Triggering: Panic attck?

[Ella.x]

I don't know if this is in the right place but I think I;m having a panic attack. I've got the following symptoms: feelings of dread, trembling, hyperventilating, palpitations, breathlessness, tingling in my fingers, dizziness, ringing in my ears.
I've had a few panic attacks before, but this is the worst I've had in years. I can't make it stop. Can someone please tell me how to stop it. I've tried breathing into a paper bag, but that just makes me panic more. I honestly don't know how to calm myself down and I can't find anything useful on the internet.
Anyone?

[Nostalgia]

I find when I am having a panic attack sucking on a mint or taking small sips of water helps me.

[Ella.x]

thankyou. I'll try that. Do you reckon alcoho, makes it worse? coz I've had a couple of glasses of wine and I don't know whetehr to drink a bit more to relax me, or to stop drinking.

[Lottie]

Alcohol is a depressant. Some people can find that it heightens anxiety though.
I would suggest walking up and down a corridoor/street and counting your steps. Breathing in as you put the first foot down and breathing out when the next foot hits the floor. Make sense?
Stand still.
Step forward with one foot (breathe in)
step forward with the other foot (breathe out)

Just ensure that you don't walk too fast.

[Ella.x]

Okay, I managed to stop it in the end. However, I feel like something inside me has snapped and now I'm alternating between laughing manically and crying (kind of wierd...) Is this a normal response to high level of stress/anxiety? Coz I'm supposed to be at work in 10 hours haha! I genuinly think I have lost the plot! I'm going crazy. I've cut all up my arm (mostly scratches, but some are deep), I've hit myself with a hammer, made plans to kill myself, binged on food&purged and now I'm laughing like a crazyyyyyy. I honestly do not know what to do in this situation lol! This is mental. I'm pretty certain I need to get help because this is ridiculous, but I'm not sure how urgent this is or whether it's normal for being stressed haha!

(as a side note, maybe this should be moved to mental health - seeing as I'm mental!)

[Palmolive]

Hi Ella.

Firstly I am glad you're coming here for help, that's really great. I also want to tell you that you're not 'mental'.

As for panic attacks, there are horrible to experience and in bad cases people can feel like they're having a heart attack. Some people fear they're going to die. They can be horrendous. I would advise you to do deep breathing both when you feel a panic attack coming on as well as if that goes in to an actual attack. Keep taking deep breathes in through your nose and out through your mouth. Maybe count 1-2-3-4 in and 1-2-3-4-5 out. I know that helps me. Not is it just helping you regulate your breathing but it's also distracting you mind by counting. A panic attack is a normal response to things such as fear or stress and it seems like you're going through a lot recently which could be the trigger to this. It's important to keep telling yourself that you are okay, that this is not going to hurt you and that you have gotten through one of these before and you can do it again. My doctor once told me to make a 'safe place' such as being on your faveourite holiday, being on a beach alone where no one or anything can hurt you, snuggled up in a warm bed and feeling comfort can really help calm you down so that might be worth a shot.

As for the other issues such as the plans to kill yourself and self harm, I really want to encourage you to talk to someone about this. I know things are hard for you right now and I get that, I really do, and I am not saying you going to counseling and just talking to someone is going to solve everything because you're going to have to put a lot of hard work, dedication and time in to this to get through this but you can get through it and ultimately you are in control. If you're not going to get through and you attempt to kill yourself, that is stopping your recovery and you stopping yourself from getting better. I know it's hard but you're in control of this and you CAN beat this. Don't ever be alone because having someone to talk to can really help and having them support you through this could be really beneficial for you.

Keep going, you are worth more than this.

Jessie

[nyasia2011]

I have panic attacks all the time and i was hospitalized when i had one because my hands and feet were extremely stiff. mine last a long time and its very hard for me to get calm but the doctor gave me some pills that work really good. when ur having an attack u take it and it gets u calm and puts u asleep. i rarely take them but when i have a really bad attack i take them and they help alot

[brittenynichole]

I have anxiety, & I get panic attacks all the time. For me, the two best things to do are to listen to a comforting song (I have special playlists on my iPod for things like depression, panic attacks, etc..) and the other is what I call a "safe person" I have one person that the second I feel anything, I text them & they can calm me down.
Another thing you might want to consider doing is finding a "comfort zone" ; take a special place & go there. I like to sit my the creek across from my house, or at school I'll go to the guidance counselor or wellness center and just breath and vent. It could be from something going on, and talking to someone who will listen is always helpful.