Some of you already know that I have had a horrible panic attack every day at many times during my life. I wouldn’t wish that feeling on my worst enemy!
In this video, I describe 5 ways to calm yourself down from a panic attack.
When you are feeling a panic attack coming on, do these right away.
5 ways to calm yourself down during a panic attack
1. Move your body
Anxiety wants us to curl in a little ball and try to shut it out. But this is the worse you can do. Moving actually decreases your stress hormones and gets your brain back to calmness. Do something! Anything!
2. Connect with someone
Anxiety wants you to isolate yourself because then you listen to all of its lies. You are more vulnerable alone. Get with someone you care about or a loving pet and talk out the fears or talk about anything that might take attention from them!
3. Laugh
Simple. Laughter and anxiety cannot share the same moment. We take our fears very seriously. Lighten up. Watch comedy, funny videos on YouTube, tell jokes, spend time with a hilarious friend. Whatever makes you laugh.
4. Do something creative
Creativity uses the part of the brain that keeps you anxious. If you use your brain to create something or problem solve, then there is less room for anxiety.
When I was anxious, I used to start house projects, design or plan something. Ask my friends, I was always making something. This saved my life. It gave me amazing transformation instantly. It was not just a simple distraction, it was complicated and took my attention into something life-giving.
Watch my video Ease Trauma with Giving Back.
5. Sing and dance
Singing opens the heart chakra and dancing breaks the chains of anxiety that immobilize you. It also is silly and fun. Exercise increases endorphins and allows the amino acid, tryptophan, to go into your brain, calming you down. Don’t worry about what you look like. Do it!
What has or does calm you when you are panicking?
Panic attacks are horrible and panicking in general is even worse because a panic attack doesn’t last very long but the anxious feelings and agitation with panic last. When I feel panicking, |I usually apply number 1 and 2. I put a lot of energy in doing housework for example, deep cleaning. Sometimes I prefer to go for a drive with loud music. I also feel the need to tell someone. I hold my cat.
During a panic attack, I focus on something, an image, a spot on the wall. If I’m not alone, I usually (without telling the other person what is happening) i would say: tell me something, talk to me, say anything. What calms me fast is someone putting a hand on me (I don’t know why).
Nikky44 recently posted..Gratitude Day 8: Happy Birthday M…….
You have some awesome skills!
HI jodi,
I love those expressions, your face is so versatile! Thanks for sharing the video.
Music has got an amazing calming effect when we don’t feel like getting up or at those times when nothing works, listening to your favorite, soft music is really helpful.
Balroop Singh recently posted..Wishes That Come From My Heart…
Thank you so much Balroop! I LOve music, too. It makes me HAPPY! Thanks so much for stopping by!
It’s funny that you mention dance. I used to take tap dancing lessons, and I still find myself sometimes breaking out in dance when there’s a lull. After all, I’ve always said, “You can’t be sad (or anxious) when you’re tap dancing.” It’s a wonderful release and there’s de something to the expression “happy feet.”
Monica recently posted..Brazil, the Universe and Everything
Too true! I can see you with a BIG smile on your face, tapping away!
This is fantastic, Jodi. I know people who suffer from these attacks. I’m fortunate in that I have maybe only had one once or twice. Great post!
lisa thomson-the great escape recently posted..5 Tips For Handling The Divorce Bully
Thanks, Lisa.
I’ve experienced these.
I utilized “Self Talk & Prayer.”
It actually worked.
LOVE!!
xxxx kISs
My Inner Chick recently posted..All Roads Out Of Hell Lead Home
Hope you LOVE on yourself jus like you LOVE on everybody else! xoxo
Hi Jodi Aman,
This is my first visit on your site and got well impressed.
Really while we follow these five tips then we can be healthy in our life.
Singing , dancing , laughing , connecting people are are best way to avoid from depression also.
Thanks for sharing the useful post…please keep posting such valuable post.
I suffer with panic attacks and I still can’t pick up the courage to go anywhere apart from a walk around the block, I just really want to feel better and be my normal self it’s like I’m going to try use these tips and see if it helps me as the doctors are redusing to help me
I will try ANYTHING! !! Thank you for the suggestions.
