Two panic attacks down!!!! Practice makes perfect

Lionsfan44 · Post by **Lionsfan44** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:15 am

I was at work this week and things were crazy I was getting a summer cold and before I knew it BAM I was in the middle of a Panic attack and you know what I did.....Nothing I just had it. I refused to give in and after it was over instead of shame and gulit I had the greatest sense of pride and empowerment I had one today at the grocery store and all I could think about was you can get past it and continue your day and again that wave of warm powerful feelings came over me and instead of people staring at me for "freaking out" I bet they wondered what is this guy smiling about.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 11:38 am

Dude! Wow, I am impressed. I've been through CBT and can intellectualize everything but have had the hardest time with acceptance of panic. Therefore, when despite other progress, an attack comes on, I feel like I step backwards. It starts to happen and my first reaction is "oh no" or "I can't handle it". I try to walk it off, I search for a safety person (my spouse or therapist) and I say "why me". This is my downfall through all of this and also my biggest road block. My therapist and others here have told me to do exactly what you did: nothing and just ride it out. I so far have not been able to do so....accepting it, living through it, and treating it like no big deal seem to be a key. You are my zen master

!!!

New Stace · Post by **New Stace** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:19 pm

Way to go! I am also floating with some of the panic attacks. Recently, I felt a panic attack coming on and it occurred to me, hey, if this is the fight or flight response, maybe I should do "flight" so I broke out into a run! Who knows what other people in the vicinity thought about this random running, but it put a stop to the panic attack since the running allowed me to burn off the adrenaline. If appropriate, try it next time, it works and you will laugh at yourself in "flight"!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:47 pm

Way to go Lionsfan!!!!!! This is the way to overcoming panic! ACCEPTANCE... let it come and go and each time telling yourself the truth.

As uncomfortable as it can be, it's SOOOO worth it to do the work! This is where recovery is found.... by walking THROUGH panic... not avoiding it!

Take Care and may you continue to heal!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 2:17 pm

Thank you all for the kind words I really enjoyed the Churchill quote