How does everyone else cope with the aftereffects of panic attacks?

I had panic attacks for 30 years See my thread http://www.mylot.com/w/discussions/996046.aspx I deal with them as best as I can But it is far from easy and my problem has got worse along the years. I am seeing a doctor today to see if he can help me. I had a mild form of agoraphobia for 30 years which cause the panic attacks... and for the last 16 years I have to deal with a stress problem also... which I believe is a direct result of the panic attacks. So it is a double banger for me.

I used to have the panic attacks. I thought I was having a heart attacks and couldnt breathe so now I just take a deep breath sometimes it helps

I came across a really good book that might be of help here, "HOw to master anxiety" by Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrrell. Its approach has completely changed how i deal with all difficult and stressful situations. It has a good section on panic attacks

I suffer with anxiety attacks. I have been told by my doctor that they are different from panic attacks but I don't understand the difference. With mine I get what feels like heart palpatations. Normally I can deep breathe and it will pass. I very rarely know what has caused it and if I do it iss usually something very silly. My doctor said that if they get any worse then there are medications I can take but I would rather leave that as a lastresort. Good luck and perhaps go back and see your doctor if you are finding it hard to cope.

Copper, I am someone that has been living with an anxiety disorder for the last 7 years. I deal with them all the time, and have actually, overtime been able to ween myself off the panic attacks. The best thing I did was find an out...like fishing to go and get away from everything. That would be the advice that I would give you. By the way, I sent you a request to be your friend. I like to help the new users get started, and give them some tips to get referrals, etc. Obviously, building up MyLot is a great way to get paid more...Hope things are going well for you, and welcome aboard.

I have to just kinda sit there and let the attacks get over. Then after words its takes a while for my world to stop being 3rd person where I feel that I am looking at everything from above. Its hard you just have to take each one as they come and work through them. Remembering that afterwords the attack is over you are fine and move on. I find that if I focus on worrying at it I have another attack. So I make myself busy.

When I was young I had several panic attacks after an automoble accident. Eventually, they went away but recently I noticed that I handled them by positive thinking. Telling myself that they would subside and go away.