What do You do to distract yourself before anxiety/panic hits?

I've been trying different things to try and distract myself when I can feel an anxiety/panic attack coming on. It is a MUCH different feeling than my common all the time physical symptoms. Since I do not have a "rescue" med this is what I need to do.
Some of these have worked and some have not, but here's a list:
*Drink a large glass of ice water all at once. My psych says that the cold slows ur body down naturally.
*Hold ice cubes in my hands, also suggested by my psych for the same reasons.
*sleep/nap
*make a phone call
*play/talk with my kiddos
*journal on my blog
*read baby articles
*play solitaire
*listen to music
*positive affirmations
*pray spiritually
*search the web--non medical things!!
(Craigslist etc.)
*sit outside

Like I said, some work and some don't. Some work some times and not others. I guess it's really trial and error!

I'd like to know what you try. Maybe I can make my list bigger and better :D

Typically my anxious times are in the morning when I wake up...I suppose maybe because of Cortisol levels being high...not sure?...Anyway, I usually go outside to my screened in pool area with my laptop and either surf the web, like news stories and stuff or play spider solitaire....for some reason spider solitaire really helps keep me calm.

If I don't have time for that before work...I will usually just get ready for work as I feel anxious and usually by the time I am ready to leave...like 20 minutes or so it subsides. These days it's real rare for me to feel really anxious during the day....usually at night or first thing in the mornings....most times if it's at night I just ride it out while trying not to focus on it but rather just roll with the flow and usually as I said about 20 to 30 minutes it subsides.

I'm actually becoming a hardcore progressive rock christian music fanatic too.
Some of the songs that help me out are the following:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amo9UQ6nhUM - I remember this song giving me so much strength when I was in rehab, please check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz_IQDBupxI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80s7BG_tBp0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EonKxEObq_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg8ZELHPL5g

If you are interested and like this kind of music, the artists name is Neal Morse. He has helped me a lot with everything I've been going through! All his music is EPIC! I can give a huge list of music if anyone is interested.

Post Edited (Mark_K) : 5/26/2013 6:30:36 AM (GMT-6)

Hi,

I like your list of distraction techniques. I use some of them too.

My main ones are;

* Repeating 'I'm fine, this will pass' etc over and over.

* Playing one of my word games. I'm quite fond of these. Sometimes I just choose a long word and then make up as many words as I can think of...q distracting!

* Come on here! Always a remedy for calmness and assurance.

* Listen to music.

* Look for educational resources or something which requires concentration on line, but as you say NO googling symptoms!

* A cuppa

LP

These are all great!! I'm glad we are sharing!!
Another thing I do is count. Start at 1 and just keep going. Lol it works!!

i tend to do anything that keeps my mind busy and makes me have to think a little. reading your tricks with the cold water and ice cubes, i'm going to try as well. because i tend to start feeling better somewhat if i sit in front of the ac or the fan and make myself shiver almost. so i'm going to try that as well.

but i (oddly enough) also play solitaire -on my phone.
i play a crosswords game on my 3ds.
i will call and talk to my mom (for reassurance and to get my mind trying to think about other things).
pace around while breathing deeply as i do so.
sit in front of cold air (fan, ac, window - all depending).

i've been looking for new things to try and do to get my mind off having an attack. but if it comes on all of a sudden and right into an attack instead of to where i know i'll be getting one... i will automatically take a small dose of xanax because i know i'l get bad and i try not to let myself get to the horrible attack point.

but it is great sharing and reading others tricks!

I'm really glad that I posted this. I'm learning more techniques and I'm thankful for that.
Last night was a rough night and I used some new techniques and they helped!