# Talk me out of my impending panic attack! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 5, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457 "2009-11-05T19:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/1 "2009-11-05T19:16:11Z")
I can feel it coming, it’s been coming for a couple of days. I just about brought it on by almost chocking on my water. I feel like I can’t get a deep enough breath and I feel odd. My heart is speeding up and I can’t relax. Uggghhhhhhhh. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/2 "2009-11-05T19:36:47Z")
I assume you don’t have any meds, or else you would’ve taken some by now. I don’t think I can talk someone out of a panic attack, but I can suggest you breath deeply and, um, think calm thoughts. Sorry that’s not much. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/3 "2009-11-05T19:38:43Z")
What are you going to panic about? ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/4 "2009-11-05T19:39:34Z")
No, no prescription. I try to avoid drugs if I can help it. I think I talked myself out of it, but I also think I need to go get some fresh air or something. Thanks! Just the diversion of reading your response helps. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/5 "2009-11-05T19:40:35Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > What are you going to panic about? It’s never anything specific with panic attacks, usually. They just happen. I’m not thinking of anything in particular. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/6 "2009-11-05T20:11:22Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > No, no prescription. I try to avoid drugs if I can help it. > > I think I talked myself out of it, but I also think I need to go get some fresh air or something. > > Thanks! Just the diversion of reading your response helps. In that case, I shall create the best diversion I can! _pushes over a row of bookcases and faints dramatically_ ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/7 "2009-11-05T20:20:07Z")
This may not help really, but I remind myself that ‘a feeling is just a feeling’ and panic is just a feeling. It doesn’t mean that there is really something wrong. A panic attack, is just a panic attack. Go with the flow… ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/8 "2009-11-05T20:25:27Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > In that case, I shall create the best diversion I can! _pushes over a row of bookcases and faints dramatically_ Ha! Thanks. Yeah, I am able to cope with them usually by trying to ride it out. I haven’t had one in over a year so it’s been a while and I just hate the feeling. HATE! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/9 "2009-11-05T20:27:13Z")
For discussion – Who do you think would win in a battle royale on neutral turf: a rabbit-sized tiger, or a tiger-sized rabbit? Show your work. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/10 "2009-11-05T20:38:22Z")
I found that A) Xanax worked wonderfully for my panic attacks B) I wasn’t a pussy or less a man for taking medication for something that’s wrong and C)When I decided I’d had enough of the Xanax, my panic attacks never lasted longer than 20 minutes anyway and you can ride ANYTHING out for 20 minutes. YMMV ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/11 "2009-11-05T21:04:10Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > For discussion – Who do you think would win in a battle royale on neutral turf: a rabbit-sized tiger, or a tiger-sized rabbit? > > Show your work. I’ll go with the rabbit sized tiger. My reasoning is that the tiger has the fight skills, even while small, though the rabbit knows nothing and is a vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/12 "2009-11-05T21:05:44Z")
> [@Unintentionally\_Blank](#): > > I found that > A) Xanax worked wonderfully for my panic attacks > B) I wasn’t a pussy or less a man for taking medication for something that’s wrong and > C)When I decided I’d had enough of the Xanax, my panic attacks never lasted longer than 20 minutes anyway and you can ride ANYTHING out for 20 minutes. > > YMMV This is what I am thinking of doing. I was on Prozac for about a year and weened off this past winter. The issue is that 1) I don’t like depending on medication, and 2) I’m trying to get pregnant. However, these panic attack feelings are getting worse, so I may have to give it a shot in the meanwhile. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/13 "2009-11-05T21:07:50Z")
This is your brain chemistry acting up. There’s nothing real that you need to panic over. There aren’t too many situations that are improved by panic, actually. I can’t think of any- can you? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/14 "2009-11-05T21:30:34Z")
> [@EmAnJ](#): > > I’ll go with the rabbit sized tiger. My reasoning is that the tiger has the fight skills, even while small, though the rabbit knows nothing and is a vegetarian. There exists some scholarly research that [casts doubt](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/) on your thesis. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/15 "2009-11-05T22:06:51Z")
Have you tried meditating? Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche talks about having had panic attacks in his youth and overcoming them via meditation in [this](http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Living-Unlocking-Science-Happiness/dp/0307347311/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257458708&sr=1-8) book. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/16 "2009-11-05T22:17:55Z")
