Panic attacks

Breathe in and out of a paper bag. It helps to correct the gas levels in your blood which go out of kilter when you over breathe. Once they're out of kilter your body begins to panic and makes you breathe even faster which throws the gas levels out even further. Also concentrating on slowing down your breathing helps to distract you from the other symptoms and helps you to calm down.

That said if you have feeling breathless and have chest pains you must go to the doctor and be checked over. Once they've been checked that's one less thing to cause you stress.

Thank you for all the helpful suggestions. I have been trying to utilise some of the coping techniques and have felt a little better but think I might see my GP as my physical symptoms ( dizziness , chest pains etc ) are scary .

Try to relax your shoulders.......deep breathe in, counting to 4.......hold breath for 4 then expel air to count of 8. Try to do this 3 times.

Try concentrating on something different like reciting the alphabet or counting backwards or saying a poem or nursery rhyme to yourself or out loud if alone. This is good if you are out somewhere (I used to do it when travelling by train which made me panicky). Always remember it's just your body reacting to your fear and nothing bad will happen to you.

At home if I get anxious I try to concetrate on something to do like completing a sudoku which I'm not very good at.

Thanks Eddie , will check.

Hi Beth
If you go to the next page of `Health` posts, on about 19th October you will see another query about panic attacks which has lots of helpful hints in the replies
Good luck

Oh Beth have been there and its awful BUT they do go away try holding a paper bag tight to your mouth and breath slowly in and out for couple of mins. Think it helps your carbon dioxide levels!! Also remember it is JUST a panic attack awful as they are BUTnothing bad will happen to you...promise?