Anxiety/Panic attacks... HELP ME.

[VonDutchPrincess]

Hello. I'm new on this board and I'm fifteen years old. I have kind of a problem though. I keep getting really bad anxiety attacks whenever I'm in class. It first happened in the class with the guy that I like (very mature...NOT)... and now I'm afraid that it's going to happen again in that class... I can't seem to get over my fear.

 

My Parents are getting me on medication, but anyone who has experienced a panic/anxiety attack, please help me. Is there a way I can calm myself... without having to alway leave the classroom every time? Could the anxiety come from the fact that I like a guy in that class? HELP.

[dyermaker]

I'm not a doctor, so I can't diagnose you, but with true anxiety attacks, the more you try to fight it, the more the cycle continues, it's like a chain reaction. You'll find that trying to "calm yourself" makes it worse. I'm not sure where the anxiety comes from (not that knowing where it comes from would stop it, right?) Go with the medication.

[Tony T]

There is no way to know just what is causing your anxiety but I will say you are much too young to be having these kinds of symptoms. It is critically important that you face your fears and deal with them so you don't form more fears and have more disabling panic attacks. There are hundreds of websites that talk about panic and anxiety...here's one of them: http://www.anxietypanic.com/

 

It is very important that you get medical and psychological treatment for these panic attacks NOW lest they cause you many more problems in the future. Very often, shallow breathing is at the root of the problem. Other times, it's a brain chemistry problem that a good doctor can treat.

[clia]

Is there a way I can calm myself... without having to alway leave the classroom every time?

 

I know where you are coming from--I also have anxiety/panic attacks. What helps me is to just stop for a second and remind myself that I am not going to die, I am not going to pass out, that everything is fine, just fine. A lot of it is in your head--you feel it coming on and then you get freaked out even more, right? You have to be able to push through that. Force yourself to think about something else. Do not think about the anxiety attack. (This is hard. Takes practice.) Think about anything else. Anything. Breathe in and out. Count to ten. Force yourself to relax. I know how you feel, believe me--it sucks. But there are a lot of ways to control it and live a very normal and productive life!

 

Medicine does help, by the way, but it's not something you want to have to be on for the rest of your life. Talking to a counselor about ways to relieve the anxiety when it happens is also very, very beneficial.

[Girlie]

I started getting panic attacks when I was about ten years old. I wish I had some good advice for you about how to calm yourself, but it was never that easy for me, that's for sure. I did find that when I could, things like going for walks, etc. would help, but if you're having them in class, that doesn't really help you too much. I will say medication is not a bad idea in some cases. I'm glad your parents are trying to help you out in that way. Mine always just told me it was all in my head and I just needed to "get over it." After taking some medication for a while later in life and talking with a therapist, I felt much better. If you want to learn to cope with them absent medication eventually, talk to a therapist or counselor. If it's not a medical problem, there is usually something going on beneath the surface.

[ziggue]

I also get panic attacks sometimes. I agree with Clia I think a lot of it is just in your head.

 

You just have to think It's not so bad, Calm down, Relax, I can get through this, Everything is fine.

 

Try and think positive about things as well if you can.

 

I also agree with Clia that you do have to force yourself to think this way at first but after a while it gets easier with practice.

 

Take a couple of deep breaths too. While thinking about those other things on the second line in this post. That has always helped me get through my anxiety. Hopefully it works for you if you try it out. .