How to Deal with Panic Attacks?

[cbrite]

Hi everyone!

I'm just starting my first clinical as an LPN student and loving it! The only thing is... I had an anxiety attack today before and during report ( I have no idea what was being said I was just concentrating on not hitting the floor). I'm just wondering if any of you wise nurses have any tips for me to deal with this in the future? Have you guys experienced this and how do you avoid/cope with it? What upset me about this was the fact that I wasn't afraid or stressed out this morning at all, I was naturally a little nervous but mostly I was just excited! I'm thinking maybe my excitement was misinterpreted as "danger! danger!" in my body. I have had panic attacks in the past with no apparent trigger but I try to be a very positive person and come prepared for classes and clinical to avoid unneccessary stress. I'm hoping this won't happen again but I just wanted to reach out to some nurses that might have the same issue as me.... maybe just knowing that I'm not alone will help me feel better. It was a huge blow to my ego having to go and tell my intructor that I was having a panic attack, but as you know when in the midst of one you truly think you're going to pass out or throw up on someone so I thought it was best to give her a heads up if she found me on the floor hahaha! I laugh about it now but it was incredibly embarrasing and my confidence went way down today. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to give input or read this, it means a lot to me :)

[Vtachy1]

I like Archibald Hart books on anxiety. How are you doing now?

I have had only one panic attack about a year ago. So I'm no expert but I do suffer from tons of anxiety. I'm like a pressure cooker going full blast inside.

People with anxiety should NOT have caffeine. And believe me, there's no need, I'm already as nervous and jittery without caffeine. But I still love the taste of caffeinated soda! Yum! I do try my best to stay away from them though, because that's the last thing I need.

[rnwannabe77]

Hi...Just in the past year alone I've experience several panic attacks. I'm working full-time in addition to attending school part-time. I don't recall ever experiencing a panic attack before starting school. Consequently, I'm attributing the panic attacks to the massive amount of stress I've been under since starting school. Anyways, I've learned to remain calm, deep breathe, and talk myself out of the attacks. I reassure myself that everything is going to be o.k. and that I'm really NOT going to die.

I actually had a panic attack when I was taking my first Med-Surg test about a month and a half ago. Thankfully, I was able to talk myself out of it before acting on instinct to flee out of the classroom and head to the emergency room! After all, I got one of the highest grades on the test and to this day I have no idea how I did it

I realize that the amount of caffeine I drink on a daily basis is probably a huge contributor to my anxiety, but I just can't give it up! Not only am I addicted to the taste of coffee, but I'm also addicted to the caffeine itself, to the point that I suffer massive withdrawal symptoms if I don't drink it as soon as I wake up in the morning. I can't see myself ever giving up caffeine!

My suggestion is to try to talk yourself out of any impending attack and remember to breathe deeply.....This definitely seems to work for me.

Good luck in NS and during your clinicals!