What do you do when you have an anxiety attack?

Hello @Broken‍, thank you for opening this discussion. Let me tag some other members who can share their experiences and advice with you.

Hi everyone, how are you doing? What do you do when you have an anxiety attack? Do you have a particular routine or coping method that you use? What helps you to get through it?
@Tmilly9‍ @DeniseLynn‍ @Bayotte‍ @Senpai‍ @Sdlauri‍ @ShyreeRichards‍ @melodylorrene‍ @Juba1999‍ @Claud13mx‍ @Cici83‍ @Bobbieb‍ @Winkie‍ @Smooshie‍ @Pattygrosskopf‍ @2erikacoro‍ @Just'Ginger‍ @Victoria.W‍ @Sparkle1973‍ 

Feel free to share here!

Take care,
Courtney

@Broken I slow my breathing and let myself deflate. I then touch something so I can concentrate on that and stay in the moment. It totally changes me.

I concentate on my breath and notice my thoughts as they arise and return my focus to my breath and whatever I was thinking about kind of dissipates (beginner mindfulness meditation). Even for a minute or two works for me, I also use a grounding exercise, like noticing 5 things I see, 4 things I hear, 3 things I touch, 2 things I smell, and 1 thing I taste, By the time I get to the end of the list I have distracted myself sufficiently, so it brings me back to the present moment. Anxiety is fear of the future-- If you look around you--at this moment--right now --you are OK and all these things you are worried about aren't happening to you now, and with experience you will discover, that most of them never will. If all else fails, watch some screwball comedy, something that is so absurd (kinda like life) you can't help but roar with laughter. The destructive way is to turn to alcohol and/or drugs. Been there, done it. It helps for a minute, but you are wrecking your body and eventually you may have something more to be anxious about--your health--relational, mental, and physical.