strategies for coping with panic attacks

So OK, first I was worried about my job when the new boss shows up in January, and then my supervisor hauled me into an empty office and went down this huge list of things she thinks are wrong with me. It's always been something here, the whole 2 years I've been here -- the powers that be were going to close the paper, or houseclean and get rid of the whole staff, or something or another. I have never been able to feel secure in my job. I got backstabbed by TWO people last week and now neither of them will even look me in the eye, much less speak to me, so that sucks too.

So, being anxiety-prone to begin with, I now have a panic attack every time I have to set foot in this building. I live literally around the corner, so I go home every day for lunch, which means two panic attacks a day. I start getting anxious as I approach the door, and by the time I walk upstairs to the office I'm having trouble breathing, etc, all the other stuff that goes along with it.

My pdoc put me on Xanax, but it doesn't have much effect at the small dose I'm on.

Here's my question: What do you do to talk yourself out of panic attacks? The deep breathing stuff doesn't always work for me, and I don't know what else to do that doesn't involve popping pills.

Candy

Hi, Candy.

I had a panic attack last week and it didn't throw me out the window just because at the very moment I had someone very close to my heart online with me and he helped me big time.

Nonetheless, I'm pretty aware fo how my chemicals work and when I was finally able to go get some water - water is so great and I mean it!:-) - I also grabbed a piece low-dosage benzo as that's the only thing that actually makes it go away for me.

Fortunately, though, I hadn't had an attack in about a year, which is great. Unfortunately, though, my T is trying to get me off benzos and I had to use my daily allowance in the middle of the afternoon which wasn't very cool.

All the yadda-yadda-yadda to ay that, well, I don't really know about avoiding panick attacks in general because they usually come unannounced. Since you know what triggers - the building where you work - maybe you can try some self-brainwashing, like "I am stronger than my fear" or something like that?

Hope you can get past it real soon. :-)

Hi Candybear,

I have been reading your posts about the job and I feel for you. I've been in jobs like that myself. Once the negative vibes get into an office, everyone suffers, and it's hard to cope with the atmosphere if you're a sensitive person.

It sounds like your anxiety is mostly situational, and the situation is your office! The way you describe the feeling of walking into the office is so clear, I feel like it's me going in there with you.

Maybe, next time you go in, you actually could imagine that we are with you, sharing the hard feelings, and helping out.

I hope things get better for you soon.

Good luck, Myzen,

Thank you, Myzen. That's the most helpful thing I think I've heard yet, considering how alone I feel at work. Bringing in an army of friends just might do the trick!

I appreciate the kind words.

Candy

Hey Candy,
Now this may sound really dumb but just stick with me. The way my anxiety has been going down and down recently is because I have just given in to it. I said to my brain, 'Think your worst, go on, try and make me scared' and all of a sudden I wasn't as afraid anymore. I think a lot of it has to do with how we react to losing control so if we consciously choose to let go of our control and then realise that nothing bad will happen it could go a long way to reducing the FEAR. I'll bet you're really sick of it and I really feel for you that you have it so my advice is, whatever your fear is just acknowledge it, and give into the fact that you're fearing it. Just always remember what you're fearing will probably never happen. I had an obsessive fear of hurting my mum, and have had it for 9 months. So now 9 months down the track, if I had really wanted to do harm to her, I would have done it a long time ago. Try and keep it in perspective and don't let it rule your life and just knowing that you are in control will make you feel inifinitely times happier. Stay safe and have fun.
Cheers,
Peter

Thanks, Peter. Someone else suggested the same thing to me yesterday. She said she writes down every horrible thing she could think of that could ever happen to her, and by the time she's partway down the list, she's calm. I'm going to have to give it a try!

It's always good to hear from people who have had actual successes in dealing with this stuff. :-) I appreciate it.

Candy