Panic attacks and huge amounts of stress...how do you cope?

Not seeking medical advice. I'm fine. I was just wondering...

When you're really, really stressed out what do you do to cope with it?

Works for me.

:P

;)

x(

and then cleaning stuff, something really tedious like scrubbing grout. Since i started exercising about 2 years ago i have noticed my stress level is much lower or maybe i just handle it better.

A trip to the gym tonight might be a good option.

meditating in the bathroom while the shower runs, and 20 min./day on my exercise bike.

Oh - and 200 mg of buproprion hydrochloride each day. ;)

I hope you feel better soon.

:hug:

~Writer~

Meditating with the shower running...good idea!

Thanks, it's not me. I'm fine. I have a friend who's extremely stressed out and I'm trying to come up with options for her.

Thanks!

:hug:

or try to go cold turkey on it while symptomatic. it adds to the "keyed-up" feelings.

or a long walk....


lost

Unfortunately, drugs aren't really an option. The long walk might help though.

I lay down and do some deep breathing exercises. I cry if I need to. I learned to "breath" thru my eyes. I have a song(In the Waiting Line) that I can play in my mind at will. Eating some chocolate helps a bit, too. My latest discovery was going back in my mind to a peaceful place I enjoyed as a child.

All very good ideas. I like the idea of having a song that you can call up at will. And the peaceful place is a great concept.

I also eat (not good), but if I'm really really stressed, I can't eat too much or I get nauseous. So, getting up & going for a walk helps with all the energy a panic attack seems to generate for me. :)

dg

lots of people are suggesting exercise. Sounds like a good idea to me!

not proven medically, nor am I a doctor, but I view panic attacks as "energy generators." You're creating more energy than you need, which makes you panicky, so by taking a walk, you are burning up that excess, which calms you down.

Of course, I could be full of it, but this is how I picture it & this is how I take care of it. :)

dg

Out and out panic attacks -- the kind where you literally feel like perhaps you're having a heart attack -- those I can only handle with Xanax, a lot of deep breathing, positive imagery and sleep. Lesser anxiety and stress -- hmm, I have a wonderful BFF who listens and is always supportive. That is the best thing. I whine, I complain, I piss and I moan. I even bitch. I'm sure I'm very annoying but it's a great catharsis. Ideally the best thing for stress is to try eliminate the things that stress you. Unfortunately that's usually not even possible. Long hot baths, pretty smelling candles or incense, a piece of *really* good dark chocolate, my kids (unless they're the cause!) and trying to find something to make me laugh.

Wish I didn't have to rely on Xanax for the bad stuff and I know I'll probably be criticized for it because it seems to be a touchy subject here. I hate the way it makes me feel groggy but groggy is a preferable alternative to physical manifestations (chest pain, hyperventilation, etc.) of a true panic attack.

I'm glad the Xanax helps you, and nobody should fault you for that.

I agree with the bitching/moaning/etc. I think we all need to do that from time to time. And I'm glad you have someone who will listen to you. I'm the listenee right now and I feel bad that I can't help my friend out more. This thread is all about trying to come up with some options for her. Thanks for the help!

:hug:

i don't leave the house without my ativan

:hug:

Mmmm bed. That sounds amazing right now...and I'm not even that stressed!

She has decided that her life's mission is to tear her stitches out, so she is STILL wearing the conehead. Poor baby doesn't get her stitches out until Friday, so it's gonna be a long week.

Thankfully, she's putting up with it really well and her incision looks amazing. :D

However, of everything I've tried, and I've tried a whole bunch of shit, it's the got the best track record.

Not. a. bad. idea.

:hi:

Obviously, it's not for everyone. Some people just get tired, some get even more anxious and paranoid, but it tends to put my head in exactly the right place.

;)

Do that first, and the rest takes care of itself.

That, and I walk 7 miles a day to and from work. That's 35 miles a week to be able to sit down and resolve the disputes between the voices in my head.

Sleep is also good.

Be lazier. Stop doing stuff. Then there is always just letting go of whatever it is that is stressing you out, if you can.

The thread is really for a friend of mine who's going through some seriously bad shit right now. She's about to lose her job because of the writer's strike, in the meantime she has become the only assistant in a relatively busy office so she's doing work she's not used to. And then there's some personal stuff that's really uncool as well and is coming to a head right now.

Walking and sleep is a great idea, though.

