- User type
- OCD Conqueror
- Date posted
- 4y
Yes. The best thing, I’ve found is grounding and breathe work. Forcing yourself to take a long deep inhalation, holding it and then exhaling fully and completely. This gets the necessary oxygen to your brain which is trying to reroute it to your muscle for fight/flight. It also activates your parasympathetic nervous system that cues your brain to relax.
Update: guys I’m feeling so much better! Shout out to all of you for the tips! I just focused on breathing and did some guided meditation allowing the thoughts to leave. Kudos to the NOCD community!
Panic Attack used to be my middle name. Now, I'm afraid it is going to be again as I am going to start the ERP treatment/therapy next week. I know/ pretty certain at least, that when I am done with it I will be a whole lot better. Maybe you should look into it as well. As far as coping with the panic attack I usually just breathe and hang in there, and keep telling myself it will be over soon, and that It won't kill me, it is just very uncomfortable. Hang in there, you will beat it.
I’ve experienced this many many times. I feel like I’ve tried every method in the book, but one that I have found actually a little helpful has been (weirdly enough) eating salt. Like a restaurant salt packet or something all at once on your tongue. It’s really odd, yeah, but it overwhelms the brain with sensory overload and can help distract you enough to snap you out of the panic attack.
Hot baths with Epsom salt, breathing deeply, burning sage (don't make the smoke alarm go off😂). Passion flower, Lemon balm, Valerian Root, Kava Tea and most of all, CBD. (Disclaimer: Although these supplements help me personally, you will need to find what is right for you and your health. I am not a doctor. ) The Calm App. Exercise (Even just walking) Also, burning essential oils, like Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedarwood and Sage. It's hard and can be very confusing and disorienting. Try to remember, thoughts are only that. Thoughts. All the best.
I take Valerian Root
Ice helps me or putting something cold on my neck. If I am really lost I focus on what I can feel and see.
All of these tips are things I use! I have panic disorder along with my ocd so I have a lot of panic attacks. I really want to give a shout out for exercise to help with all mental health stuff. I just do a small walk but it really does help. I like to do a walking meditation while I do my walk. I use the Calm app. It’s great!
I agree. Exercise is so important. Out of all the craziness it is something that you CAN control.
I have existential ocd and dpdr and my mind keeps telling me I’m dying or will die. Is dpdr even manageable?
Hey! Just wondering if anyone else has dealt with something similar. A bit of background: I have POTS and had a horrible flare up in March which led to us calling ambulances; I started on meds which didn’t agree with me; the POTS flare passed and left me with horrific anxiety on a level I’ve never experience before. I was still able to go out and do every day things like grocery shopping and see my nan but nothing more. Fast forward a few weeks my uncle dies and the grief and stress triggered a massive migraine, and bc I’ve never had a migraine before it scared me and I thought I was having a stroke or something. The migraine passed but my brain latched onto the fear of it and how it felt to have one. Long story short since the beginning of the year it’s been one thing after another. A few days ago I had the worst panic attack ever downstairs in my house (felt like I couldn’t feel my arm or face) and it sent me into a spiral. I am now terrified to leave the house in case I have a panic attack outdoors, it just feels so unsafe. I went to the shop with my dad yesterday and felt so bad, but i managed to do it and I was proud. Tried again to go to a different shop closer to home because I was already feeling bad, and it was horrific. I started having a panic attack, felt faint, my arm and face went tingly, so we went back home. I’m trying to challenge myself every day but I am really really struggling and not sure what to do at this point. I tried fluoxetine but had horrible side effects (which included a horrific dip in my mood) so I had to stop them. I’m seeing my doctor tomorrow to tell her everything and explain how difficult it is, but I’m just SO scared all the time. It’s like my body is constantly scanning for danger. It’s got to a point where it’s been going on for so long I’m just desperate to try anything to help me feel just a little bit better. I’m not asking for much, I just want to be able to go to the shop without feeling like I’m going to die. My question is has anyone else dealt with anything like this? The panic attacks are terrifying, and even though I know they’re “not dangerous” it does not help because they’re still so so scary and even worse when I’m out of my bedroom because if I’m by myself I can kinda lie down, do some breathing and talk myself round. I just don’t know how to get over this and I’m so so sad because I’m 31 and scared of being stuck like this forever 😭
I don't have panic attacks at this moment, but i realized if i will have again I don't know how to stop it, there's people who say "trying to stop it feeds more" and that's why i get stuck with it cause then i try to sit with it and i just get stuck or go with the panic. Many times when i try to stop feeding itit gets worse, i think that im doing something wrong or i just feel like it does not work cause when i try to stop the panic gets stronger, then im panicking over do I take the danger seriously. I try deep breathing and moving my attention but i know i do that to avoid the panic which makes me panic more. And then i feel angry cause people say "sit with it" and i dont know what they mean, like everytime i get a panic just accept defeat, lay down and wait till all the symptoms just goes away... cause you cant control it. So if i want to face it, accept i might faint, vomit, get taken to the hospital, and just face it. These are the more negative ones I know, but even with others i feel like its defeat cause I have to stop whatever i do and i need to accept that panic will take me wherever it wants... Im open to change my opinion over this, but with the "accept it" menthod i feel like it looks like this and thats why I don't like it. How do you deal with panic? Do you stop it or you always give that moment to the panic?
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