natural remedy for panic attack

[Lilyannarose]

I've suffered from them since the birth of my youngest child (now aged 9) so nothing new for me, but this one is particularly vile and has been coming and going over the past four days (literally every hour).
I've never had it this severe before and always been able to work my way through them by focusing on my breathing.
This has gone to another level somehow.

It sounds weird but the best way I can describe it is waves of extreme fear that wash over my entire body and come at regular intervals.
It sounds crazy but it reminds me of contractions (but with fear rather than pain) in the sense the fear subsides only to be replaced by another wave of fear several minutes later.
It literally takes all my strength to the point I can't grip anything with my hands, and I've been physically sick this morning.
It effects my sleep and appetite and I'm just physically and emotionally exhausted.

I've never taken anything for it, and always managed with natural breathing techniques.
I'm now wondering if there are any natural herbal remedies I could try that may just take the edge of it and help me calm down?
I sympathise with anyone else who suffers with them.

Bach Rescue Remedy is meant to be good. Also stressless tablets or kalms. Also try downloading the headspace app for mindfulness. Hope this helps

Thank you.

Cbd oil is meant to be really good for this. I have taken citalopram from the gp for anxiety in the past but not taking anything at the moment and noticed the anxiety coming back. I get a feeling of fear and dread coming over me, can feel the fear in my chest. The cbd oil apparently you can take as and when you get that feeling and you just put 2 drops under your tongue. Holland and Barrett sell it but think its about £30.

Kalms tablets work for me. I don’t know if they do or it’s placebo but either way they help.

Also another vote for the headspace app

Hey :).

I agree with Rescue Remedy. It also comes in a few different forms, so it's good to get a few and find what works for you. I like the spray and the pastilles.

With panic attacks, I find that prevention is better than a cure (as it's so hard to get out of them once they're there). I took years trying to change up my lifestyle to perfect my own mental health.

Plenty of exercise, plenty of water, plenty of fruit and veg, and as little crap as possible (chocolate, crisps, takeaways, etc). This has to be consistent. There are also foods that are supposed to help more than others like bananas and turkey as they contain tryptophan.. I do eat those, but I don't know if they help more or less than anything else.

If I'm starting to feel anxious for whatever reason, I will get myself down to the gym for a good workout and then a swim, and also take some Rescue Remedy.

Of course, if it starts to impact on your life majorly, seeing your GP would be highly recommended. There are certain types of anxiety and panic disorder that can be helped hugely by things that I have mentioned, but other times more help is needed. I probably should see mine, but I manage to keep things (just about!) under control.

Please call your GP, a four day panic attack where you keep feeling extreme fear needs a GP.

Exercise! I got panic attacks and found if I'd been to the gym or did a work out my body wouldn't have the pent up energy to have a panic attack. Sounds stupid but it's almost like I've expelled the panic by making my heart race at the gym, rather than through anxiety

How old are you OP - I had similar (no previous anxiety issues) & it was down to menopause

I find passion flower really good. And yes exercise.

Given that they started after the birth of your daughter, I'd suggest finding out why.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is frequently missed by doctors & pregnancy, labour & gas & air all badly effect the bodies B12 stores, meaning it often only really shows up properly post birth of a dc, which is what happened to me & led to a misdiagnosis of fibromyalgia, when the FM was actually caused by the deficiency that unfortunately wasn't recognised for another decade or so. Low B12 causes anxiety amongst other things, plus from experience I know that doctors fob off the tingling, numbness etc as anxiety too,

I'll pop back with a link, but see your GP fir blood tests, though do read up on the condition, as blood tests are recognised as unreliable by NICE, but a lot of GPS & even consultants don't know this. Nor do they know that B12 had a more complicated metabolism process to get it to its useable form your body can use & some of us just weren't born with the necessary components to do this properly, so need B12 injections

Here you go...

www.b12deficiency.info/signs-and-symptoms/

As for dealing with it, learn yogic breathing techniques to stem it when it happens. Lots of things can help a bit, such as sad lamp, weighted blanket (better sleep helps the body in lots of ways) high dose magnesium, 5htp, Ashwanga, etc etc, but none of it will help the underlying cause if you are B12 deficient. It could also affect your DC too, as it did unfortunately with mine

I’m an agoraphobic- mostly cured these days, I do exercise a lot! It’s fab!

Before this tho, I used Bach’s remedy and I really do think it works.

My oh has panic attacks and I’ve given him a bottle and he says it helps, although he’s exercising like mad too and he’s always found that helps him manage stress

I suffered horrible panic attacks for years and tried everything and anything recommend. The best advice i was given sounded a bit strange but actually helped.
When you feel an attack coming on focus on your breathing then find something to do. Anything at all to keep you busy, read mumsnet, play a game on your phone, sort out your sock drawer. While you're doing whatever talk to yourself, tell yourself that the fear isn't real, its just your being a bugger and you in control. Try to ignore the panic and focus on what you're doing.
I really struggled doing this but i kept trying and after almost a year my panic attacks were more of a mild inconvenience than a scary attack. Speaking to your gp would be a good place to start, i didn't like the tablets i was given and asked to be referred to cognitive behavioral therapy which really helped. I know it doesn't work for everyone but maybe worth giving it a try

Kalms- more than advised dose. i take three or four in one go. all the best to you, OP

also, at the risk of sounding stupid- yoga might be worth a try. Adrienne on YouTube says nice things over and over.

I've had this and went to the GP for meds to help me short term (sleeping tablets to help me sleep). My family also made me go out for short walks, so I was getting some exercise. I then went back onto anxiety meds long term and continued with therapy and meditation. I haven't had an attic since. I refused to live like that and now do what I need to safeguard my mental health.

I have suffered like you OP and unfortunately herbal remedies had zero effect. Passion flower, Bach, kalms- zero. Your brain is incredibly powerful and is doing this.

I have had medication in the past but other than that exercise is my magic cure - you need to get sweaty and out of breath for at least a few minutes. Give your body something to use up the adrenaline. Let your body take over from your brain. It will not only calm you down but also generate happy hormones - I forget what they are called.

Good luck

Bach Rescue Remedy, comes in a dropper bottle or a spray, keep it with you.

Or look at the other Bach remedies, it might be worth getting a book. I did a course on them to complement the therapies I used in my work.

The course I did used this one www.amazon.com/Bach-Flower-Therapy-Theory-Practice/dp/0892812397?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I know you asked for natural remedies, but sometimes you need to accept you need more than that (I had used Bach Rescue Remedy, Kalms etc previously). I feel that 4 days of this is too long as it's adrenaline that is causing it and you may need to break the cycle if natural remedies don't work. If you're resisting seeing the GP (I used to, embarrassed, didn't want to make a fuss etc), maybe chat to the pharmacist instead.

Diazepam. Gp will prescribe. I didn't get addicted at all. They break the cycle then you can deal with them.

Something will have triggered this.

Agree with CBT as a preventative. If you aren't able to engage help then a really good book to work through it on your own is called Mind Over Mood

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mind-Over-Mood-Second-Changing/dp/1462520421/ref=mpssa111?keywords=mind+over+mood&qid=1571831996&sprefix=mind+over+&sr=8-1