Anxiety/Panic Attack Last Night--No Trigger

So last night I had the first anxiety/panic attack that I had had for awhile. (I'm saying anxiety/panic attack because it started off as an anxiety attack but started to turn into a panic attack.) I'm feeling out of control because there was no trigger. I always am anxious at night because I used to have panic attacks at night, but I had been dealing with the anxiety and had been able to sleep because of ambien. Last night was no different, but somehow I had an attack.

I think part of what happened is that I started to hyperventilate, which escalated the attack. I still haven't gotten the deep breathing down, so when an attack starts I have no idea how to calm down my body except through exercise, and that takes awhile to work.

I'm trying to be positive and to tell myself that it hasn't been happening and that focusing on it too much will make it more likely to happen again. My mind seems to know that, but my body is reacting with residual anxiety from last night.

Any advice or just support from people going through the same situation would be really helpful.

Thanks!

Avrielle

I am sorry that you had a rough night! The next day is often hard too because of the residual fatigue and fear of a returning attack.

You mentioned hyperventilating, which is a major component to anxiety attacks...did you try the breathing exercise that I posted for you previously called The Divided Breath?  It really helped me...let me know if you need me to repost.

I hope that tonight is a better night for you and that you are calm and able to rest!:)

 

S.C.

I did have trouble with it to be honest when I was panicking...it is just too structured.

I kept at it though. I practiced it everyday so that I could be ready when an attack hit, and that helped.

A more simple way that I used if I was hyperventilating was to try to just hold my breath every few breaths for as long as I could. This would at least stop the over-oxygenation and balance out the Co2. Don't worry about counting or timing...just hold your breath as long as you can when you can!

A positive attitude will also get you through I am sure! WTG.:)

S.C.