Hello! What ways can I reduce panic attacks without needing to use medication for it?!?
Well, I have been experiencing panic attacks for a few years now. They slowed down when highschool was over, but once I started college they have been coming back more often and in new and worse ways.. I spoke to a doctor who suggested I use medication, but I really want to stay away from that. What other ways can I just make them go away so I can sleep better and focus in class! Please help. Thanks 
Hello,
I have been having panic attacks for 20 years now and i have never taken any medication for it at all,
but i was given a great tip off a doctor he told me when i feel one coming like your heart racing to place a paper bag over your nose and mouth(small bag about 6inch by 6 inch)and breath in and out slowly and calmly, this stops you hyperventilating so stops the attack before it gets the chance to happen full blown,
and this is what i now do, my attacks used to last about half an hour or even an hour but since using this advice it passes in minutes so i highly recommend this to anyone who suffers them,
it sounds strange but it works! i now carry a paper bag everywhere with me and just knowing i can stop an attack makes me feel calm so i get bigger gaps of time before i get one now,
and i used to have them most days for the first 10 years but since the paper bag for the past 10 years i have simply had my life back,
so its much better than medication as they often have side affects i heard.
Comments
Comment from (? ,?,?)
Time December 25, 2009 at 4:57 am
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is pretty much your only "Non Medication" rout.
Why no meds?
Medication isn’t a "Magic Pill" but it can help you cope with your ILLNESS until you can work things out through therapy.
Kava Kava causes liver and kidney damage! DO NOT TAKE IT!
It isn’t just "Snake Oil" and a scam, it an be dangerous!
If you had cancer, would you be asking "How can I cure my cancer without having to see a doctor?"
If you had diabetes, would you be so anti-medication that you would refuse insulin?
Medications exist to help you. PERIOD.
There is no huge conspiracy to "keep you sick" so that big-pharm can sell you more pills…
Get the help you need to keep the pathways that result in anxiety attacks becomes permanent. You are in that stage of life right now where your brain and how it works is malleable.
If you don’t get REAL help, it can hardwire you like this for life, and then you will actually need meds and help for life.
Get professional help NOW before you are screwed.
References :
Comment from Jason
Time December 25, 2009 at 5:33 am
Meditation can help. Just a take a few moments out of each day to breathe deeply from your stomach and try to clear your mind.
You can also give acupuncture a try. If you don’t have a lot of money or you are uninsured, I would suggest "community acupuncture" if it is available in your area.
References :
Comment from mac
Time December 25, 2009 at 5:47 am
Get the medication, but don’t use it. Just knowing it’s there gives you great confidence. But the best method is just to let the attack happen and don’t fight it.
http://www.panicend.com/index.html
References :
Comment from Jane
Time December 25, 2009 at 5:54 am
Scull a bottle of bourbon!
References :
Comment from MeAgain
Time December 25, 2009 at 6:21 am
I’ve had panic attacks for many years. I have dealt with them with medication and without.
Using just will power doesn’t work very well at all, there is no shame in using medication.
It is an extremely helpful tool.
I would take the doctors suggestion and give it a try, as for the over the counter medication I would avoid it.
Panic attacks need a specialized medication.
References :
years of experience
Comment from Neil
Time December 25, 2009 at 6:54 am
I suffer from major anxiety and get extremely bad panic/anxiety attacks at times. I’ve been given it seems like every damn anti-anxiety, sedative there is, and I tell my psychiatrist that it would take a hole bottle of meds to have an affect. What I have worked on for years is meditation. Believe me it took a few years even to take meditation seriously, from all the crap I’ve heard about it. I was referred to a few classes and appointments on meditation by different psychiatrists that i have had. Those experiences and two dedicated psychiatrists really helped me to give it a chance. Eventually by sticking to it, and finding out what techniques I could use or borrow, I’ve made a custom way for me to meditate and get pretty good results for the most part. First it to try and always have an out whether it be from work, school, almost any situation, that’s a reasonable way to excuse yourself if you find your anxiety unbearable especially around others. Find a quiet, darkened room that you feel comfortable in. (like your room, library, cemetery, or what ever is available.) Get off your feet if you can. Remind yourself that the attack and feelings will go away eventually and that you can ride it out. Do this till you believe yourself. Start by just getting away or distracting yourself from the situation. Once your are a little more calm, try some deep breathing exercises. (which, again I thought was a load of crap when I first heard it.) take in a deep breathe for close to 6 seconds and hold it for a while. Slowly let it out for about 8 seconds or so. You don’t have to count just guesstimate. Repeat this for a half dozen times. Then start your own meditation that you have customized for yourself and works for you to relieve stress. I’ve been known to pass out asleep doing this. The main thing is to practice, practice, practice, till it becomes easier and easier to accomplish. Do some research on the net and books, or classes. Anyway I’ve gone on way to long, I wish you luck. One last thing is to apply what you’ve learned to situations you can’t escape, like driving.
