i’ve added a link to the ‘links’ section.
it’s a resource for panic-attack sufferers (like me, and some of you). i found it to be really helpful, which is why i’ve added it. so if you suffer from panic attacks i suggest you take a look at this link and maybe it will be helpful to you, too.
i hope so.
-moby

there were some threads recently about panic attacks.
the things to remember with panic attacks are:
1-no one has ever died from a panic attack. it might feel like you’re going to die, but you won’t.
2-they always end. i know that in the middle of a panic attack it feels like it’s going to last forever, but they always end.

if you’re prone to panic attacks you should:
1-eliminate caffeine from your life
2-get lots of regular exercise
3-practice some sort of satisfying stress relief (yoga, cooking, meditation, playing piano, etc)
when i’ve suffered from panic attacks i’ve found that slow deep breathing has helped to lessent their severity and duration. panic attacks are truly awful. but they always end. some herbal combinations (kava kava, valerian, etc) can help to calm you down, too.
and if they ever get completely debilitating and unmanageable you can always see a shrink and get a prescription. but only as an absolute last resort, in my opinion.
good luck.
-moby

to clarify…
i’m not against taking prescriptions drugs to combat panic-attacks. but i see them as definitely being a last resort. i’ve had some pretty excruciating panic attacks in my life, and i’ve found that time and patience and herbal remedies and exercise all help them to go away.
if i ever found myself with completely debilitating panic-attacks, though, i would probably take prescription drugs. i’m glad they exist, for they do seem to work. but, and this is just me, i try to avoid synthetic prescription drugs if there’s a seemingly viable alternative.

oh, one other thing that i’ve found can give very temporary relief to panic attacks is red wine. but it’s just temporary, and liquour certainly shouldn’t be used to frequently self-medicate if you’re suffering from panic attacks, or so i believe.
one time i was in france and i was having really severe panic attacks and i went out to dinner and had a couple of glasses of red wine and that was just what i needed to sort of ‘break’ the panic-attacks. it might seem irresponsible of me to advocate drinking alcohol, but in the grip of a serious panic-attack i believe that anything that can help should be employed.
thanks again,
moby

there was a post about panic attacks. as i’ve suffered from panic attacks for most of my adult life i thought that i’d offer my perspective:
1-as far as i can tell, they always end. this is worth remembering when you’re in the middle of one. as bad as they get, they always end.
2-caffeine really, really makes them worse, and in some cases a lot of caffeine can actually trigger panic attacks. keep in mind that caffeine is in coffee, chocolate, tea (even green tea), and a lot of soft drinks.
3-a healthy diet and lots of exercise (yoga especially) will help to prevent them.
4-certain herbs really help to alleviate the symptoms. kava kava helps. so do a lot of the herbal sedatives, like valerian, etc. and gaba can help quite a lot. but before trying any herbal remedies you should research the supplements that you’re taking.
5-deep, relaxing breathing for 10 minutes can also really help.
6-always remember that panic attacks end. and no one ever dies from a panic attack. even if you feel like you’re going to die during a panic attack, just remember that you won’t.
7-other stimulants such as cocaine, crystal meth, acid, etc, can cause really severe panic attacks, and can unfortunately re-arrange your neural pathways in such a way that you might be more prone to have panic attacks in the future.

hopefully this will be of help to you if you ever suffer from panic attacks.
speaking from experience, they suck, so if you too are a panic attack sufferer you have my sympathy.
and one last thing, prescription drugs can help, but i’d advise staying away from them if you can. i see prescription anti-panic medicine as being an absolute last resort.
and there are so many healthier ways to deal with panic attacks (as i listed above).
thanks,
moby