[Liinu]

Saw this post shared on tumblr: Supporting a Loved One Through PTSD or Panic Attacks | sometimesmagical

Made me wonder what I actually prefer during an anxiety attack..

Anything you guys do or have others do?

[gayleggg]

I try deep breaths first, if that doesn't work I try to find something tangable to concentrate on, like if I'm in a store I'll pick up a box of cereal and read the ingredients, etc.

[kaliope]

i have two techniques that really work for me. for a panic attack, i physically relax because you cant panic and relax at the same time. the few times i have done guided meditations where you are instructed to relax all the muscles in your body and you feel like a jellyfish, i go for that feeling. i just imagine my body turning into a limp noodle. sometimes i have to do it repeatedly, but it works to stop a panic attack.

for anxiety, i have my anxiety meter. i imagine a meter in my head. when i am really anxious it is cranked up to about 8 or 10. there is a manual dial on the meter. i can turn the dial down and imagine the needle on the meter going down to about a four, lessening my anxiety. again, it is something i have to do repeatedly, but it gets me out of those tense moments.

[riksie-dixie]

I'm still learning, but I'm getting a little better.

I try to focus my thoughts on something else. I have been able to rationalize my thoughts better lately. Sometimes, I exercise - given the condition of the weather, because I prefer to do it outside.

[eskielover]

I go take a HOT shower......sometimes I end up taking several hot showers every day during really bad times & sometimes I wish I could just stay in the hot shower all day....but it helps me relax.

The other thing I do is put a movie on my computer & just sit & watch the movie & force my mind to think on that....usually a movie I've seen before that I know I really like & can get into.

Knitting just allows my mind to continue thinking even though the act of knitting for me is relaxing.....or my other crafts like painting.

For some reason the breathing thing just has never been helpful for me....but the HOT shower has always been what saves me the most.

[JadeAmethyst]

Honestly, it is walking for me, petting the dogs, they are my best support, those two are my most effective resources.

[Auntie2014]

With me the first thing I need is to get away from the trigger. This could be as easy as turning off the TV or if I am in a store or away from home I need to get to my car. ( I use a walker so fight or flight response is an additional trigger for me.) Once I am able to reach my safe place I need time alone to just physically hold on to something and focus on something I can see that is within my safe area. In my car I hold on to the steering wheel and focus on the thing that hangs on the review mirror. At home it can be anything in my room.

Once I settle down I need time to distance myself from what happened so I use audio books and coloring with colored pencils.