References :
own experience with panic attacks.
Comment from MissBeautifulButterfly13
Time December 25, 2009 at 7:09 am
well first i’d like to say i’m sorry this is happening 2 u but u r not alone. i have them 2! i breath into a paper bag and take deep breaths when mine happen. i also have a riverside health book that tells you to relax different muscles in your body and it calms me down. also you should probably google relaxation or stress relieving techniques. hope that helps:)
References :
personal experience
Comment from Blackcat
Time December 25, 2009 at 7:37 am
Hello,
I have been having panic attacks for 20 years now and i have never taken any medication for it at all,
but i was given a great tip off a doctor he told me when i feel one coming like your heart racing to place a paper bag over your nose and mouth(small bag about 6inch by 6 inch)and breath in and out slowly and calmly, this stops you hyperventilating so stops the attack before it gets the chance to happen full blown,
and this is what i now do, my attacks used to last about half an hour or even an hour but since using this advice it passes in minutes so i highly recommend this to anyone who suffers them,
it sounds strange but it works! i now carry a paper bag everywhere with me and just knowing i can stop an attack makes me feel calm so i get bigger gaps of time before i get one now,
and i used to have them most days for the first 10 years but since the paper bag for the past 10 years i have simply had my life back,
so its much better than medication as they often have side affects i heard.
References :
20 years of panic attacks.
Comment from Greg S
Time December 25, 2009 at 8:05 am
Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep causes panic attacks. Get exercise every day, at least 30 min. Eat well, take Vitamin B complex which is good for your nerves. Also magnesium and calcium tablets help to calm your mind.
Take deep breaths, do some meditation if you are able.
Stay away from caffeine and nicotine, they aggravate panic and anxiety.
Try not to worry about having a panic attack because the worrying about having one, is what brings them on more frequently.
I found a good site for you to read more.
References :
http://free-natural-remedies.blogspot.com/
Comment from Bianca B
Time December 25, 2009 at 8:37 am
It is really hard to totally depend on medication. Fortunately, now there are self help books or e-books that you can use as guide. These books or e-books can really help you reduce your panic attacks.
References :
http://www.zimbio.com/Stop+Your+Panic+Attacks/articles/OxLbo_mhQoi/Panic+Away+Review+How+Deal+Panic+Attacks
Comment from Mike
Time December 25, 2009 at 9:06 am
I too didn’t like the medication route which was the only option my doctor gave me. I saw the results others got from it and I was far from impressed. It didn’t seem to deal with the real source of my anxiety problem.
What helped me was that a friend suggested some NLP techniques and then that led me to EFT, which is really easy and very powerful at getting rid of unwanted negative emotions.
Well it worked very well for me any way. If you want to try it out, then check out http://www.emofree.com (it’s free). You can also search on
Youtube for EFT and panic attacks (or anxiety), then you can see and read about it. The only way you will know if it works for you is to do it then test for yourself.
The only other method I have heard of that worked on panic attacks is at this website – http://tinyurl.com/PanicAndAnxietyInfo.
A family member used it and it worked really well for them. It has been my experience and that on many others that you can get rid of those unwanted emotional reactions.
References :
http://tinyurl.com/PanicAndAnxietyInfo
http://www.emofree.com
http://anxietyandpanicattacksdisorder.blogspot.com/2009/11/anxiety-and-panic-attacks-disorder.html
Comment from Crissy
Time December 25, 2009 at 4:21 am
Take kava kava it is often reccomended by psychiatrists that support a holositic approach. You can get it through your local health food store.
References :