Reply #2: I suffered for years from panic attacks /anxiety disorder.

[DemExpat]

Helped myself the most 25 years ago when I ditched the meds and learned good and lasting coping techniques. When I read in books on this disorder I was relieved to read that a panic attack will NOT kill you, even though dying, or going insane, is what you think is happening to you.
I taught myself breathing techniques to go along with my thoughts of being safe no matter what is happening in my body, and had great success with not fearing the onslaught of a panic attack, but instead turning on it with a brave stance and just saying to it, "Come and get me"....something to that effect, and instead of total freak out at the beginning symptoms when I felt them arise, I instead welcomed them.....can you imagine :-). Breathing regularly and not too shallow or deeply during this is a great help, as well as trying to relax the knotted muscles cramping up to the fear in protest.

My most important tip for anxiety and panic is to not avoid the places/circumstances where an attack has happened. This starts to limit your freedom, as well as anchor the fear into your life.
I did try to avoid this most devastating feeling state for years, and it all only got worse.

When my daughter was 19 she was starting to develop similar reactions to stress so I immediately got her support from a psychiatric nurse who helps anxiety and phobia's with training in breathing techniques. These helped her so well that she can resort to these if necessary. I was so relieved that her genetic tendency didn't have the chance to develop negatively into full-blown misery and very serious problems as they did with me.

Hope you find your techniques very soon - there are a few really good books on Panic out there.

At least here, you know there are some here who certainly KNOW what you have to deal with.

:hug:

DemEx