Panic Attacks

[Relaxedstate]

Panic is actually a very normal (and common) physiological process. It is one that has evolutionarily helped us survive (fight or flight). The first time you experience one can be very concerning as it is very unlike any other experience. Of course, in our lived reality this wonderful mechanism can be quite inopportune (eg., during class time). Despite the massive levels of unpleasantness (and general feelings of doom) they are not something to worry to much about. If it is something that continually concerns you, then I recommend a clinical psychologist who practices cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This form of therapy is tremendously successful at reducing panic/anxiety symptoms.

You may have stressors/anxieties in your life that you are simply unaware/unconscious about (everyone does to some degree). We also tend to have a disconnect between our physiological states (eg.s increased heart rate, hyperventalation, drowsiness) and their cognitive/emotional counterparts (anxiety). The caffeine/lack of sleep could have put your body in a state of hyper arousal, which is much more likely to become associated with an anxiety response.

Fortunately, a combination of exposure to your anxiety triggers (facing your fear so to speak) and mindfulness (good cognitive practices) can allow someone to eliminate all panic and anxiety symptoms. Easier said than done, but the process can be fun for some.

Deep, controlled breathing can be very relaxing. Focus on you breathing, but just let your thoughts wander where they may; do not worry about 'controlling' them or trying to force them out, as this is not how consciousness works. Let them be, and become comfortable/mindful that we cannot control everything in life.

@xGunShow

 

[rev0lver]

Just so people know, panic attacks are not the same as being stressed and freaking out about something like a "i'm having a panic attack about this" saying. The physical symptoms let you know it's a real panic attack. You breathing becomes uncontrollably heavy, your skin loses color, you feel numbness/dizziness, your heart starts racing, your muscle movement can slow (including speaking) and your vision can start to go out. It doesn't even need to be triggered by a stressor, but can just come by feeling unusual, like with tiredness+being overly caffeinated. Once for me it came just by a doctor rubbing gel on my head for a procedure and I didn't feel uncomfortable about it or anything at all. A lot of things can cause it.

I remember the first time it happened to me when I smoked, I left my friend's car to go in my house to find some water and started losing control of my perception. My peripheries started going black and I lost balance. I remember when I turned around to close the door I slammed my head into the frame 3 times trying to shut it. It happened once more after that, but since then I've been able to control it when I feel the symptoms set in. You just need to be aware of what it is and that no matter how uncomfortable it feels nothing truly bad is happening to you, that knowledge alone can help ward it off.

 

[Gesture Required Ahead]

Yeah, it can mess up with the Fight or Flight response, causes accelerated hormone secretions that accelerate and disrupt normal digestive levels. It basically makes you go poop a lot as if you have a loose stomach. Most of the times it's not severe, but it's uncomfortable as fuck.

How do you deal with it? I normally just step outside for a bit if it's a place and if it's like a REALLY crowded bus/elevator or something, I close my eyes and try to micronap. Helps very little but it's something

 

[Mr. Mileena]

How do you deal with it? I normally just step outside for a bit if it's a place and if it's like a REALLY crowded bus/elevator or something, I close my eyes and try to micronap. Helps very little but it's something

I don't think my anxiety comes from social anxiety. I feel most of it just comes to the fact I have no control of anyone or anything that can happen. I can only control what I do. Maybe once or twice did I get that at work because it was just so packed. I had to go home one time, but, I just tell myself once I'm home, it'll go away. It's all in the mind and I can't let it beat me.

You can get aggressive with yourself and just tell yourself "fuck you anxiety, you aren't beating me this time" Little things like that help a lot.

 

[Gesture Required Ahead]

I don't think my anxiety comes from social anxiety. I feel most of it just comes to the fact I have no control of anyone or anything that can happen. I can only control what I do. Maybe once or twice did I get that at work because it was just so packed. I had to go home one time, but, I just tell myself once I'm home, it'll go away. It's all in the mind and I can't let it beat me.

You can get aggressive with yourself and just tell yourself "fuck you anxiety, you aren't beating me this time" Little things like that help a lot.

Another thing is that when I manage to calm myself down. While I am personally collected and I have no more signs of physical discomfort, my palms get really sweaty. Which makes me wear gloves very often (but can't during summer so :/)

Knees weak, arms are heavy. There's vomit on my sweater already, mom's spaghetti.

 

[MKF30]

I can relate, it's not something easy to talk about but I also have anxiety for the past 7 years. Just kind of came out of nowhere, of course worries of life and such contribute but lack of sleep definitely contributes. When I don't get enough sleep I feel like utter shit the next day and very jumpy, edgy. It sucks.

It's important in general but especially to people who suffer from anxiety, and really bad panic/anxiety attacks are scary and suck(especially if you're newer to them) you feel like you're going to die, horrible feeling.

I also hate it as someone who suffers from it when you tell someone and they're like "oh I have stress too" no, not the same. Everyone gets stressed out, but anxiety attacks are another animal entirely. Also depending on who you are you may have similar but different symptoms, be it dizzyness, numbness in arms, legs weak, heart beating fast, trouble breathing, bad tingly sensations, list goes on...

Breathing exercises help for sure, meditation, exercise also things that get your mind off of it. Playing MK or something though may not be the best as that can get your heart pumping and yes even games can provoke panic attacks(speaking from past experience) So sometimes playing a game isn't the best unless it's a calming game lol like pool or something where winning doesn't matter like minecraft or something.