Panic attacks! any advice, can google but like to hear real life!

biker, I went through a time when panic attacks happened regularly for me. One particularly bad time was when I was on a bus, coming from the shops. I'd bought too much to carry comfortably, and the bus was really busy. The windows were steamed up and I couldn't see out very well. I actually felt as if I couldn't remember how to breathe. I knew I was hyperventilating, with my heart going like the clappers, but didn't know what to do. It was terrible. At that time, I was still working, things weren't easy at home (resolved now), and I felt as if I was going to 'blow'. I went to my GP who was very, very good. I was referred to a counsellor, who I saw over a number of weeks. My GP told me what I felt. He said, "You feel as if you're going to die, when this happens, but you're not. It's ok. Your body is just doing what it should do when you don't breathe properly." The counselling sessions helped me so much, and she gave me breathing exercises which I tried to follow when I got panicky. It didn't always work, but I found that the attacks got better, as I dealt with my problems. (The paper bag the doctor told your daughter to carry would help in that if she breathed into it when she was panicking, she would then breathe in carbon-dioxide, which would help to calm her breathing again). I hope she'll be able to deal with all this, and I'm sure she will with the right support. I found I could bring on an attack just by thinking about it, and that was where the breathing exercises helped me.

Oh, you do feel for them when they are in stressful jobs don't you, Biker.

To be fair to the hospital doc, the paper bag thing is very good and does work well. If she keeps getting these attacks, though, I would advice a visit to her gp. Fluoxetine is marvellous stuff for calming. She would most likely only need the help for a few weeks. She is probably still tired from being ill.

I had panic attacks when I was much younger. I really thought I was going to die. They are horrible. I hope she gets the help she needs.

Needs to see her GP, I'd say. There is medication that can help. My daughter used to get them, and her Dr advised the paper bag thing, but she now doesn't touch caffeine and once, when she she found her heart was racing, she realised she was dehydrated. Trouble is, when it's happened once, you can get panic attacks worrying about getting a panic attack! I have to sit at the end of a row in the cinema or theatre, because I can't stand not being able to get up and leave if I have to [if I can I'm ok]. I had my first panic attack when I was quite young, and remember running down the street to find my mum because I couldn't stand being in the house.

I so know what you mean Crimson. I used to have to go out into the garden and even run round the house!

I had them a few years ago and I was frozen by them, couldn't move. I took medication, but in the end my GP referred me for some therapy, which worked for me. Bikergran they are horrible and frightening, I hope your DD gets herself sorted out soon.

When you hyperventilate you flush out too much carbon dioxide from your body. If you try hard enough you can make yourself faint. So the idea of the bag is to re-inhale stale air and re-balance your blood gases.
But it is a cure for symptoms rather than prevention. Anxiety is horrible isn't it.
Slow yoga type controlled breathing would be my suggestion for dealing with anxiety before it escalates. Very slow breathing, making sure you don't huff the air out. Count to 8 or 10 in your head while inhaling and same when exhaling. Sit with one hand cradled in the other, palms up. This simple activity will send a message back to your brain that all is well. (if you did relaxation classes during pregnancy you probably learned something like this ?)

Jess you are quite right. Mind you glass is giving me one now with her *** codes.

Thankyou all for your experiences and and advice. Daughter said yesterday "mum did I worry you "? was you worried for me? (thinking quickly) I said...well no I wasn't worried as I had an idea what it may be! and I knew that nothing horrible was going to happen to you ! (liar ! I thought to myself)!!! But I did start to think it was! a panic attack rather than anything else.. she used to be such a confident girl but has had it all taken away from her it with her ex after 7 yrs it has finaly caught up with her, and he stiil! tries to belittle her and humiliate her! so it is a road she has to travel.
thankyou all again