how do you stop a severe panic attack when you can't just stop & breathe?

Lately, I have been having severe panic attacks. One was so bad, I had my husband rush me to the ER. I have been having panic attacks for a long time, maybe 15 years?, but they are more the classic type and end after 10-15 minutes. Lately, I've been getting panic attacks that last for hours (around 3 hours). I worry something horrible is happening to me, side effects of psych meds, and it is not helped by the fact that I had a perforated ulcer on Valentine's Day and likely would have died if I hadn't been rushed to the ER in an ambulance and gotten immediate trauma surgery. Having a life-threatening experience like that is very frightening.

I have a lot of stressors in my life, financial, a daughter who is super super but I believe has sensory processing issues (hubby is against getting her diagnosed and believes these are quirks of hers or things she will outgrow, but she is 10 years old already, and she is not outgrowing them). My mother-in-law passed away, and with her pension along with my father-in-law's, they were in a place to help us out financially with large bills, such as the air conditioning breaking or a major car repair. Now, my father-in-law is not in a place to help us financially. I also have tons of medical bills due to bad insurance (my husband is a high school teacher, and he makes too much for us to qualify for financial aid; I don't work due to my bipolar disorder, every time I've tried, I nearly ended up in the psych ward). The insurance deductible for teachers is $7500. We don't even have that much money in the bank. My parents are not in a place to help out financially. I have called the places we owe large sums of money too - the hospital, the trauma surgeons, the ambulance service and set up payment plans that are just do-able; I think it will take something like 5 years to pay off the hospital.

Anyway, I'm wondering if you don't have a rescue med like Xanax, how do you stop a severe panic attack when you can't just lie down and breathe, such as when driving? With the classic panic attacks, I was able to do the breathing, but these attacks lately have been severe - feeling I can't get enough air, heart palpitations, tunnel vision, tingling & numbness, feeling hot & cold, even once completely dissociating from reality, confused about what is real and what is not. There are times this happens when I'm driving when I can't pull off the road (such as traffic jams or if I need to get to an appointment on time).

Any suggestions on how to control this, especially as the panic attacks are so long-lasting?

Gosh, I wish I knew, sounds awful cln1812. I have panic attacks but they're of a different kind - more of a psychological panic. Anyway, maybe if you do an internet search on 'how to stop panic attacks' you may get some positive results. All the best, I'm sure you'll figure out ways to reduce or manage it eventually.

I focus and tell myself its just an anxiety attack and it will surely pass. Try to think of something else besides the symptoms your experiencing. Positive and rational thinking is also the key, there is nothing wrong with you and its just an anxiety attack. Deep breathing also helps me. Hope this helps.

, I wonder if you need another antidepressant different than Wellbutrin

sometimes just holding something in my hand (a grounding item) is enough for me.

I have many grounding items, and holding them helps me at least establish I'm safe.