Very bad panic attack

[Dan Wales]

I am having a major panic attack I hate them. All I want to do is curl up in a ball.

[Annie0904]

Hi Dan you need to try to slow down your breathing. Take a slow deep breath in through your nose and hold it for a count of 5 then let it out slowly through your nose. Then smile :) Keep repeating this until you feel calmer. (The smile is important...honestly it does help even if you don't feel like it).

[CA88]

I find it impossible to do the breathing during a panic attack, because I can't feel calm enough or be rational.

What I have started to do, is just freeze, if I start to run away, stop myself, stay there and say 'Okay, so it's fine to be anxious, but nothing is going to hurt me' and usually, within seconds the feelings subside. Trying to fight it, makes it worse for me!