It seems that when I’m having a panic attack that I can’t move…my legs are like rubber bands and I’m so dizzy, I’m afraid to move.
I know how you feel. But movement will be your best option to changing the state of your brain! Do whatever you can to move!
After reading this and watching the video, I want to share mine also, as a victim of panic attack, I did everything to calm myself. Trembling, shaking and barely breathing are the things that we usually experience when we’re anxious, particularly when we’re at a crowded area. So, before I leaving the house, I make sure that I take a sip of l-theanine tea because of its calming effects found in the green tea leaves but my best weapon or antidote to fight the panic attack is, pinching my nose. I find it so effective. I know sounds so dunce but… it’s working!
Such helpful information! Thank you so much! xo
I find deep breathing helps my panic attacks. ( I take herbal tablets ,called “Kalms” , too.)
Me too. I breathe all the time. (consciously) I’ll have to check out the Kalms!
Hi Jodi. Absolutely love this video. I have panic attacks but at the time I don’t even register it’s a panic attack. I love the idea of grounding yourself back in your environment so you’re not so pulled in by the anxiety. I’m definitely going to try these. 🙂
As they say, the simplest things are the most effective. This certainly holds true when it comes to panic attacks. Nice article Jodi!
I’ve suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since I was a little girl. Now, almost 30, I have a grip on them most of the time, but every so often a panic attack does come at me. It’s so scary. ALL of these tips above are helpful- of course, depending on the person, some will be more helpful than others. I think music and singing and dancing helps me, or being creative and around someone I love. Taking out paints and painting with my three year old daughter is really helpful.
Great post. I’m loving your site! Following you on Twitter!
I’ve suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since I was a little girl. Now, almost 30, I have a grip on them most of the time, but every so often a panic attack does come at me. It’s so scary. ALL of these tips above are helpful- of course, depending on the person, some will be more helpful than others. I think music and singing and dancing helps me, or being creative and around someone I love. Taking out paints and painting with my three year old daughter is really helpful.
Great post. I’m loving your site! Following you on Twitter!
Painting and anything creative is awesome. I even made a video on it! https://jodiaman.com/how-creativity-helps-the-brain/
Thanks so much for following. I hope the panic goes away! It looks like you are doing the right things to help yourself!
Good advice, Jodi.
I’ll add one more that can bring all 5 steps into play simultaneously:
6. Tweet!
I feel scared when talking to ladies and meeting them cos of fear of contacting hiv/aids from them. Even I can’t trust condoms and sucking their boobs gives me a fear of hiv/ aids pls advise. Even I can’t talk on marrying a woman cos of fear of hiv pls advise I need a woman and no one can live without wife and husband
If I think myself having a girl friend and having sex with her. I feel shaked and and an resistable fear like I had done something with a lady while I did not meet a lady only if it comes to my mind and I feel overwhelmed by anxiety that does not stop every day.
Mine are like low grade panic….they last all day. The next morning seems to be better, unless some weird thing triggers it. Comes completely out of the blue. Nothing has worked so far. Creativity does not, oddly. Tried organizing drawers and internet work too. I’m going to try to find more laughter videos and see how that goes.
You need something more engaging for your mind!
Jodi, reading this post cannot have come at a better time. As you know, I travel to Spain every summer. I have noticed that the older I get, the more anxiety I have when I board the plane. I don’t know why it happens, but to see myself sitting in those narrow seats with other passengers so close to one another, and Roxy in her bag under my seat is too much. It’s gotten to the point where it’s getting harder and harder for me to travel alone. This past December, my daughter got married. I traveled to the States accompanied by my son and husband. The flight was so long! I’m convinced that if it hadn’t been for the men in my life, they would’ve pulled me off the plane in a straight jacket! I will surely embrace some of your suggestions and try to put them to use when I board my flight in July! Roxy and I send you hugs!
Hi Bella! I think of you a lot! Anxiety hooked itself to planes for you, which sucks. I had panic while flying to, but got over it. Did you know that I put together a flying free from fear program? I think it may be helpful for you to use before your next trip. Flying Free From Fear. Hope that helps so you don’t have to dread your trips anymore! xoxo