From
recovery-inc.org

My favorite is "Objectivity wipes out emotionalism"

It was a great help to me in the early days.

I'll pass that along. Thank you.

...and generally make things worse.

We humans have a proclivity for making things worse, don't we?

:hug:

My job is SO STRESSFUL! Especially this time of year. I have to collect all my campaign money, get my new program guide out, plan 2 huge parties, lay the groundwork for my 08 campaign, plus all the regular day to day activities of 2 departments with no staff.

I have kind of a daddy complex so I have a very hard time working for a male boss. I take everything personally. He has very high standards, as well.

The biggest thing I'm trying to do this year is communicate better. Last year, as I got behind, I didn't want anyone to know that I was having trouble so I clammed up and everything I was doing became this huge secret, which led to misunderstandings and complications. This time I am trying to keep the lines of communication open, and if things aren;t where people would like them to be, they may be judging me and it may be uncomfortable for me, but at least it's all transparent.

Your job sounds really intense! Good on you for realizing what the problems are and working to rectify them though. Honestly, that's the vast majority of the battle.

:hug:

I really do love my job in a lot of ways, but I would be happier if I could specialize and not have to cover so many areas to cover, and it would be nice to have a dedicated assistant. Of course, I'd feel better if I made about twice as much money as well. :)

In an ideal world, I would just do Development and not Communications, and I would specialize in Annual Giving and/or Major Donors instead of being a "generalist." Some non-profits have a Director of Foundation Relations, a Dirictor of Special Events, a Director of Corporate Giving, A Volunteer Coordinator, A Director of Endowment Giving, A Director of Annual Giving, A Director of Major Gifts, An Executive Assistant and A Comunnications Director. I do all that. Did I mention, I have no staff?

Yet all the Senior staff has a job description that vast, and they all seem to be skipping along.

There's something wrong with me...and it's NOT the Lounge!

LOL

try to relax.

And when that fails, take a Xanax.

I wish that was an option. x(

I didn't mean to be flippant.

I have the same problem, and yes, xanax helps. A lot! Try to get some.

I didn't take it as flippant at all.

Also, it's not me, actually. It's a really good friend. I'm just trying to come up with some alternatives for her.

As for the Xanax...she doesn't have insurance (OF-FREAKING-COURSE), so I have no idea how she'd get a prescription/be able to pay for the pills.

Yay BushCo health care! But that's another issue altogether...

not that I'm suggesting that as a reasonable course, but I'm just sayin'

she's thought of that...

;)

as Alprazolam.



Not promotin'. Just sayin'. :hi:

;)

:hi:

I don't don't have health insurance (yet) but I participate in a self-pay discount card program that gives a discount on generic drugs (PM me if you want details, I've been using it for 3 years now and it's soooo worth it that even when I do have insurance I plan on keeping it as it is cheaper than the insurance copay). I pay around $5 for 30 generic Xanax so it's very affordable. The more difficult issue here is getting a prescription. It is a controlled substance and I strongly, strongly recommend against trying to get it online. A lot of doctors don't like to prescribe it at all because of potential for addiction. I'm very lucky in that I've had the same family physician for about 20 years and he knows me well enough to feel comfortable prescribing it.

I'm a veteran of anxiety, panic and chronic depression and I feel so much empathy for your friend because it can be very overwhelming and literally physically agonizing. Your friend is lucky to have you and you being there, your patience and willingness to BE there is such a valuable thing. I'm not talking about enabling or any of that psychobabble, I'm talking about being a support and I know first hand as a person who has issues and also from my work that the lack of a support network can makes this problem so much more debilitating.

But unfortunately, that does leave her with the issue of getting the prescription. She doesn't want to get it online--doesn't trust it, knows it's illegal, plus...how does one know what the correct dosage is? I have pharmacists in my family, so I completely agree with her. But back to the problem with finding a doctor, not only does she not have insurance, she works 14-16 hour days and absolutely can't take time off during the day right now to go to an appointment. So even if she found a doc that would prescribe it and she could figure out how to pay for it...ugh...

Thankfully, my friend is usually ok, but she's had a series of events happen that would drive *anyone* to the brink. Pretty much every one of them were/are entirely out of her control, which makes it even worse. There's really nothing she can do proactively to make anything better. It's like her life is happening TO her at the moment, which just plain sucks.

As for me...being there for her is the least I can do. I can't imagine NOT being there to listen, honestly.

Thanks for the help!

Exercise is the best stress-reducer around.

