Panic attacks - having one now!

[Jon]

Anyone had one? What are they like?

(I'm having a mini-one now because I filed for a Trademark for my product and a rather large taxi-hailing service has opposed it. Just found out!)

 

[Uncle Gizmo]

I used to get them, went to the doctor and he said - imagine stress is like a glass of water, half full then you go on holiday and reduce the level, then the level increases. When you miss a holiday or two, the glass becomes nearly full. Then one little thing, one single drop of water causes the glass to overflow, and that's a panic attack.

I mentioned Monika Frank and her website Excel at Life in a previous post:- HERE... I just looked, and she's got a webpage on panic attacks called "Panic Assistance" There's a downloadable tape which I have used many times. In fact, I uploaded it to my Google Music, and it says I've listened to it 67 times! The tape is very good. If you load it up to Google Music or put it on your Google Drive you can play it on your mobile, out loud if you are by yourself, through headphones if you want a bit of privacy...

 

[Jon]

Thanks for the recommendations Uncle Gizmo. Sometimes work stress can be intense, especially where legal matters can have serious financial consequences. I keep telling myself to only focus on the things that are in my control. There is nothing I can do about matters outside of my control.

 

[Insane_AI]

"Fake it 'til you make it" is a viable survival technique for anxiety attacks. Be sure to use positive statements though.

"I am in control of my reactions"
vs.
"I'm no longer out of control of my reactions"

I learned somewhere that the brain processes only positive statements so using double negatives fails more often than a proper positive.

"I'm no longer out of control of my reactions" can easily be committed to memory as "I'm out of control of my reactions"

 

[Jon]

Maybe mine is less an anxiety attack but just legitimate anxiety based upon the circumstances I face. In any case, perhaps it will increase my capabilities of dealing with this sort of thing. I grow as a result.

 

[Insane_AI]

An anxiety attack does not require nor does it exclude reality. It just is. I'm learning to accept that as a fact and adjust my behavior accordingly. Easier said than done.

Good Luck.

 

[Bee]

I had one - once. It was utterly debilitating and very scary. I was on the Tube in London two days after starting a new job and three days after the guy I'd been living with for many years told me he was leaving. It came from nowhere (both the breakup and the panic attack) and one of my friends had to get the train to London to escort me home. That was nearly 20 years ago now, but I've never forgotten it. Frightening.