Panic Attacks

For the last week I have been suffering from panic attacks.  Mostly mid-day and evening.  I used to suffer from these before I started working out, but now they are back.  I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for warding them off or any medication that has helped.  I did take anti-depressents, but I didn't like the side effects and needing to take it everyday.  I just want to take something when they hit me...
thank you!

As far as I know there is nothing you can take for when they hit. I recommend you try deep breathing. That has really worked WELL for me when I get anxious. Breathe deeply and slowly in through your nose and blow it out your mouth with pursed lips. Try making sound when you blow it out if you can. Know what I mean?

Also, if you DO need medication, try different ones until you find one that works for you. Not all have side effects. Have you tried Lexapro?

I don't get panic attacks per se, though I think I have had one once or twice. I do get "dizzy" and feel like I'm going to hit the floor sometimes (it's anxiety). What helps me is to "self talk" -- I just say to myself "it's only anxiety" -- for me that works because I can talk myself out of it because I KNOW what it is. Try Googling too for more information.

I've suffered from panic attacks since I was a child, there is no "cure all" for them, I wish there was. When I feel one coming on or am having a full blown one, I do my best to relax. If I can sit down then I do that, but even if I'm standing I just slowly breathe in and out and try to take my mind off of what's stressing me or causing me to feel anxious. There are other things you can do, listen to music, write, clean..I clean a lot to reduce my stress. The side affects from anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications can be pretty bad, I've been on several medications over the years. One thing you need to figure our is why you're feeling anxious or nervous and try to deal with the problem head on.

Breathing is the most important thing. What tends to happen in panic attacks is that people don't exhale completely, so are then unable to inhale very much and feel like they are suffocating. The above advice is good- blow out through your mouth and make sure you have exhaled completely before inhaling again.

Practicing deep, even breathing through your nose even when you are not having an attack will help you become more aware of your breath and may help with warding off attacks.

Also, if you are in a full blown panic attack, to help calm your breathing down, hold a few paper towels up around your mouth and breath into them. That helps your breathing return to normal.

What we eat does affect our mental health. I would suggest that you try to stay away from processed foods, and eat lots of fruit and veggies, and 4-6 oz of lean meats, chicken, turkey, fish, or seafood per day, and a little bit of whole grains. A limited amt of nuts and seeds are good too. Remember to drink 64 - 100 oz of Water, just plain water or with a slice of lemon, every day. Green Tea is very healthy for you also.

All the posts about breathing are very good. I had the same problem. I used to breathe in and out into my cupped hands - or a paper bag if I had one, bcause I would start to hyperventilate. Also, for me, Lexapro worked wonders - I had no side effects, only the physical symptoms disappeared - what a relief! I have heard that Xanax works well as a short term, immediate solution.

I have had panic attacks too and what worked for me is the breathing. My therapist at the time gave me a breathing exercise to do when I feel one coming on. Breathe in for 4 counts, Hold for 5 counts and exhale for 10 counts. Not only do you get your breathing under control but you also focus on something other than what caused your panic attack to start.

diduseeme:  I agree with the other people here, breathing is one of the best tools to use.  The best way to know if you are breathing correctly is put your had on your tummy and make sure you are getting your hand to rise with your breathing.  Pinkpammfer said to breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 5 counts and exhale for 10 counts is great.  One thing to say while you are doing this is:  I am calm and relaxed.  Like breathe in to the count of 4 saying "I am Calm"  and hold for 5 counts and as you exhale say to your self "and relaxed".  That works for me. 

I have had panic attacks for 25 years.  I hate, hate,hate them.  I take Lexapro for them, but I do still get them from time to time.  I see a therapist too.  I have found they are genetic, my mom got them and her dad got them, but I think they did not know they got them they just self medicated. 

I know this is an old string but watch out for the green tea!  I had sufferred from panic attacks a few years ago and  just started drinking green tea about a month ago and they have come back.  Maybe decaf green tea would be better?

I've been suffering from Panic Attacks for a few years now, not knowing what was wrong with me.  Recently these "attacks" have turned into an all day affair.  I went to the doctor 100% POSITIVE that something is wrong with my heart, I've been obsessed...(taking blood pressure 6-7 times a day, taking my pulse constantly...) and she assures me it's just my anxiety.  I started taking Xanax about 3 weeks ago and it's worked well as long as I take .50mg 3 or 4 times per day.  I decided to start Lexapro which I started a few days ago.  I've been a complete mess.  I feel like I'm losing my mind.  I hope to god the Lexapro starts to work so that I can start feeling like a human being again.  My biggest worry right now are these weird sensations like my breath is being taken away.  I'll be talking or sitting, and all of a sudden I get this strange sensation like when something scares you... is that anxiety??  I'm freaking out.  I don't know anyone else that suffers from Anxiety (strangely enough) so I have no one to talk to about this.  I'm absolutely STRESSED to the max about this.

Any thoughts, PLEASE let me know!!!

My grandma takes Xanax and was on Lexapro.  Xanax at the lowest dosage .25mg a few times a day seems to work well for her anxiety but Lexapro was making her sleep walk at night and she was getting bruised.  The psychiatrist doesn't really believe that she suffered any side effects from the Lexapro (he doesn't think that there are many side effects) but since she refused to take it he didn't have any choice.

Panic, are you taking the Lexapro under the care of your doctor? I can't tell from your post.

Panic attacks and anxiety are just no fun -- the only good thing I can say about them is that even though they FEEL awful, they won't kill us.

I was on Xanax too and my caution to any of you taking it is that Xanax is highly addictive. Going off it was not fun in the least, and I took my Xanax under the care of a well qualified physician exactly as prescribed. Withdrawal still sucked donkey balls.

Breathing helps, running up and down stairs helped me a LOT and so did running. YMMV.