Really Really scared

[scrumking]

I just woke up and my heart is racing like crazy my palms and feet are dripping with sweat.

I can't stop dry heaving I'm scared I think I'm about to have a heart attack or stroke

My body is shutting down

[TooMuchToLiveFor]

Dear Friend,
I have awakened in that state many times. You in a panic attack cycle. The more freaked out you get- the more adrenaline will flood, and the more symptoms and "body shut down" you will experience. You need to get your parasympathetic nervous system to engage. This is your "rest and digest" system, as opposed to your "fight or flight" system which is currently storming through your body. The more you tell it you are having a heart attack or stroke- the more "danger" it senses and keeps sending more "Fight or Flight" ingredients-- adrenaline.

Check out this link from the left of the page right now: http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/articles/panicattack/

---------- Post added at 08:54 ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 ----------

If You Are having A Panic attack NOW

Remember that although your feelings and symptoms are very frightening they are not dangerous or harmful.
Understand that what you are experiencing is just an exaggeration of your normal bodily reactions to stress.
Do not fight the feelings or try to wish them away. The more you are willing to face them, the less intense they will become.
Do not add to your panic by thinking about what "might" happen. If you find yourself asking "what if?" tell yourself "so what!".
Stay in the present. Notice what is really happening to you as opposed to what you think might happen.
Label your fear level from zero to ten and watch it go up and down. Notice that it does not stay at a very high level for more than a few seconds.
When you find yourself thinking about the fear, change your "what if" thinking. Focus on and carry out a simple and manageable task such as counting backward from 100 by 3's or snapping arubber band on your wrist.
Notice that when you stop adding frightening thoughts to your fear, it begins to fade.
When the fear comes, expect and accept it. Wait and give it time to pass without running away from it.
Be proud of yourself for your progress thus far, and think about how good you will feel when you succeed this time.