Panic Attacks and other mental illnesses.

[Venetia]

Yes, repeating a word. Some people pick a single word that has special meaning to them. I generally just pick a word or phrase at random that implies an action I need to do, or continue doing. Examples: "Keep walking."; "Stop."; "Look at the wall."; "Get out of here."; "Stop listening."; "Don't reply."

IMO it's best if you don't put much thought into the phrase or word. Just let it spill out of you. You can repeat it in your head or verbally. But only repeat it. Just repeat it and let that phrase or word drown out all other thoughts or sensory input.

You will not be good at it at first. You may feel silly, or like it's not doing anything. But if you REALLY just pour every ounce of your concentration on your mantra, and let your body do the rest, it will work.

It's worked for me on every panic attack since high school. I used to get them REALLY frequently. Nowadays, I can actually sense them coming, start a mantra, and avoid them entirely.

If people question a funny look on your face, or the fact that you're staring at something while doing it, just tell them you're stressed and need a moment. Then leave. Most people will leave you alone for a bit. Then just repeat that mantra until you realize your heartrate is back to normal and your vision is normalized and the adrenaline is wearing off.

I hope that helps at all.

 

[StrawberrySmiles]

Everyone knows I have Bipolar and PTSD, right?

Ever since the "move" to MI, where I forgot my medication, I have not, well... been taking them.

I know it's REALLY bad for me to do that.

I feel like I've been unbearable to Star and anyone else. It's like, I get so irritated at EVERY LITTLE THING.

I keep telling myself to take them again, but I just don't. I know I'll run out soon, and won't be able to get more. I haven't seen the doctor in like months, because I told I was moving. Plus I owe $200 to them. Not a lot of money, but he's struggling with financial stuff right now. I want to find a job, but I have this feeling without my medication, I'll be a social mess when I go on an interview.

I'm literally scared of strangers, especially male strangers (which is who most often interviews me anyway). I stutter and get really quiet. GAH.

 

[Xhukari]

Oh oh! I have some stuffs too... Some diagnosed, some not...
Diagnosed; Dyspraxia (memory loss), Dyslexia (but only minor; I sometimes get confused on questions majorly, but this usually happens with yes/no questions where I get into some weird thought-loop that both answers mean the same).

Non-diagnosed: I looked into something I do a lot, and I have self-diagnosed myself with an Impulse Control Disorder, specially Dermatophagia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatophagia. Are we counting insecurities? Because I've gained one since starting University, and it is on friendship... Before University I never really cared for my friends, I only hanged out with them at school or whatever, they were friends of convenience and coincidence. But now that I have friends I care about, I fear how close I am to them, not fitting in with them etc...

 

[Venetia]

I actually never knew "dermatophagia" was a thing. I've always destroyed the skin around my nails from biting. I just thought any nervous person did, when they ran out of nails to bite. I don't think it's a tic which is serious enough to have its own psychological/medical classification. It certainly doesn't warrant medical attention (unless you're, like, frequently ripping the skin right open or biting the tips off, lol).

It's easy to jump to conclusions. Label yourself this-or-that. Do yourself a favor: close WebMD and Wikipedia. They will do you no good. You're just going to start coming down with cyber-hypochondria

 

[Juan J. Sánchez]

Everyone does it. Want to search something fun I had as a kid? Look for tricotilomania. It's pulling and then eating your hair. Thank goodness I don't do that anymore! You can even create a hair bezoar in you stomach lumen which leads to intestinal obstruction.

Also, I've been feeling very stressed and depressed over work, but nothing some benzodiazepines and similar medications won't cure.

 

[Juan J. Sánchez]

Everyone does it. Want to search something fun I had as a kid? Look for tricotilomania. It's pulling and then eating your hair. Thank goodness I don't do that anymore! You can even create a hair bezoar in you stomach lumen which leads to intestinal obstruction.

Also, I've been feeling very stressed and depressed over work, but nothing some benzodiazepines and similar medications won't cure.

 

[Juan J. Sánchez]

[*]Everyone does it. Want to search something fun I had as a kid? Look for tricotilomania. It's pulling and then eating your hair. Thank goodness I don't do that anymore! You can even create a hair bezoar in you stomach lumen which leads to intestinal obstruction.

Also, I've been feeling very stressed and depressed over work, but nothing some benzodiazepines and similar medications won't cure.

 

[rosareven]

I had my very first panic attack during the middle of a uni-entry exam in high school - a wrenching pain all over my ribs like they're about to combust and explode. It wasn't caused by the exam itself, but a family drama that I was having at the time during the exam period.

After that, whenever I feel stressed the same pain would come back. I've also been depressed since I was a kid, but with manners of unspeakable miracles I'm still holding up today, and in fact managed to grow a more open mind. I haven't gotten any medical help because I don't trust it. I'm slowly "recovering" in my own way without outside influence, and I intend to see how far this will take me.