Panic Attack Self Help

I can only share with you what a panic attack was like for me.

Usually I would have a panic attack when I was in a very high stress situation or when I was in a crowded mall or store.

I would feel my heart pounding in my chest. I would feel like I was an observer rather than being there if that makes sense. It was almost like a dream state. I would be going through the motions of being there physically but I didn't feel like I was really there. If someone talked to me, I would not be able to focus on what they were saying. I was almost as if I was deaf. I would see their mouth moving but I wouldn't be able to comprehend what they were saying. I would sweat and feel light headed. But the pounding in my heart was the worse. After a panic attack often my chest bone would ache. Almost as if it was bruised.

• feeling as if you can't breath or your heart is pounding in your chest.
• rapid heart beat
• sweating
• feeling of overwhelm
• shortness of breath
• feeling weak or lightheaded
• Fear of loosing control

This is just a short list. Panic is different for everyone.

For me I needed for figure out what the root cause of the panic was. For me it was two things. Worry and Fear (I was was suffering from post traumatic stress). So I needed to realized that I was worrying about something that most definitely would not happen. It took work, but I had to work on living in the now.

The other root cause for me was stress. I was under a huge amount of financial and personal stress at the time. I had to remove that stress. I did it by quitting a very high stress job. Now you don't need to be as drastic as I was, but you may be able to modify things.

Here are some things that may help you with your panic right away.

• Start to meditate - This was huge for me. I still meditate daily. It helps to keep your mind calm.
• Find a support group- When I first had panic, I found a wonderful group of women on line who all were suffering with panic and anxiety. It helped to know I wasn't alone.
• Find a professional to talk to - This isn't for everyone, but I found it helped to talk to a social worker. It was a safe way for me to vent. The more I vented the better I felt.
• Daily exercise- I know it doesn't sound like fun. But I promise if you take a walk everyday (even if it is just around the block) You will notice a huge difference in how you feel.
• Be positive. - It also helps to stay away from negative people as they will suck away your positive energy.