Hi all,

I wonder if any of you would share some suggestions of things you do when a panic attack hits. I had my first one in public today (happened in school - I'm a grad student).

A bit about me & my symptoms... I am generally anxious all the time, tingly arms, have trouble getting to sleep, wake up frequently with chills running up my spine, lightheaded, difficult to eat, frequent upset stomach. I have been trying relaxation methods for some time now without much success.

For me, an attack usually manifests itself with the tingling feeling in my arms getting stronger (also my legs during an attack). When I feel that I try to concentrate on breathing and relaxing, I'll drink some water or walk around. More and more though I am unable to ward it off. As the attack progresses, I usually feel a wave of heat come over my body, I get very shaky, my eyes won't stay still, I feel like it's hard to swallow and the worst is when my head starts spinning and I feel like I'm going to pass out. That's what happened to me in class today. When it got bad, I picked up my things and left and headed for the first isolated place I could find to sit down and lean back. After it passed, I came home. I don't want to go back tomorrow. I'm scared it will happen again.

I'd love to hear any real-life, heat of the moment coping strategies that you all may have.

Thanks!