[anxietygirl]

This morning I woke up from sleep and had panic attack. I felt this wave of heat-like a hot flash-go over my body. I felt a heavy sensation, literally I felt all the nerves in my body begin to rush through. My heart was beating fast. I immediateley started to have irrational thought of the devil is coming after me, I am possessed because obviously if I have this emotional disorder, it is the devil's doing, he is trying to take control of my life. So what did I do about it to control the situation? I sat down. I talked to myself. I tried to not control the panic by avoiding getting tense. I basically told myself, if it's going to happen, just go with it, don't tense up and think about the panic. I told myself that it was going to be allright and that I was not crazy and that the devil was not going to take over. I prayed to God to help me through it, and he did. Instead of thinking all the negative thoughts, I thought of positive things, like people that I loved and cared for that I knew cared for me. I just kept their faces in my mind. I thought of my mom in heaven reading a book, and smiling. I did not lose control in this panic attack. I could have, if I had not talked to myseld and tell myself it was going to be ok. It is uncomfortable when you feel that wave of panic-the trembling, the heat or chill, heart racing, and upset stomach, but the worst part is your mind racing with irrational horrible fears. Right now I am rational and I know the devil is not coming after me. Just remember that you will get through the panic attack, and you can beat it. Think of good things, get up an clean the house, that always helps me to expend that nervous energy, take a walk,pray, and don't fight the panic attack, the less resistance, the less your body has to overcome. I hope this helps someone. I am thankful for this forum. It has been a wonderful place to go where I know I will not be judged and where I can talk to someone. This forum has also helped me. God Bless.

[Amna_Sh]

Originally Posted by anxietygirl

This morning I woke up from sleep and had panic attack. I felt this wave of heat-like a hot flash-go over my body. I felt a heavy sensation, literally I felt all the nerves in my body begin to rush through. My heart was beating fast. I immediateley started to have irrational thought of the devil is coming after me, I am possessed because obviously if I have this emotional disorder, it is the devil's doing, he is trying to take control of my life. So what did I do about it to control the situation? I sat down. I talked to myself. I tried to not control the panic by avoiding getting tense. I basically told myself, if it's going to happen, just go with it, don't tense up and think about the panic. I told myself that it was going to be allright and that I was not crazy and that the devil was not going to take over. I prayed to God to help me through it, and he did. Instead of thinking all the negative thoughts, I thought of positive things, like people that I loved and cared for that I knew cared for me. I just kept their faces in my mind. I thought of my mom in heaven reading a book, and smiling. I did not lose control in this panic attack. I could have, if I had not talked to myseld and tell myself it was going to be ok. It is uncomfortable when you feel that wave of panic-the trembling, the heat or chill, heart racing, and upset stomach, but the worst part is your mind racing with irrational horrible fears. Right now I am rational and I know the devil is not coming after me. Just remember that you will get through the panic attack, and you can beat it. Think of good things, get up an clean the house, that always helps me to expend that nervous energy, take a walk,pray, and don't fight the panic attack, the less resistance, the less your body has to overcome. I hope this helps someone. I am thankful for this forum. It has been a wonderful place to go where I know I will not be judged and where I can talk to someone. This forum has also helped me. God Bless.

I also had a panic attack some days back. I like what you did and have said here. I'm so thankful to you!!!

[ihateit]

One of my best T's told me something once...and she said don't laugh, she said, "Make friends with your panic attacks". I was confused, but almost to a "T" she told me to do what you did. You sit back and let them happen, you don't fight them, you think good thoughts and I pray a lot too, and quicker than you can say supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, it's gone. To my surprise, my attacks went from 12 on a scale of 1 - 10, to a 3 then a 1, and then, they were gone. I still have anxieties of all types, and fears, but I don't panic anymore, not so much. If I feel one coming I say to "it", come, do your worst, and usually it never comes. The feeling crazy part, I hate that, but have done as you, I am not crazy, I know this, all I have to do is say that, and I'm fine again.

You realised something without having to be told! I am glad to hear it and remember to do that every time, and pretty soon you won't be affraid of the panic attacks (part of the reason we have them), and they will lessen and maybe even stop. And, of course, I give glory to God that he has let me be taught this, or I might still be having the 12s.

[Amna_Sh]

What do we do if we feel shortness of breath?

(((((((((((((((((((((anxietygirl)))))))))))))))))))))

Thank you for sharing that story! I bet that will help a lot of people (including me).

Anma, shortness of breath can be really scary. And then the fear makes it worse. My husband, who has LOTS of experience with panic attacks, gets up and moves around a lot when he has that - he paces, or goes for a walk - and then it feels more natural to him to be breathing that way and it calms him down some.

I try to take SLOW, DEEP breaths, and then to focus on anything BUT my breathing. T has had me do exercises where I look around and name 5 things, and then listen for 5 sounds, and then touch 5 things (like cool water, or a hot window with the sun shining on it), etc. I think it is to keep my mind busy.

Sometimes just telling someone (like H) - I can't breathe and it's freaking me out- helps, because then the other person can help me and distract me.

I actually finally got some klonopin from my dr, and when nothing else helps, that helps.

I hope you find some relief. Panic attacks are scary.

[olamaja]

Thank you for posting this! You have no idea how grateful I am to know that someone else out there is going through and feeling all the of same things that I do. Their is a sense of serenity in knowing that their are others like me that make it through this
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