Tips for Calming Down when Panic sets in

[[Buddie]]

This is awesome. Thanks [...]. I struggled a bit last night putting #8 into practice, but once I did it, the anxiety and spasms decreased a lot faster than if I had freaked myself out. 

[[Buddie]]

exercise is huge for anxiety.  i do martial arts, and i swear i've gone to class in full blown panic attack mode, told myself its nothing to get worked up about, and about 10 minutes into the class the anxiety is completely gone and im focused on what we're learning.  Running too, however I only find running helpful for me for anxiety when I run so hard and fast that all I can feel is how tired I am.  The first post with all the things you can do to avoid/deal with a panic attack is awesome.  I'm currently on a klonopin taper and have gotten used to popping a pill whenever I feel anxious, so any drug free remedy is a huge help for me. 

[[Buddie]]

Hello All,

Just wanted to pop in and share what has been happening as of late.  Feel PRETTY DAMN GOOD today! Went through a HORRIBLE time with muscle cramps..insomnia...restless legs... at one point It felt difficult to even walk..I got winded VERY easily. I have always been an athletic person..and I honestly felt like a 98 year old man on oxygen. It was VERY difficult for me to leave the comfort of my own home. Grocery shopping..especially Walmart was a total nightmare. My senses were reved up to the max. I could smell a womans perfume from 50 feet away.
I dreaded going to sleep at night..for each night brought a new production of VERY VIVID dreams..in TRUE COLOR..scenes of ex wife..ex girlfriends and in general things that didnt make ay sense at all. I would wake up at least 4 times a night..covers twisted in a knot...My body felt like a heavyweight boxer was pounding on me all night long. NOT rested at all..in fact almost exhausted. I would wake up..eat a little bit..then go back to sleep on my Couch for a few hours. My biggest problem was ..if I were to give it a label would be Agoraphobia. I wasnt necessarily fearful of the market place so to speak. I just DIDNT want to get off the couch period. Seriously..I spent the last year watching tv..NO excercise at ALL..chain smoking my MARLBORO LiGHTS.
Luckily I was financially able to do this. The thought of doing even the most menial of work was out of the question. (I come from a background of 23 years of medical sales) Things are SLOWLY getting better..the muscle cramps havent visited me in a few weeks. I am able to buy groceries and hit the Walmart (I still wear my sunglasses in there ;->) I am sick of the couch...it's actually getting boring as hell laying there wasting my day away. My naps are down to one a day. I am getting sick of smoking ciggerettes. My dreams at night now make sense..and arent so damn vivid. I am sleeping much better. I no longer get as winded as I was getting. I am THINKING about starting to excercise again. I actually answer the phone now. I am having "Previews of Coming Attractions" thoughts in my head..where I am actually Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually fit...with feelings of Peace & Serenity. I AM supplementing with high end vitamins and minerals..and I can honestly say that I think it has worked wonders for me. Ok That's enough for now... If I had any advice to give it would be to be patient..Time does heal!..I dont thing any of us are "Terminally Unique"  we will all get better...NOT as fast as we want to but what are ya gonna do?   When times are VERY tough..distract yourself with ANYTHING...do your laundry..clean your bathroom..vacum...Adopt a pet.

Ciao' and God Bless!

[...] hale

[[Buddie]]

Hey [...],

We've never talked, but I just read your post and I'm blown away. Thanks so much for sharing your life and hope with us.  We need people like you to help our members cling to life and hope.

Keep coming back if you can....I recognize some of your phrases- experience, strength and hope.....are you a friend of Bill W.?

[...]

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...],

When I started on klono, I was working at WalFart. There was a study done of stress on consumers in stores. HellMart was top of the list. The main source of the stress was from the constant paging. (There were other problems cited too, but that was top of the list.) WM decided that no one was supposed to page for anything unless there was no other way to get help. Employees were being written up if they were paging unnecessarily. My guess is that approx. 95% of pages are unnecessary since the employee can either call the dept. they need or they can call the fitting room and have them contact the person via the walkie talkies. 99% of the time a cashier can get what they need by punching in codes to register and it goes to the CSM's. I don't think that lasted even a month and they were back to the constant paging.

I got out of there about 2-3 years ago (when they got rid of Layaway - I was the dept. manager of Layaway and covered the Courtesy Desk for lunches, breaks, illnesses, whatever they could drag me up there for.) I have a hard time in any store, but especially that place. I had to go in there a few weeks ago. I noticed that nothing has changed. A few days ago I went into a different one in a different state, and noticed again that nothing has changed. That chain is the most stressful place there is to shop.

[[Buddie]]

WONDERFUL... :yippee:I WANT TO PRINT THIS AND PUT IT ON MY FRIG!!
THANK YOU!!

[[Buddie]]

I can't stand regular soymilk but I drink hot chocolate soymilk. It does have sugar of some sort though but it is calming to me.....

I think it is the tryptophan(?) in warm milk that has the calming effect. my guess is soy does not have that.
great post though, huh!!

Be well!!

[[Buddie]]

[...]'s tips that started this thread are so helpful, I decided to give this thread a little bump. 

[[Buddie]]

Hi [...]
Here is to the Coming Attractions
I sure understand the Walmart thing I have to wear sunglasses everywhere esp there because of all the florescense lights and I do understand the perfume thing I get it everywhere. Even my freinds are sick of me and my olfactory senses.
Can't ride in anyone's car or vist a home with candles burning. It's getting old and I do try and fit in but it is very difficult.
My dancing nights are getting harder cause of all the cologne on the men lol.

Have a great time with your windows you deserve it and keep those dreams good ones.

 Pennyblue
 

[[Buddie]]

I love that list!  That is exactly the type of thing that works for me when I start tripping.  hard lists.  try this.  try that.  one i would add - i heard this somewhere and it seems to help.  She said if you start feeling the panic attack, start singing.  sing anything, in your head or whereever, like "twinkle little star" because of the distraction effect.

in response to the subtext in this thread: i have never seen so much negativity as in walmart.  i have seen people dying on the ground (twice, with paramedics.  and other people reaching over them to get their tater tots or whatever) and so many fights in and out front.  Some people say it's a psychic vibe from all the advertising psychologically designed to pull your attention.  I avoid going there as much as possible!