Unnecessary things we do for 'relief.'

[KelleighNicole]

These are some things I find myself doing in a state of panic, somehow thinking they'll prevent me from feeling worse or actually becoming ill.

- Seeking ICE COLD anything (sticking head in freezer, pouring cold water on my self, splashing face w/ cold water, cold shower, etc.)
- Taking extremely deep breaths.
- Chewing cold cloths.
- Biting things/chewing anything.
- Taking back roads everywhere, avoiding highways.
- Taking anti-emetic pills.
- Fiddling with things in my purse, trying to distract myself with something.
- Using an inhaler.

I'm sure there are more, but that's just a few.

[stephenie]

For me its


-cold showers to the point my teeth are chattering(not healthy don't reccomend this)
-scratching my head like trying to find scabs(weird I know) so I cab pick at them same as my face :/
-getting ice packs and putting them on me
- sit upright and just rock back and forth till I get exhausted
-constantly sipping drinks
-pray (which is not unnecesary)
-constantly go to my mom for reassurance (mom am I ok? How do you know? Ect.)
-watch the same shows over and over(happy,animated,fun shows like up,lion king, madagascar,) kid movies I guess lol. I'm 17 okay :P
-make myself burp (I have no idea why I do this.
-put on spearmint eucalyptus lotion (its a therapeutic aroma stress reliever) you can get it at bath and body works
-pace
-suck air in

[patricksgirl32]

There is a good quote. Its change a thought move a muscle. And keeping yourself busy is actually a good thing when your in a state of panic. It uses up excess adrenaline that's why when the panic attack comes on you have the sudden urge to get up and sprint away! Lol I pace when I have panic attacks, I drink seltzer to make myself burp and I smoke but don't smoke! So everyone has something. But its not weird. Your brain plays tricks on you. Find a way to trick it back ;0)

[canadianreject]

Usually find anything cold that I can. And making myself burp, I think it releases some pressure.

[Harlequin]

I try to feel as cold as I can be; then I sit on the floor and rock backwards and forwards. Sometimes I pace.

Many times I've taken phenergan even though it was only anxiety causing the nausea.

[ForeverrCaitlin]

-take really deep breaths
-take a tums
-(used to but sometimes still) take small sips of water alot
-pinch/"claw" myself so I stop freaking myself out
-have to talk/text alot to people about my stomach issue
-sit up straight
-watch old cartoons
-stay up until I feel better or completely pass out
-avoid certain perfumes and overcast skies(gives me headaches that make me naseaous

[Erica1649]

I find it interesting the cold thing works for most of you..Me, I usually start shivering and end up under a boatload of blankets and stuff.

I take Brioschi and that helps me burp like crazy (even at the slightest sign of indigestion) and I feel good as new...I pop in a DVD of Scrubs or The Office and that helps distract me a lot. I try to prop myself up in bed, sometimes it also helps me to be in a lighted room.

[stephenie]

Forevercaitlin I'm just like you!

[ForeverrCaitlin]

Stephenie, omg really? Everyone is always like " why are you wearing sunglasses inside with all the curtains closed and the lights on?" (when overcast) lol. My brother said it has to do with "baromatic pressure". at least now I know I'm not the only one XD

[lbckid1]

Eek!
I pray till i cant no more lol
I try n burb even tho i cant.
I stay in one spot and never move...(usually the toilet seat...idk why but it makes me feel more comfortable)
Try and avoid talking
Take deep breaths
Or go on this website...it usually makes me feel a little better

[Ikari]

I'm getting to the point where I do these things almost everyday : / :
Stay up VERY late; get up around noon.
Rock myself to sleep.
Constantly taking sips of water or tea.
Make myself burp; I believe it reduces pressure in my throat. ( Weird I know).
Watch videos on youtube of my favorite music.
Text people and go on facebook.
Read\ watch TV.
I sometimes get nervous in public when I can't do these things or don't have access to water. It's so embarrasing...

