Anxiety and Panic Attacks

I agree

Music can be very calming

@mbabkk One thing that helps me with calming down and sleeping is Lavender. I spray a lavender scent on my pillow and sheets each night before i hop in bed. Then I also rub a lavender hand cream on my hands and arms. It really helps me to calm down and sleep. The smell of lavender is very calming to me. Has anyone else tried this, and has it worked for them?

@mbabkk Thanks for that reminder. I do subscribe to Smart Recovery emails and they do offer lots of good ideas. I appreciate your mentioning it in your post. For anyone interested in it here is a link to their website, https://www.smartrecovery.org/. They offer meetings and many good blogs with suggestions for those in recovery.

I used one of their blogs in a discussion group about addiction. You might be interested in reading this discussion about preventing addiction relapses, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recognize-plan-prevent-addiction-lapses/?utm_campaign=search.

I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

@travelgirl @mbabkk I use a lavender hand cream at night, all the way up to my elbows. I am always hoping it will help but it really has not helped for me. It just makes my hands, elbows, softer.
JK

I love lavendar too but when I'm in middle of a bad 'reaction' to going off or tapering meds. That does not help me but glad it helps you

@dianrib @contentandwell I must be seriously sensative then. My friend said the same to me. She needs to take a pill to sleep. That the lavender smells nice it just didn't help her fall asleep. I tried a sleeping pill once. It knocked me out cold. I slept for like 16 hours.

Hello All:

I just saw this article in an Everyday Health email about ways to cope with an anxiety attack. Some of the ideas were very helpful including: writing down the symptoms that accompany a panic attack; belly breathing when you feel an attack coming on; relaxation techniques when you feel a panic attack beginning (like taking a full stretch); have some healthy self-talk (remind yourself that this is a panic attack and will not cause you physical harm); stay in the moment (don't run from it); see a therapist who specializes in panic attacks/anxiety.

Here is the link where you can read the entire article, https://www.everydayhealth.com/pictures/how-to-end-an-anxiety-attack/

After you read the article, let me know what you think. Have you ever tried any of these tools to relieve an anxiety attack? If so, which ones are the most helpful.

Remember we need to have lots of tools in our tool box when we have anxiety on a regular basis. Share some of your tools with us.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Teresa

Hello @dianrib
You are so right about music's ability to calm! Since you mentioned the topic of music you might enjoy the discussion we have on Connect called "Music Helps Me," Here is the link to that discussion, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/music-helps-me/. Also, we have a discussion, "What Music Does to Our Body." The link is, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-music-does-to-our-body/?utm_campaign=search.

In the latter discussion mentor, Martin, @predictable provided us with this wonderful video, https://www.facebook.com/ScienceNaturePage/videos/1284891671643088/

Take a look at these discussions and let me know what you think.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Teresa

@contentandwell Lavender cream sounds like a delightful remedy! Thanks for that suggestion, JK. Teresa