Freaking out at work

[Mranxious11]

I'm at work right now and just started having a panic attack so I had to go take my lunch break early, I'm in the break room trying to get it under control but I feel like I can't breathe and sone thing is going to happen to me where I would have to go to the hospital and die .

[Hidden]

how are you doing now ?

[Mranxious11]

Calmer now, but I just feel like something is still wrong with my breathing and my lungs

[Hidden in reply to Mranxious11]

good that your calmer - breath through your nose and exhale through your mouth - concentrate on exhaling to leave room in your lungs to inhale more oxygen - do this slowly

[lourocks]

Hi I feel like that every day then when it passes I feel stupid constst struggled just rember this if you are going to die it would just happen so you be ok

[cat3]

Lack of Carbon Dioxide is the commonest cause of panic attacks. This is why if you're in hospital & have one, you'll be given a paper bag to breathe into to. As you breathe in and out and the bag inflates & deflates, you are re-inhaling the Carbon Dioxide which you've just exhaled repeatedly.

This is a clever trick as it forces you to breathe evenly and deeply and stops you taking in excessive oxygen which can cause light headedness. which in turn can cause feelings of faintness, nausea and panic. But it has to be done properly and continued 'til you feel calm again. It really does work.

I used to carry a paper bag with me always in the event of an attack, embarrassing if you can't hide from view, but preferable to a full blown panic. When I eventually learned that I'd survived countless panic attacks without dying, I stopped having them for good.