[Jen06]

Here's mine (LONG):

*Take a Phenergen and/or Pepto
*Play a game on my cell phone or on Facebook
*Talk to KaydeeJayde
*I HAVE to be in my room with the door locked and NO ONE around at all.
*Strip down to underwear and bra (I canNOT be hot at all if I feel sick)
*Wet, cold washcloths on my stomach, neck, and forehead
*Ice packs are frequently used as well
*Fans on... even when I'm shivering and teeth are chattering
*Swallow hard/deep breaths
*Tv has to be up LOUD
*I constantly tuck my hair behind my ears
*Sometimes scratch at or pinch my thighs
*Sip on something with carbonation or ice water
*Reading
*Have to have trashcan right beside me "just incase"
*Don't go to sleep until I pass out sitting up (usually from Phenergen)

I don't burp like most, though, because everytime I've v*d in the past, I've THOUGHT all I had to do was burp... and it brought on the v*, so I avoid burping as much as possible if I feel sick. :-/

[asqueenqs]

-stay up all night.
- cover my face
- get a trash bag, just in case
- take motrin
-avoid burping, afraid ill get sick
- find someone to talk to, even if its 5am. haha

[JessalynV.]

lets see...
-Take a lot of Pepto
-Get a container, (just in case) and it HAS to be square and it HAS to be plastic
-rub my tounge back and forth along the roof of my mouth
-lay on a couch
-watch some kind of game show (it gets my brain workin and distracted)
-movie as little as possible
-talk as little as possible
-stay completly away from food, or smells, (perfume, food, wet dog)

[JessalynV.]

oh yea! and..
-I make sure I'm at home! I'm so terrified of being sick in public
-And have all the fans on, be in a tank top and booty shorts, but wrapped in a huge blanket (really weird I know )

[PinkP]

I usually get panicky in public places because that is where I dread being sick the most, so when I get panicky at the store I buy bananas. It is totally random, and I don`t even like bananas. But it calms me down knowing that nobody can see that i am panicking because I am doing something so totally normal.

-I also scratch myself or pinch myself to move the focus, or send a text message.
-I yawn
-I have to be completely alone
-At home I sit with my head leaned to the washing machine, the sound is like white noise and it calms me, the shower works like that too.
-I cuddle up in a big blanket and watch something to keep my mind of it, like game shows.

[bixzy]

For me it's also being so cold that I'm shivering and shaking.
I also do the following:
- I can't eat or drink anything when I feel sick. Water is included.
- Usually I take showers and just stand there without washing anything on my body. I repeat that all day if I need to.
- Pace. I'm pretty sure everytime I feel ill I walk at least 2 miles lol.
- Avoid anyone and everything. If someone comes into my room I yell at them to go away.
- Clenching my fists help. Don't ask me why.
- Pulling my hair up in a pony tail and away from my face.
- Put make up on. If I'm just feeling sort of blah, and not over the top, this helps because it distracts me.
- Avoid sitting or laying down. Weird i know.
- Avoid staring at anything for too long. If I can keep my mind working on different things, it makes it feel better.
- Go to sodahead.com and read some debates.

[sinkorswim]

i find the things i do to avoid this problem take way more out of me than actually throwing up would. it is totally inefficient

[Miss Trombonist]

-pace in room
-find cold things also
-taking a whole lot of pepto bismol
-talking to someone
-putting hand over mouth
-just panicing all around lol

[Miss Trombonist]

oh, and i also make myself burp. it helps relief pressure in my stomach too!

[sunnyskies]

- Trying to burp is one for me as well. Not sure how/why it helps, but it often does.

- Drink diet soda. I'm really addicted to it, like how some are severely addicted to drugs or alcohol, I am to Diet Coke. It relaxes me, but it probably isn't a good thing.

- Try to take deep breaths, which I guess is actually quite necessary, haha. Yay for breathing.

- Coloring. I have over a dozen coloring books from the dollar store and use that as a distraction/relaxation tactic. I like making bracelets, bookmarks, etc. Random stuff that gets my mind off of my fear.

- Like others mentioned, pinching/scratching myself. Usually my arms or wrist. I strike my arms or thighs with pens and I end up with terrible bruises. Pulling my hair (like the short hair way in the back of your head that is just growing out), as well. All really destructive habits that I've picked up and need to get rid of.

