you may.
horrible things and the worse when they become associated with certain situations - you then try to avoid those situations which can be extremely difficult in this day and age. Causes a cycle of panic attacks but also affecting your day to day living.
I havent had any for a while but did have a spell a few years ago.
also - alcohol i found was the worst cause - fine while drinking (and a temporary cure for the anxiety) but once sober and hungover 10 times worse... awful.
good luck with it all.
- Prev0
- lukus_W0
I've got a mate who swears by omega 3 - she takes a 1000mg high EPA/DHA omega 3 supplement.
Also, look into CBT -> cognitive behaviour therapy. It's popular, because it works.
- fyoucher10
I used to get them. Worst feeling I've ever had and had no clue how to stop it. Fucks with your brain. Went to the ER once, did all the tests, doctors, etc, and it ended up being caffeine. My heart would race, felt extremely anxious, and panicking at the same time.
I've developed caffeine sensitivity over the years. If I have more than one cup nowadays, I start getting 'that feeling' over again.
It was from drinking too much coffee (like 12 cups a day for years, an entire pot) and taking things like Creatine and Pre-Workout drinks with caffeine that was pretty much like a big Red Bull Energy Drink, etc...all messing with your metabolism, heart rate, etc.
I now drink decaf and stopped taking all workout enhancers (or whatever theyre called) and don't get them anymore.
That's just my specific situation though. Maybe see if your Sis is messing with too much caffeine and have it hold back on it for a while.
All in all, don't fuck with your body's natural chemical balance.
- rosem0
this may sound stupid, but try this book.
http://www.amazon.com/Breathing-…
I got the ebook off of itunes. I had the same problems with small anxiety attacks, and could control most of it by paying attention to my breathing.
- fooler20
I would get them regularly (but not as bad as ponyboy) when I used to smoke a bunch of weed. Sometimes it would happen when I was high and other times it would happen hours or days after I would smoke.
When it happened when I was sober it was like having a weed flashback, sometimes it would happen while giving presentations and I would get all red and sweaty and feel light headed. My mind would race about things I have done or wondering what people were thinking.
It hasn't happened it a long time but I hardly smoke anymore so I think that was my problem. Oh, that and lots of scotch.