Eveline
12-11-06, 02:30
I've always kept journals, I got my first one when I was 10 (I'm 32 now) and as you can imagine, I've got many! Today I thought, why not start keeping one for my panic attacks. It will help me keep track of when I have them, what happened, how I felt, my thoughts of what might have triggered it, what coping method worked. And so I did. I wrote down what happened during the panic attacks of the last week (4! And a few teeny tiny ones that I nipped in the bud by using Recue Remedy), and started a list with date, when the attack happened (3 of the 4 right after waking up), and a rate from 0 to 10 for each of them. (2 were a 3, 2 were an 8/9)
I also copied the 'What to do if you are having a panic attack' list from this site and my own coping methods.
And then I thought, pfff, this is all getting very serious. I should try and make it a bit less depressing...
I've been keeping an art journal for a while now (just to have a change from the written journals, it helps to get my creative juices flowing), and I thought of writing myself some notes, things that could help me to cope.
So now, in the back of my journal, I have glued an envelope, I decorated it, and in it are little notes that start of with 'Dear me', and then a little affirmation/helpful message to myself.
*Dear me, Everyone's got their problems, having panic attacks is nothing to be ashamed of.
* Dear me, I love me! (And T., of course)
* Dear me, panick attacks do not last forever, I will survive!
* Dear me, I am creative enough to come up with the perfect solution for my panic attacks, every time!
* Dear me, think: So what?!
I'm sure I will add more as time goes by.
Maybe it's something you can try, too..
I also copied the 'What to do if you are having a panic attack' list from this site and my own coping methods.
And then I thought, pfff, this is all getting very serious. I should try and make it a bit less depressing...
I've been keeping an art journal for a while now (just to have a change from the written journals, it helps to get my creative juices flowing), and I thought of writing myself some notes, things that could help me to cope.
So now, in the back of my journal, I have glued an envelope, I decorated it, and in it are little notes that start of with 'Dear me', and then a little affirmation/helpful message to myself.
*Dear me, Everyone's got their problems, having panic attacks is nothing to be ashamed of.
* Dear me, I love me! (And T., of course)
* Dear me, panick attacks do not last forever, I will survive!
* Dear me, I am creative enough to come up with the perfect solution for my panic attacks, every time!
* Dear me, think: So what?!
I'm sure I will add more as time goes by.
Maybe it's something you can try, too..