[TheSweetThinker]

I'm surprised so many of you insist on being cold when you feel sick or during a panic attack! Whenever I'm freaking out, I find that a nice hot water bottle or a warm shower relaxes my already tense muscles.

But on the onset of a panic attack, I usually:

-Nibble on some dry toast/crackers

-Watch an old cartoon or animated movie (brings me back to the good old days when I wasn't an emet!)

-Fold dozens of origami paper cranes (I'm trying to get up to a thousand of them; there's an old Japanese legend that says if someone folds 1,000 paper cranes, they get a wish...of course my wish is for my phobia to be gone )....the concentration needed to fold the cranes helps distract & relax me.

-Do some brain games online

-Get reassurance from my mom (sometimes to her slight annoyance, lol)

-Practice my kanji....again, something that takes concentration & therefore leaves no room for worry!

-Sip at some apple cinnamon tea (cinnamon helps soothe nausea)


However, I'm not yet skilled at handling panic attacks in public...gotta work on that.

[PinkP]

-Fold dozens of origami paper cranes (I'm trying to get up to a thousand of them; there's an old Japanese legend that says if someone folds 1,000 paper cranes, they get a wish...of course my wish is for my phobia to be gone )....the concentration needed to fold the cranes helps distract & relax me.

And I am now folding cranes.. Im up to two

[TheSweetThinker]

998 to go, WOO! go for it

[PinkP]

996
It`s actually really relaxing, I think I`ll really try to get to 1000!

[Blushes]

Wow, I notice a few people in here mentioned cartoons. I thought I was the only one that sought out cute/romantic/disney type movies to ease my mind off everything.

I also:
- First and foremost, LEAVE whatever room I'm in if possible (as if the phobia won't follow me around, but it always does... Wow I'm so smart)
- Get up and pace/walk around
- Clench my fists really hard (and most of the time I have long nails, I end up scratching my palms by accident to take my mind off the pain)
- Gulp a lot
- Stay far away from food
- Take anti-emetics (gravol, pepto, tums, etc)
- Peppermint tea and other decaffeinated teas such as ginger, cinnamon, decaf green tea, etc. (sometimes with agave nectar or honey)
- Avoid eating meat in fear of getting FP and making things worse
- Talk to some of my friends online and watch Youtube videos with them
- Generally act clingy/needy around friends and family
- Get constant reassurance from my mom (which sometimes pisses her off for good reason)
- Carry around a plastic container (if at home) or a small plastic baggie in my pocket (if I have to leave home, God forbid!)
- Visit this Emet forum... lol
- If all else fails, curl up into a ball, lock myself in the bathroom and cry until it's over

[Blushes]

Oh, and I also squeeze my left thumb, because I read somewhere that putting pressure on your thumb or wrist relieves nausea. Not sure if it's legit or just nonsense but I do it all the time anyway. I especially do this when I brush my teeth at night and have to scrape my tongue to avoid gagging.

[Popiko]

I'm new here and it's such a relief realising that all those "weird" things I do and I can't even admit to myself can be discussed!
-I seek for cold, too (I once spent the night on the deck of a boat, getting splashed by the waves)
-I hurt myself by pushing my thumb nail against the other fingers
-I avoid burping, eating, drinking, talking, moving
-I breathe the less I can when nauseous, deep breaths when it gets worse

[alisha27]

Sleep on the couch for easy access to outside or bathroom
Must have water
Must have chewing gum (mint)
Must have pepto
Hold in my breath
Pick at my skin
Pace back and forth shaking
Play tetris or read

[Valerie13Ann]

For me its:

Chewing ANY kind of gum is a must...it make the n* go away for me
If I don't have gum, it makes me panic more
Pace...try to escape the room I'm in at the time. Especially if theres people. I would hate to v* in front of a bunch of people
I can't eat ANYTHING...I can take small sips of water or something.
Take deeeeeeep breaths.
Sometimes I cry...which is completely uneccessary
If I'm in bed I nervously move my feet
Bite my nails....gross!
If I'm not home, I immediately want to get there ASAP!
But my main thing is the gum. I HAVE to have gum on me at all times. So weird. Everyone knows I always have gum.