I’ve got a stockpile of Ativan for these but also take a low dose of meds for anxiety/depression. The Ativan is my safety net and knowing it’s there keeps me from getting so bad I have to use it. It was 1997 when I thought the attacks would kill me, and it’s been 12 years since. Whoa, I didn’t think I’d make it. I’d like to wean myself off meds too but I know I’d need the safety net in the back of my mind! ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/17 "2009-11-05T23:27:54Z")
I’ve had panic attacks for periods in my life, and you can get through them with or without meds. The first time I had them was back in the early 80s. Virtually no one knew what they were. I worked overnights in reception in a hospital ER and I’d have one at work and the ER doctors were like “Cool, I’ve never seen anything like this, before.” I went to therapy and using behaviour modification in three months, they went away for the next ten years. They came back in the early 90s after a period of extreme stress. I went to see a therapist who sent me to a psychatrist (an MD) who gave me Imipramine. I thought “How can a pill help me.” The doc said it could take up to six weeks to notice an improvement. I took one pill and a half hour later I felt better. Within two days they stopped totally. Imipramine killed the attacks. Now I admit that was very quick and the drugs usually don’t work so fast. Eventually I tapered off Imipramine and was OK for another ten years. I’ve had a few attacks as I’ve been out of work or underemployed for the last two years, and I found Paxil also KILLS the attacks for me ASAP. Paxil has none of the side effects of Imipramine (such as dry mouth and constipation) and has the added benefit of being $4.00 for 30 days or $10.00 for 90 days at Walmart. My bottom line is this; do you need meds to get over panic attacks? No you don’t. But suppose you have a headache. You can go into a quiet dark room and lie down and it a few hours your headache will be gone. Or you can take an aspirin and in 15 minutes the headache will be gone. If the meds are there why NOT use them? You don’t need to but they help you. I also used Paxil to get over an extreme fear of flying. Today I can fly and don’t need to use Paxil at all. Flying isn’t my favourite thing but I can DO IT today. Without the Paxil I never could’ve gotten on the plane. Paxil helped me face the fear. It didn’t remove it but it enabled me to get on the plane. Now I fly without Paxil, so you see these drugs are tools to help you cope. I was one of those people who hated to use drugs, but I am so sorry it took me so long to try Paxil for my flying anxiety. I missed out on a lot of opportunities and they were great opportunities because I was terrified to fly. I regret this. Finally remember panic attacks are “distressing but not dangerous” You don’t go crazy, you don’t faint, you don’t lose control and you won’t do any permenent damage. (I assume you’ve had a doctor rule out any physical problems). Just say “this is distressing but not dangerous” Go online to the wayback machine and get some old time radio shows. They are in public domain and download them. Then when you feel anxious, go for a walk, put the old time radio shows on your walkman and exercise when you feel nervous. Walk and listen to those shows, they’re interesting enough to keep your mind occupied and the walking will get rid of the excess engergy. (I recommend “Burns and Allen” it’s hystercial and Gracie Allen will keep your mind of any anxiety.) Good luck ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/18 "2009-11-06T01:17:34Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > If the meds are there why NOT use them? You don’t need to but they help you. I don’t know about the OP, but my answer is simple: benzodiazepines are the most addictive drugs on the planet, and have the worst withdrawal (I know someone who also detoxed of opiates–they said that was much easier). I don’t want go through that again (and I’m not even over it yet–I’m on my fourth month, and it can take a couple years.) I also found out you aren’t supposed to take them for more than 4 weeks. My doctor had me on them for years, and that isn’t uncommon. It scares me how much doctors ignore the FDA warnings. Xanax is supposedly the absolute worst because it’s so short acting. My current doctor won’t even prescribe it. The best is Valium, and you know what bad press it got. Now, Prozac (and other antidepressants) are okay. But the drug they give you to take during a panic attack (as in your headache example) is a usually benzodiazepine. I totally do not recommend it. Get a beta blocker instead. It’ll slow your heart rate in less than 10 minutes, and make your breathing easier. And maybe get an SSRI as a preventative. (Yes, I know not everyone gets addicted. But everyone I know that has tried it has.) ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/19 "2009-11-06T01:34:42Z")
Xanax was the seasoning on my Wellbutrin regimin. Til I went on a 1 week business trip to Vegas and forgot to bring my meds. That was a seriously f’d up week. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2009, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457/20 "2009-11-06T01:47:47Z")
I vote for meds too. Xanax works wonders to take me right down out of a panic attack. For a non-medicated approach, try [belly breathing](http://www.authentic-breathing.com/belly_breathing.htm). It really works if you’re in a place that you can concentrate when the attack comes on. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/talk-me-out-of-my-impending-panic-attack/516457.md?page=2)