Meditation is good, too, in order to look at the stress. We manufacture our stress internally; it is our choice on how to react to something externally. It is a choice.

And there is my favorite saying on the subject:

"Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke"

the joke being that we are expected to do far more than we actually can in this world; there are not enough hours in the day, and too many responsibilities in the job description. Nobody does everything, nobody can. Do what is important and don't worry about the rest. Many of these things that people are stressing about are ultimately trivial, anyways, or are make-work, or are artificial crises created by someone else's lack of organization or planning. Another saying "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part."

I might have to steal it!

Unfortunately, my friend's current issues are totally beyond her control. For starters, her job is in jeopardy because of the writer's strike. They just let her immediate co-worker go because they can't afford both of them, so she's doing two jobs...for now, of course, she may lose the job completely in a few weeks...

And now there's an issue with a really good friend going through some extremely heavy shit, and her being unable to do anything to help.

Anyway...I like the idea of meditation. I'll definitely pass that suggestion along.

Thanks for the response! :hug:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference

in other words, don't worry about what you can't control. It is a waste of human energy and solves nothing. Just do the best you can where you can make a difference, the rest isn't up to you.

She's dealing with a LOT of helplessness right now, so that prayer is particularly relevant.

All natural, you can find it in health food stores and places like Trader Joe's. I keep a bottle on me at all times, a couple of spritzes calms me down when nothing else does.

It's done wonders to help me with my anxiety condition.

in fact, I believe she's currently using it. Not sure if it's helping or not, but I'll stress that she should continue it. Thanks!

When I had an anxiety attack (felt like a heart attack!), I'd sit calmly, close my eyes, and consciously relax every muscle I possibly could, and concentrate on breathing (which hurt, i.e., like a heart attack) until it passed.

With Lexapro, one tab in the morning and I never have the attacks any more.

Bake

Glad it works so well! I honestly can't even imagine...

Is it in pill form?

works wonders :)

Yes, for a few hours. 'Course, it causes all sorts of other issues, potentially... ;)

to someone before I do.... ;)

I'm careful about kava, because it carries some risks. But when I'm REALLY stressed, I pop a pill. And it helps.

Available at health food stores, right? I'll look into that.

Nearly every emotion is closed off or swallowed and I just "do" until the stress eases off.
Not healthy or great for me but it works.

Just get through it and deal the emotional stuff later...or not...

Not quite. But I do not cope very well. As it happens I am stressed right now. I have to write my thesis and do my defense in February-March but it feels like time is just zooming by and I haven't gotten anything done.

That IS stressful.

You might want to read upthread, there are some really good suggestions!

Good luck! :hug:

My cats seem to know when I am really really upset or depressed and will come and sit on me and purr and knead. Burying my face in kitty fur is something I have been doing a lot of lately...

On edit: I also sleep alot too when stressed--been going to sleep at 8pm a lot lately...

Unfortunately, my friend isn't a cat person. x(

.. i'm only kidding, sorta :7

for real, if i get too stressed out- i usually bake or clean something- kinda weird but it works for me..

You're not the first to suggest that, actually.

Baking or cleaning...that's a nice, constructive way to deal with stress!

... with safety and relaxation. I chose peppermint because it's widely available at grocery stores (and as candy), so I don't have to worry about running out! I just put a bit of peppermint oil in the water when I'm taking a relaxing hot bath, for example. And when I get stressed out, e.g. before I have to go in and teach a class of a hundred students, chewing on a peppermint lifesaver helps reassure me.

I started doing this last year, when I had an unexplained series of panic attacks that gave me insomnia ... I was so worried that I was having some kind of medical problem that I took to keeping cab fare and my health insurance card in a special wallet, so I knew that I could always get to the hospital if something really bad happened. (They checked me out -- did a brain scan and everything, and nothing turned up, ha ha.)

I find that something else that helps is trying to plan for situations when I do have some leisure time ... working on my lecture notes, etc., so I can at least tell myself that I've prepared as much as I can, and that other stuff (like co-workers or students having crises) is out of my control. And that if things don't go well, to just take what I can learn from the experience, and better luck next time.

Smell association. I hadn't thought of that. Peppermint is a really good idea.

:)

there are no birds. ;)

I kid. There are. At least, I hope that's what my cats meow at when they're staring out the window... :scared:

Urban areas concentrate the birds, making them easier to see.

