Help. Panic attacks.

[bitza]

i work with a dude who suffers panic attacks; what his doctor told him to do when he's got one coming on, is go outside to the parking lot and drink a couple beers. i am completely serious

[haegemonia]

or just have some advice on how one can chill the fuck out? Can't seem to sleep it off right now

get sexy

Rules of life.

1. Be Handsome
2. Be attractive
3. Don't be unattractive.

[MagicManICT]

Smoke weed. Lots of weed. So much weed your head explodes.

And then they pull a 'whitey' and are in a worse position (unless they faint) than they were in before they started!
Good advice



Kids: Smoking weed is more likely to give you panic attacks than cure them.

I'll second this. Not only that, marijuana is a hallucinatory. Smoke enough, and those hallucinations will send you over the edge.

On the flip side, it can be more helpful than the Rx drugs in some cases (I believe I had fewer issues with mania and depression when I was getting high on occassion). Check with a doctor if it's legal in your neck of the woods. The research is still out in most cases for using it for psychiatric measures.

Also, check with your local public health services. Most communties in the US, Canada, and other countries that have major medical facilities and public funded medicine usually have 24 hour hotlines you can call to talk to someone about panic attacks, suicide, or other situations where you just don't have a grasp on the situation.

Also, love them xanax... harsh on the body, though.

bitza: that works if the person in question doesn't have depression issues. Alcohol just sends people with chronic forms of depression into a tailspin. The point is that the alcohol (like the Rx pills) is a downer and calms the body. The problem is that alcohol is a depressant on top of calming the person (whereas the pills shouldn't cause depression in most patients).

Another thing I've found helps: physical exertion (thanks for reminding me of it Jackard). Sex is the best because not only do you wear the body out, you have a rush of natural hormones that reduce anxiety and just make you feel good, but it's hard to panic and become tense when you're physically and mentally exhausted from a workout.

Rules of life.

1. Be Handsome
2. Be attractive
3. Don't be unattractive.

Rules to NOT live by when you deal with anxiety. The problem is already about worrying about shallow things (and not-so-shallow things) too much. Don't add to the problem.

[brohammed]

I find having a wank chills me out quite well. Of course that may not work if you're too panicked to wank.

[edubdube]

seek medical advice from a professional rather than a bunch of trolls. that should ease some of the panic.

[painhertz]

So long story short, I need to make it through tonight so I can go to the doctor in the morning.

I've been having panic attacks all week, some minor others worse. Don't know why.

I'm freaking the hell out right now and don't know how to calm myself down.

Does anyone here get panic attacks? or just have some advice on how one can chill the fuck out?

Can't seem to sleep it off right now

I've had Generalized Anxiety Disorder for about 13 years now (Anxiety/Panic attacks) and if you are old enough. Beer. One 24 ounce can of Budweiser will slap that panic attack shit to the curb.

Now granted, drinking isn't a cure and you'll most likely need to get onto something Like Paxil or another SSRI but if you just can't stand it right now? Yeah, get drunk. If you are too young? Hmmm.... I've found that throwing ice cold water in my face stops them to an extent, also, anything really active will. Go run around the block, play some basketball, clean your house. basically anything structured that can get your mind off of it. Worse comes to worse? Bizarre as it may sound? Force yourself to vomit. Tickle the back of your throat and picture eating roadkill. I assure you that once you are done vomiting your panic attack will be gone. Judging by the responses I can see that none of these people have had them or they wouldn't be remotely as glib about them as they are. They are pure hell on Earth. Hope you get better dude.

[Eemerald]

i hope its eased off and you're feeling better

[edubdube]

using drugs like alcohol or marijuana to alleviate your panic attacks is not recommended, imho.

combine the breathing with some other meditative techniques, things like mindfulness and present moment awareness. and like painhertz said, speak to your physician about an ssri of some sort.

the temporary stress relieving effects of alcohol will wear off after a while and will in fact increase your susceptibility to panic attacks and anxiety in the long run. also if you are already experiencing anxiety then you are at higher risk for developing addiction problems. if you don't already have one, that is.

[Saif_Mahlik]

Don't smoke weed, could make you more paranoid and increase panic attacks.

Just breath slowly and reinforce in your mind psychologically everything is ok and that thoughts cannot hurt you if it happens again

If it continues see a doctor or a psychiatrist

[dagrimreefah]

Smoke weed. That always helps my "panic attacks".