Sometimes we need to talk about some things. This is a phenomenally caring and kind group, and we do a pretty good job of looking out for each other.
Welcome to the weekly mental health thread for Avocados. Feel free to talk about anything you need to – what’s driving you crazy, what’s working in or out of therapy, how your health care plan sucks. This is a safe space to let loose on some mental health issues. We’re all here for support, but be careful about offering advice, unless it’s asked for. Sometimes we just need to get things off our chest.
I wanted to put that first because I didn’t want anyone to think any of that had gone away this week. It hasn’t. But I was also hoping for some crowd input on a particular topic: Panic Attacks. A lot of people here at the Avocado suffer from them and I thought it’d be great for us to hear from each other about what helps.
There’s no one strategy that works. For me, I TRY to recognize that the threat is either not real or not as big as I fear. Sometimes I am attempting to do this while lying on the floor barely able to breathe, so easier said than done! I try to focus on my breathing, something that requires practice on a regular basis before you suffer an attack so you are used to doing it, and I listen to “here comes a thought” from Steven Universe because it is exactly about calming down. Another practice that they teach little kids that works for me is ” Give a squeeze, nice and slow. (basically hug yourself. The tactile sensation helps ground you). Take a deep breath, let it go.” Go through that very slowly, focusing on each step like it is a sacred spell.
What is your strategy for dealing with panic attacks? What helps? What doesn’t? Would love to hear a variety of techniques and suggestions to add more things to our mental toolbox.