Central Park is actually one of the best birding spots in the US, but Griffith Park and other parks in the LA area aren't too shabby either. :)

I never would have thought of it like that, but that definitely makes sense.

Actually, I was kidding...we definitely have birds. Lots of them. Mostly cute little tiny ones. (how's that for scientific?) ;)

My neighbor has feeders and our backyard is full of all sorts of bird-ness. My favorite is the family of hummingbirds that hang out back there. Every once in a while I'll even catch one sitting (sitting, perfectly still!) on a tree branch. Those little guys are amazing.

If I cannot change it, then there's no point stressing.

If I can change it, do something to make that happen.

Figure out which is which (sometimes the hardest thing).

Meditation helps too.

Medication just delays the inevitable.

If having an actual panic attack, find someplace internally or IRL where it's safe.

relevant to my friend's situation. I've already passed them on to her, actually.

Thanks!

exercise

i take medications for anxiety disorder

and i'd say talking about the issues, problem solving etc.

We've had an ongoing conversation (albeit via email) all day today. I hope that's helping her. She's not so big on discussing things face-to-face, but whatever works for her is fine by me.

Medication, unfortunately, isn't really an option. She doesn't have insurance and couldn't afford to pay for them without it anyway. :(

We are extremely busy and one of my co-workers is making it all worse by indulging in relentless douchebaggery, consisting mainly of backstabbing, whining and generally being a negative, hostile ass. I counter the stress by fantasizing about slapping the shit out of him, or maybe putting glue in his computer or red ants in his shorts. Obviously I'd never do such things, but it's amusing and relaxing to imagine them, even though doing so might put some dents in my karma.

Otherwise, I just relax with a nice cup of tea and a bunch of cats.

Unfortunately, it's not that kind of stress. But I'll file that away for future reference. ;)

which is really weird, although somewhat helpful.

so, while i cope with stress fine when i need to, because i react later when nothing's going on, like two weeks later in the middle of the night on a weekend for example, it's really hard to know what stress is too much stress.

breathing exercises help. realizing that it is stress, that sometimes your body reacts to lots of "stuff" going on. like after running on the treadmill, you need time to catch your breath.

the danger with anxiety and panic attacks is that your stress causes them and the attacks worsen them --that's the spiral you want to avoid. just realizing that is i think a big help in keeping things under control.

a well-timed and infrequent valium don't hurt either.

I can see how that would be advantageous...and yet, a little bit annoying. ;)

That is a big part of the problem...stressing out about being stressed out. Not good!

to throw tools across the machine ship. I never hit anyone (I was a lousy ball player too). My Chiropractor tells me I handle stress well.

Building something where you have to use a hammer is good. Relieves stress and is creative and satisfying as well. A 32oz framing hammer is great until you hit your thumb.

of my friend being anywhere near a hammer! She'd probably hit her thumb on the first swing. ;)

and eat chocolate. :shrug: It also sometimes helps me to try to take my mind off the stress (not if it's a panic attack - for that all I can really do is walk over to the music building (it's about a 10-minute brisk walk across campus, so maybe that helps too) and play piano until I find my center and calm down) by working a puzzle or venting/talking to friends. :hug: Hope this helps! :hi:

I suggested music, and she definitely listens to that frequently. But today she was at work and was unable to do so.

Walking has been suggested a lot. I'll definitely pass that one on. :hi:

it seems to be a great distraction, it takes your mind off your breathing and stabilize your ventilation.

i keep stuff TIVO'd that are funny or I visit this lounge. usually something to make me laugh here or there. it's a big help.

My job tonight is to be amusing. Somehow. ;)

when I was having panic attacks and under huge amounts of stress was going to the gym and working out like a maniac.

I do yoga and meditate pretty regularly but the physical exertion of forty-five minutes of cardio and some lifting really made a difference for me. The days I didn't work out were far more difficult.

I hope things ease up, no matter how you choose to cope.

I think that sounds good, too.

It's not me, but a good friend that's having problems. :hi:

the good wishes still apply. :)

a mother slowly dying, and a grown son who cannot find a job. If I could run away, I would. `

Actually, that's very similar to what my friend is going through. Minus the grown son part.

If you haven't already, you should read some of the responses upthread. Many people had good ideas.

Best wishes. :hug:

Thanks, though!

:(

:hug:

:hug:

I hope whatever's going on in your life improves soon!

If you haven't already, you should read some of the responses upthread. There are some really good suggestions up there.

:hug: