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My Anxiety Attack tricks
Well this will be my second post. I'm writing this while going through an 'episode', its starting to mellow down but thats why i'd thought i'd write this.
My way of helping myself get through an attack is a little odd maybe. I've tried breathing and stretching (similar to yoga or something) but those just dont seem to work 4 me..
So here it is...
When im having trouble breathing or breathing to fast/heavy i take a small glass of ice water and a paper towel..
i take the paper towel and double it over. Take the folded paper towel and cover the top of the glass. Holding it tight i try and suck the water through the papertowel, without breaking it, until i have a mouth full of water. Obviously swollow the water lol but in my opinion, i think it helps to slow my breathing through my nose and to concentrate on something besides any thoughts in my head...
So if anybody tries this and works let me know! also please share your own because i would like new and possibly better ways.
also...
Does anyone get tingling hands/forearms and have a trick for helping recover from that?
My way of helping myself get through an attack is a little odd maybe. I've tried breathing and stretching (similar to yoga or something) but those just dont seem to work 4 me..
So here it is...
When im having trouble breathing or breathing to fast/heavy i take a small glass of ice water and a paper towel..
i take the paper towel and double it over. Take the folded paper towel and cover the top of the glass. Holding it tight i try and suck the water through the papertowel, without breaking it, until i have a mouth full of water. Obviously swollow the water lol but in my opinion, i think it helps to slow my breathing through my nose and to concentrate on something besides any thoughts in my head...
So if anybody tries this and works let me know! also please share your own because i would like new and possibly better ways.
also...
Does anyone get tingling hands/forearms and have a trick for helping recover from that?
hmmm ive found that taking my pulse from my neck for a full minute and getting the actual number helps me to... helps me distract myself... do it while watching a timer or stop watch. its hard to keep count. but concentrate on the beats and what number you're on... make sure you keep count!!!
yeah gaming helps me too... after sex. and yes i guess its like the hyperventilation... give it a shot and let me know if it works though!
@nursegirl6572 -
saw a doctor he said he's sure its hyperthyroidism... my glands are enlarged, but theres no 100% until i get my blood tested. bummer to me because i have no insurance and the tests are 300$. and then when i do try and get insurance, i'll have a pre-existing and it'll be harder to get insured... gosh what a pickle
@nursegirl6572 -
saw a doctor he said he's sure its hyperthyroidism... my glands are enlarged, but theres no 100% until i get my blood tested. bummer to me because i have no insurance and the tests are 300$. and then when i do try and get insurance, i'll have a pre-existing and it'll be harder to get insured... gosh what a pickle
My personal opinion why that is working for you it is kind of like putting a small paper beg to someones mouth when they are hyperventalating and thats exactly what is happening to you when you have an anxiety attack. you think you cant breath so you try to cet more oxygen when in reality your getting to much. So, by doing what you are doing is acting in the same ways as the small paper bag there for leveling out your breathing.
I'll have to give this a shot, I just been laying down or just gaming to get my mind off it... Which never works once my mind knows it happening lol.
Good luck! It's nice to see updates on how people are doing and see them going through the process. Sadly, not too many people return after a post or two. If that meant that they were anxiety free and didn't need us, then I'm all for it...but usually that isn't the case!
So glad you're making this happen for yourself and getting help! It's such an important step!
So glad you're making this happen for yourself and getting help! It's such an important step!
Tight ***? Definitely when I'm anxious! LOL
SO glad you found a doctor...always the best thing to do...rule out a medical cause 1st. Thyroid issues are one of several common maladies that can mimic anxiety and panic symptoms. Couple things...one, don't be overly concerned about the thyroid testing. Even if the doc finds something, thyroid disorders are common and easily treatable in most people. Also, just sort of mentally prepare yourself that IF your tests all come back normal, that you still may be facing an anxiety disorder which you'll need to address. Of course, neither is great, but in the long run...of course it would be optimal to not have a physical illness, although many of us wish for that sometimes because it would be nice to pinpoint something to blame for our symptoms that has a "fix".
Let us know...when are you seeing the doc?
SO glad you found a doctor...always the best thing to do...rule out a medical cause 1st. Thyroid issues are one of several common maladies that can mimic anxiety and panic symptoms. Couple things...one, don't be overly concerned about the thyroid testing. Even if the doc finds something, thyroid disorders are common and easily treatable in most people. Also, just sort of mentally prepare yourself that IF your tests all come back normal, that you still may be facing an anxiety disorder which you'll need to address. Of course, neither is great, but in the long run...of course it would be optimal to not have a physical illness, although many of us wish for that sometimes because it would be nice to pinpoint something to blame for our symptoms that has a "fix".
Let us know...when are you seeing the doc?
so you got a tight ... lol jkjkjk
actually found a doctor to see me for a decent price.
he said it sounds like hyperthyroidism. i feel like that could be accurate and maybe the symptoms are leading to a panic attack. but now im panicing and more anxieous because of his opinion
actually found a doctor to see me for a decent price.
he said it sounds like hyperthyroidism. i feel like that could be accurate and maybe the symptoms are leading to a panic attack. but now im panicing and more anxieous because of his opinion
There are a million techniques out there, and like joliecrzy said, finding the ones that work for you is what is important.
I'll share one with you that my therapist taught me that always helped during a panic attack. You choose one muscle at a time and consciously relax it. Starting neck/shoulders and working your way down to your feet. We're so tense during heightened anxiety that often this will help move things along. I also think it has a lot to do with being distracted. I think that is an aspect that makes a lot of these exercises helpful. We're so preoccupied with our anxiety during an attack that getting our minds off of it is such an advantage!
Also, for some reason, relaxing my....um..."rectal" muscles was VERY helpful. My therapist actually told me to do this, even seperate from relaxing other muscles. I have to say that it really worked for me. Weird maybe...but I could care less!
Search the forums, online, books...experiment with different techniques and see what helps you. It doesn't matter if it's standing on your head naked...as long as it works. Well, obviously you wouldn't want to do that in public for obvious reasons...but you get the idea! ;0)
I'll share one with you that my therapist taught me that always helped during a panic attack. You choose one muscle at a time and consciously relax it. Starting neck/shoulders and working your way down to your feet. We're so tense during heightened anxiety that often this will help move things along. I also think it has a lot to do with being distracted. I think that is an aspect that makes a lot of these exercises helpful. We're so preoccupied with our anxiety during an attack that getting our minds off of it is such an advantage!
Also, for some reason, relaxing my....um..."rectal" muscles was VERY helpful. My therapist actually told me to do this, even seperate from relaxing other muscles. I have to say that it really worked for me. Weird maybe...but I could care less!
Search the forums, online, books...experiment with different techniques and see what helps you. It doesn't matter if it's standing on your head naked...as long as it works. Well, obviously you wouldn't want to do that in public for obvious reasons...but you get the idea! ;0)
actually it was an idea my roomate told me about to cure hiccups... and it worked for hiccups so i thought maybe it has something to do with the slower breathing... and it helped for me. just thought i'd share, hoping others would share their techniques.
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