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Manda
Lv 4
Manda asked in HealthMental Health · 8 years ago

How to calm down panic attacks?

I woke up four times last night to panic attacks at around 2:30am, and twice this morning at around 7:45am as well. I have GAD and am taking 10 mg of Citalopram, I've been on it six days today. I haven't had a panic attack since I've been on them (except for the first day, that was horrible!) and I was thinking they were already working but apparently not. Now I'm getting them only a few minutes after one has already ended, every few hours. I don't know why either, I just kept waking up and panicking. The attacks last about five minutes each. How do I calm down these panic attacks? Also, It's a side effect for Citalopram to make your anxiety worse for the first couple of weeks. Is it possible for the side effect to end after the first day then come back five days later? Like I said, I have only been on them for six days. Thanks!

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  • 8 years ago
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    Panic attacks are said to be 'seemingly random'. I suffer this anxiety disorder as well. Think of it as those porch lights that detect motion and light up when someone walks up your drive way. If they're set too sensitive, then they'll go off at basically nothing, or things that you yourself don't observe. If they're not set sensitive enough, then you can just never get them to go off. My therapist said that sometimes things occur that we are unaware of or subconsciously. It could be a noise, a picture, something you may not even know setting you off. During a panic attack just remember to stay calm. It's experiencing the same kind of adrenaline one would have on a roller-coaster, only its unexpected which seems scary. Stay calm! Personally, when i first get that feeling in my chest and I know an attack is coming on, I get that 'oh no!' kind of attitude. Saying 'oh no' or being scared or nervous are anxiety provoking thoughts, therefore creating a never-ending loop of freaking out. Mine skip around a lot. Once I had about 3 panic attacks in a weekend, then didn't have them for two weeks. Once again its very difficult to determine what sets them off since they can be 'seemingly random'. But that's the key. Seemingly. Just remember to stay calm and breathe. Hope that helped.

    Source(s): personal experience.
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