In the middle of a panic attack...

[ProperPanic]

NC as feel so bloody stupid....

Woke up with a start 10 minutes ago, heart racing. I've been here before, so know what it means - cue massive panic attack. I'm currently stood at my open back door as it feels like I can't breathe and need air. I KNOW I'll be fine in a bit, but this is going on a bit longer than usual. I usually have a mantra to calm me down but it's not working just yet.

Please talk me down! Just typing this is helping as I just need something to calm me down. I don't have a partner & need to calm down before my 2 youngest DC wake up.

Don't feel stupid. This happens.

Quick one:

	5 things you can see
	4 things you can touch
	3 things you can hear
	2 things you can smell
	1 thing you can taste

And here's a triangle breathing video

Thank you. I think it's going away now. I got stuck at the '2 things you can smell' as I've got a cold and blocked nose.

And thank you for the video, that really helped to focus my breathing. I'm stood at the back door, its freezing so I'm shivering which wasn't helping my breathing. I'll use that video again next time. I know they'll be a next time.

I'm not even a 'stressy' person. I've been called 'Laid back Larry' before. Oh the irony, if only they knew! I'm not that stressed about anything, yes work is very stressful but i'm used to that, these panic attacks just randomly happen and its always, ALWAYS, when I wake up suddenly out of the blue for no reason.

Thank you for reading and replying.

Glad to hear it's passing. It's annoying when it happens first thing as there's no obvious trigger. You ok with the kids now? Can you take a bit of space later on?

I'm sat inside now, watching TV for focus. Kids not up yet. I just hate the 'alone' feeling I get when I'm in the middle of an attack.

I don't get any space. My 'me' time is my drive to and from work, that's literally the only time I get to myself. I like the commute for this reason!

I've had panic attacks most of my adult life, mainly during pregnancy (I think they're hormone-related?) The absolute worst time was after my 3rd DC - had a panic attack in hospital on the day I came home with 3r DC - then continued to have them daily, all day every day till she was 12 weeks old. Midwife was brilliant, got me to go to the docs and on beta blockers as the turning point was when my DC was 2 weeks old and I hadn't slept for 3 days - literally I didn't even go to bed for 3 days as I was scared to go sleep. I genuinely thought I was going mad.

It's never been as bad as that since, but when you're in the middle of one it's really hard to control your thoughts, in the middle of one I have NO control over my thoughts, I hate that as I'm normally such a rational thinker.

I feel ok now, it's shook me up but I'm ok. Will go and start getting ready for work now. Thanks for listening.