Your ways of distracting?

[DylanRichards]

I just wanted to get everyones take on what they do to distract them selves when having a panic attack. Or what methods do you use. Or what do you say, or write. Or whats somthing good to think while panicking?

Thanks!

[heydani]

Well, I normally run around like a psycho path squeezing peoples hands lol. However, more sane ways I calm down, are reading a magazine, getting fresh air, putting my hand in a bowl of ice, deep breathing, putting things into "my box" (something my therapist taught me), and watching TV.

[DylanRichards]

How do you do that stuff when your worrying. Cause i try all that stuff. But my nausea is always so bad, i cant think of anything else.

[EMF1300]

I always have my iPod handy to try and tune out my surroundings. And if I am in a vehicle open the window and look out. When I am n* it is a whole lot harder to focus on something, but having the TV on helps me because you don't have to necessarily listen, it can just be background noise. Hope this helps!

[spilled_milk]

I watch TV on my computer, or on my actual TV. If I'm out I'll play games on my phone. I also listen to music, dance around, read, and cook.

[DylanRichards]

See ive tried all this. It just doesnt work. Right now i feel reallly nausious =[[ I dont know how to stop having attacks every single effing night

[kathleenscared]

See ive tried all this. It just doesnt work. Right now i feel reallly nausious =[[ I dont know how to stop having attacks every single effing night

i am also having to deal with horrible attacks every night...i am just so scared...what do you feel when you get your attacks?

[Laonfait]

I take a Promethazine pill (I swear I'm addicted) and go through my youtube favorites.
Also, I tend to save all my replies here so I can check them when I'm nervous.

[ibekirsty]

i cant really stop mine, and it depends where i am such as if ive got somewhere i can escape to i will, i isolate myself, and my greatest tip is always carry an ipod or something that can play music using headphones, it takes my mind of the situation, and sometimes helps.

if im in a situation where i cant run away such as a school coach, i curl up in a bal:')

-always carry something with headphones because it stimulates your brain
(i think thats the word :')

[akidev]

Hi guys, yes this nausea is a sucky thing!!! Mine always hits at night and at any random day. Its stopped me from going out and having fun as I always have this fear of getting nauseas and not being able to get to a bathroom on time! I ahve also lost so much weight as I eat much less now in fear of getting sick.

[hd18]

I play games on my phone or iPad. On my phone I play solitaire and on iPad I find fast moving ones such as bejewelled quite good. I also have a puzzle type game called Callisto that I downloaded on my iPad and many times I have woken my husband up and made him play it with me over and over at ridiculous time in the morning.

I also have a latch hook rug I am making, I find the repetitive movement of this quite soothing sometimes.

[annaki]

cross stitch, crossword puzzles, snapping a rubber band on my wrist, deep breathing/meditation, computer games that REQUIRE you to be engaged like tetris, tv. i know its hard, i can still be doing all these things and still be feeling panicky. the trick is to find the activity that distracts YOU. good luck!!

[DylanRichards]

Hey guys thanks for all the responses! Ill try them all! Im so tired of having them every night. Do any of you think sometimes, its more than just a fear of vomiting. Its turning into a fear of worrying at night. Like since its happening every night. I just expect it to happen the next night. I lost my job for it last week. Its ruining my life day by day. I take phenergan, and the doc said it would be very very hard to become immune to that ever. He said it does work verrry well. I just dont ever know what to do late at night when i feel sick =/

[fixxxer2012]

They fired you because of your anxiety? If so im sorry and i hope you get the help and peace you deserve.

[heydani]

i get you, i fear every day that anytime after dinner my nausea will strike. It is kind of a fear of the night, I also put off my bed time a lot farther because I am so scared. :/

[DylanRichards]

Omg i thought i was the only one who did that dani!!!! And ya they had to fire me cause i was in the bathroom so much. And Its a fear of night time for me too. I dont like to eat after 7. And i always say i have 6 hours to get all this food out of my stomach. And i just always dont go to bed till like 4 so im sure i wont throw up.

[fixxxer2012]

Omg i thought i was the only one who did that dani!!!! And ya they had to fire me cause i was in the bathroom so much. And Its a fear of night time for me too. I dont like to eat after 7. And i always say i have 6 hours to get all this food out of my stomach. And i just always dont go to bed till like 4 so im sure i wont throw up.

might want to talk to a lawyer to see if it was wrongful termination. then again michigan is an at-will employment state. none the less im sorry to hear this!

[Laonfait]

Yes, I believe it can phase into a phobia. I am always fearful at night.

I agree that the reason you were fired is sketchy. Was your anxiety directly restricting your or others working habits?

[heydani]

I wonder why it is a night time thing, because usually night time is calm and relaxing, its a lot of peoples favorite tiem of day. it makes me curious as to why as emets we associate night time with v*ing

[asianeko]

I have lots of tricks, I just pick from whatever I feel like doing at the time.

Laying on the couch helps for nighttime, sometimes I sleep out there.

Chamomile tea is wicked relaxing.

Calm breathing is always used to help keep me in control.

Sometimes I'll play video games or watch TV as well.

Hypnosis tracks and music are also really soothing.

[laitka]

Definitely calm deep breathing or meditation - I've found some really good relaxation downloads to listen to like yoga nidra is a nice meditation to follow. I generally do them lying on the living room floor on a yoga mat.

Something that reminds me of comfort like my favourite tv show or movie where it's very familiar sort of like a safe place in the form of an activity that also distracts a bit. So I think I've probably seen my favourite shows a hundred time for this reason

Or if I have too much energy to lie straight I like to put headphones on and focus on a task like cleaning to expel some energy then finish up with a nice warm shower before doing something relaxing.

[DeadxxInside92]

I wonder why it is a night time thing, because usually night time is calm and relaxing, its a lot of peoples favorite tiem of day. it makes me curious as to why as emets we associate night time with v*ing

Most likely because people who have a hard time getting to sleep are alone with their thoughts. There's just so much more time to think because there's not much to do to keep oneself busy at night. I think it also adds to the anxiety feeling that you (in general) are virtually alone. That is how it is for me anyway. I'm awake when it seems like the whole world is asleep (of course we all know that's not possible, haha ok...my whole state and other states near my state are asleep). lol

Dylan, to answer your original question, I usually screw around on addicting games and find a game that needs a significant amount of my attention or I listen to music, text my boyfriend (provided he isn't sleeping) or chill out with my cats. Yes, I am a cat lady! haha It also really helps to have my fan going at all times when I am in my room. The cool air and white noise is soothing to me. Now, if I am having a full blown panic attack with hyperventilating and chest pain and heart palpitations, there's really not a whole lot I can do to calm myself down except just wait it out.

[Erica1649]

I usually write down how I feel...what may have caused my sypmtoms. I sometimes will take some Brisochi (which is like Italian Alka Seltzer) and makes me feel much better 99 percent of the time.

I also crawl into bed (since its cold I'm lovin my heated blanket!) and I pop in a DVD season of Scrubs. That is the number one thing that distracts me....makes me feel better 98% of the time.

I would also text message...

[istatica]

SUDOKU! It's a great way to move the focus to something external... Mahjong is great as well and you can usually get either on your phone.