I was 'revisited' by panic attacks a few months ago. (I'd suffered from them about 6 years ago for about 6 months or so). I had been having nightly triggers which would leave me exhausted in the mornings and on edge, frightened, anxious and tearful throughout the day. I found this website about 2 weeks after they started. I read the messages, I posted and received great replies - especially from Meg who constantly put my mind at rest and did not get tired of my questions and long winded emails. Through this website I found an anti panic/hypnotic CD, a yoga cd (c/o Meg). I also took advice from the website regarding nightly panics, such as winding down properly before bed, only going to bed when I was so tired I could not keep my eyes open any longer. Herbal tea's, Bachs Remedy. Reduced my alcohol intake. I've also had a course of Beta Blockers.
The outcome is that the panic attacks became less frequent and now I can happily say I am panic free, I still get a bit anxious at bed time but I stay up and I read and I watch TV until I'm almost unconscious. I have learnt what feeds the dragon and what doesn't. By sticking to my winding down routine each night I get a panic free night. If I ever do feel the waves of panic try to kick in, sometimes I try to rationalise the panic waves and just try to think why they might be there, ie. what may have caused me to be anxious - go through the days events and see if I can target anything that may have got me more me stressed than usual. By this time the panic waves have usually gone. Sometimes, I do the opposite and try to get the panic to kick-in as bad as it can just so I can really practice at making it go away by using positive thoughts and to show it whose boss, when I do think this way - the panic doesn't come at all, it disappears as though it's frightened of me (as oppose to me being frightened of it).
I even got back on the tube last week and felt fine because I trusted myself to cope with and control any anxiety I might have felt whilst in the tunnel.
I also feel confident enough not to take the beta blockers anymore.
I hope my experience gives you all some encouragement and that you all have lovely Christmas and a very happy and positive New Year.
Lots of love,
jennie