What helps you calm down when an anxiety attack comes?

I'd never realized I've had anxiety attacks before, I thought the symptoms were just normal for someone feeling nervous. But after a very obvious one a week ago I'm realizing I've felt like that, to a lesser degree, many times before, and felt that way again today.

So, are there things that help you to calm down when an attack comes?

I've tried deep breaths, but that hasn't helped very much. In the past I've either waited them out or tried getting somewhere cooler or alone - as they're usually triggered by social situations. With the one I had a week ago it came on at 3am, don't know if it woke me up or what, but I tried to relax for 3 1/2 hours, finally got up and took a shower which helped some, and waited out the rest of it trying to calm down until it finally went away at about noon. That sucked.

<font color=green>____________________________
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.</font color=green> Sounds good...

For me walking helps, but it has to be the fast kind that really gets my heart going. I think it confuses the brain...says hey...now I have something to REALLY freak out about! The old broad is going to give us a heart attack!!! :-) Seriously, I think exercise helps. Emmy

try cold water and ice. It interrupts the brains fight or flight response with other stimuli. Keep doing it until you are feeling calm. The other thing to do as your taking a freezing shower etc is to breathe and each breath say in, out, nothing else. If thoughts intrude simply let them pass and say in, out as you breathe. Good luck

Holly camole! Taking a cold shower would probably give me an anxiety attact!!!

It's funny, I guess every person has to fid what works for him/her.
Some people walk, some people take cold showers. I sing karaoke (at home where nobody can hear me or I would cause anxiety attacts)

I guess you'll have to experiment and find what works for you.

gab

For me it's all about distraction. If I can find away to distract my brain for a little while I find my anxiety reduces. Usually I will go online and chat or play games or watch tv or call my mom to try and distract myself from an attack.

Postive self talk, and abdominal breathing..... postive thoughts.

<font color=red>~</font color=red><font color=blue>S</font color=blue><font color=green>u</font color=green><font color=blue>n</font color=blue><font color=green>d</font color=green><font color=blue>a</font color=blue><font color=green>n</font color=green><font color=blue>c</font color=blue><font color=green>e</font color=green><font color=red>~</font color=red>

<font color=blue>"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on about your business."</font color=blue>

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