Panic attacks again.

[Bluecatbooklover]

I just laid down to go to sleep and I immediately started having a panic attack. I’m so tired but now I can’t sleep because my brain has convinced my body that I’m dying because my fingers were tingling really bad. I feel like I’m always on the edge of a cliff and the smallest things are going to push me over the edge straight into a panic attack. I’m so tired of this.

[linuxusr]

Ah, Bluecatbooklover, I told you about the solution for panic attacks! What happened?? Feeling like dying and tingling fingers are symptoms of an anxiety attack. By definition, you have respiratory alkalosis. You need pursed lip breathing cycles to restore your carbon dioxide deficiency and bring the pH of your blood back into equilibrium. That's how it works. Again, this method does NOT work for GAD, only to prevent an anxiety attack. Ideally, start pursed lip breathing when you begin to hyperventilate. The anxiety attack will not happen. If it is already happening, start the pursed lip breathin now. If you don't know how to do it, then when you are feeling OK, watch some YouTube videos, preferably by healthcare professionals , and practice when you are not anxious. Then you'll be ready. Also if you are anxious, pay attention to your breathing to evaluate if you are starting to hyperventilate, short and rapid breaths . . .

[Bluecatbooklover in reply to linuxusr]

I kno I actually looked it up after I posted and I tried it out and at the very least I thought I looked kinda silly so it kinda worked out because it cut through the anxiety.

[linuxusr in reply to Bluecatbooklover]

I don't know if we are talking about the same thing! The method I am talking about applies only to anxiety attacks, not to anxiety in general. And with respect to that method and anxiety attacks, the method doesn't "just cut through it," it STOPS the anxiety attack from happening. When my previous psychoanalyst explained this method to me--he is a psychoanalyst and a physician and a former professor in the school of medicine of a major U.S. university--I have never in 2.5 since then, had a single anxiety attack. I have completely STOPPED more than 20. For me, anxiety attacks are history and this method works for everybody because it's the same biochemical mechanism that applies to everybody.

[Attaloss01]

Yes, I hear ya! Lately they come out of the blue. Are you on any anxiety medication? I'm not here to recommend a particular med. For myself, however, I have found that a combination of learned coping strategies ( like circular breathing and distraction), practiced daily even for 5 mins ... especially practiced when I am NOT feeling anxious really helps. However I've felt my best when using a combo of coping techniques with a small level of meds, and strong non critical social support works the very best. Keep reading and sharing what's going on for you.

Attalos

[Bluecatbooklover in reply to Attaloss01]

I do take medication. I’m currently taking three different kinds of anxiety medications and it’s not really helping as much as it used to so I have to talk to my doctor about changing it up.

[Beavis2022]

Maybe it's physical? I had this happen every time I laid down to sleep - turns out it was mitral valve prolapse - a heart valve that leaks a little, but is nothing dangerous, in my case. It helped to know this, as it went away - I guess the anxiety about it contributed to the problem.