That certainly sounds stressful, and the feeling of needing to suddenly go to the psych ward is very familiar to me as well. A while back a therapist suggested that when I’m having a panic attack, or even just a burst of intense anxiety or obsessive thinking, to bring myself into the present by looking around the room I’m in and naming everything I see. Doesn’t have to be out loud, so this is a good method to curb panic/anxiety attacks happening in public. After naming the objects in the room, I am to go back over them and say to myself “This [object] is real”. It is a really good distraction and meant to be grounding, especially when I start to think I’m going insane or detaching from reality.

I agree it’s hard to remember to slow down the breathing when the chest tightens, it’s a scary feeling! I found that going to acupuncture at least once a week makes my chest tightness episodes completely stop. I go to a community clinic that has a sliding fee scale. The cost is between $15 and $40. Acupuncture has made a big difference in my anxiety.

Sometimes when I leave the house, I freak out and think I’m going to have a panic attack while I’m out. I can take a benzo but first I try to calm myself simply by telling myself that I’m NOT going to have a panic attack. In a way it’s taking control. Saying to my anxiety, “Sorry, you don’t get to take control over me.”

I hope that helps and I’m glad you posted about your panic attacks, I feel like I am a total freak sometimes. It’s comforting to know other people know exactly how it feels to have anxiety. Although, I wish people didn’t have to suffer in such a way!

Xo