- Date posted
- Yesterday
Cold exposure for extreme panic + seeking advice
My OCD is relatively tame compared to when it was at its worst, but the other night I found myself having one of, if not, the worst panic attack I ever had. I was completely hysterical one night, and couldn’t breathe too well due to the uncontrollable sobbing. My body was so tense from the anxiety and trying to withhold my rage for that prolonged period of time and my body was responding to it like some overly traumatic experience, as in, I felt like my blood was vibrating all throughout my body and I lost a lot of motor control due to uncontrollable shaking (couldn’t operate my phone efficiently to text or call for help) and my hands started involuntarily opening, all while not being able to catch my breath. It felt akin to where you’re doing extreme resistance training and your muscle memory moves your limbs on their own, but also uncontrollable shaking. Thankfully, this was an oh fuck moment and I eventually got myself to lock in. I attributed this to just be from tensing so much and anxiety induced, and sure enough I looked up my symptoms (these seem to be common with extreme panic attacks) so I’m not going to obsess with it and wonder if there’s something physical going on. I’m wondering if anyone else experienced something similar and how to thwart them off before it gets unmanageable? I found that subjecting your entire body to cold water (cold shower) literally shocks and as resets your system. I always knew that cold exposure was sworn by for muscle recovery, stress, mood, (every UFC fighter does this and it biologically activates your diving(?) reflex which slows your heart rate) but I never thought about doing it during a panic attack, it just never crossed my mind. This is a go to method for panic for me now (and then soothing with hot water after the few minutes of abrupt ice cold water) but I’d like some for when I’m in public, or some place where a shower isn’t available. Deep breathing has helped me in the past but I’m especially out of practice and i find it impossible when I’m unconsolably sad or mad. So yeah, if anyone has some healthy coping mechanisms, some for in panic and some to nip it in the bud. Hope the cold exposure helps for some people just be mindful of falling if you get into an ice cold shower because it kind of takes your legs out for a second 😭