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| I haven't read through all of the replies, but your post topic caught my eye. I have bad anxiety attacks. Well, used to anyway. I still have an occasional period where I feel one coming but have learned to control it, so that I can stop it from coming.
I just started yoga and I can't say from experience if long term it will continue helping me, but so far I haven't experienced one coming. Two weeks ago I would feel one start at least once a day, usually twice. IMO yoga will continue helping me with this. Before yoga, the way I learned to control them was focus on something immediately, anything that will not make you panic. Usually it was reading or tv or something that did not allow me to think of anything that might upset me. I wouldn't sleep til 6 am then wake up at 730 and be wide awake. Medication is fine and dandy as well as that goes. But I got immune to it fast! I mean the first tablet I took, I started to feel sleepy in 15 minutes and in 30 I was wide awake as if I had coffee without the water. The panic was too much for me to sleep. Caffeine actually mellowed me out when I was feeling that rush. If I was tired caffeine and sugar made me hyper. So, first I would tell her to cut out caffeine. Sorry if she is sleepy at work, but she'll have to get through it for a day or two, until she gets on track again. Step two is to be prepared for a panic attack and have a book or something by her that she KNOWS she will be interested in. I like history books, romance just depressed me more. Step three, spend some time in the middle of the day (far away from bedtime) thinking of what she is making her feel anxious. Usually in the light of day it isn't so bad. Have her talk to someone she trust about it too. When I was flipping out about bills and money, my friends agreed that it was stressful, this helped me to not feel alone and anxiety attacks usually come from feeling like you are going through something terrible alone and no one can help you. Sometimes writing what I was upset about down would help, it would still upset me, but lower the high blood pressure, heart rate, etc. Sometimes I would write it down and tell myself I will look at it when I am calm. Basically telling my body and mind to chill out or I am not fixing the problem. Like a kid that throws a temper tantrum to get his/her way.
Finally, yoga has helped alot. It keeps me focused on something and makes me feel positive. Jogging and working out helped too. Made me feel like I was improving something. Getting in shape was a positive thing. All of the above would stop the panic as it was starting, immediate relief. But I think that yoga has prevented them from even starting. Meditation helps alot, but when I first started having them, I was so upset that I couldn't relax enough to meditate. I had to learn to meditate all over again. First by picking an object to stare at and concentrate on, usually a candle flame.
Mine were so bad that I would feel like I was having a stroke. Felt like the vein in my next had burst. Was terrible and very scary. I am still working on sleeping more, but I am able to sleep 6 hours on a weekday, which is up from the 30 minutes to 2 hours I had. Weekends I can sleep in! 
Good luck to your friend. I hope hers don't get as bad as mine, I stopped wanting to leave the house for fear. |
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| hello
my name is conor and this is my first time using this website. i have been suffering from panic attacks and sleepless nights for the last 5 months and at times i feel as if my life is falling apart. however am keeping it together and looking for answers. had sleep problems before in my life and used muscle relaxation techniques. they totally helped but now with my high anxiety levels i find that they get my heart racing and put me into a panic. i tried one type of yoga recently and felt the same...was strenous and felt panicky and on the edge afterwards...maybe there is a nice relaxing type of yoga out there that is not too strenous and that will suit my current state.....any help with regard to this issue would be absolutely great!!! thanks  |
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| dear duke: you must seek a personal and private instruction. and, that is the yoga exercise number 1 you have to do. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 1738
   
Location: right where I'm supposed to be | I too suffer Panic and Anxiety disorders. For my whole adult life I have. I've been on medications. I didn't like that at all. I feel medication numbs you. It's masking the problem, which really is distorted perception in most cases.
Yoga, especially Breathing teachniques have helped me tremendously. Personally I think Nadi Shodhana is too stimulating, especially for someone who isn't familiar with Pranayama techniques.
Dirgha is what helps me maintain control 95% of the time. I did not too long ago have a panic attack while driving on the highway. It was so scary. But my breathing helped me pull over and stop and focus. Had I not used Dirgha I might have crashed my truck and hurt someone along the way.
Breathing is not easy, to stay focused, attentive to subtle movements, etc...... But when you do use it and you are focused, it is empowering, making one realize they can help themselves to improve emotional health.
Just my two cents.
I don't like Anxiety/Panic/Depression meds but it some cases it is needed. It should not be long term.
I am in agreement with a lot of what Purna says.
Edited by mishoga 2007-03-06 7:56 AM
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| I am on medication for anxiety and ADD. I have had panic attacks in the past, but not so much now. I started having panic attacks when i quit smoking cold turkey. (i also had night sweats every night for months, and had to wash my bed every day). I have decided to remove refined sugars from my diet and get a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, and maybe a little less dairy. I just started taking flaxseed pills, too. That way i get more Omega-3s which are good for the brain somehow. Also, i plan to broaden my yoga practice to include sirsasana and sarvangasana (the head and shoulder stands respectively, right?) I have wanted to try pranayama but i dont have the extra time and money right now. Ill let everybody know how this goes and whether or not i can go off the medication in time also. |
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| bredmond812 - 2007-04-28 6:18 PM
I am on medication for anxiety and ADD. I have had panic attacks in the past, but not so much now. I started having panic attacks when i quit smoking cold turkey. (i also had night sweats every night for months, and had to wash my bed every day). I have decided to remove refined sugars from my diet and get a greater variety of fruits and vegetables, and maybe a little less dairy. I just started taking flaxseed pills, too. That way i get more Omega-3s which are good for the brain somehow. Also, i plan to broaden my yoga practice to include sirsasana and sarvangasana (the head and shoulder stands respectively, right?) I have wanted to try pranayama but i dont have the extra time and money right now. Ill let everybody know how this goes and whether or not i can go off the medication in time also.
1. As for Yoga - see my response above to your original post.
2. As for diet, etc. - your plan is great.
3. But, more than 1 and 2, you must ensure that you have some loving and supporting individuals next to you. |
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| I as well have Anxiety and Panic Attacks I am on medications for them as well. I am completly new to Meditation and Yoga.. So, these ideas might help me in some way too.
Mandy |
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| soulsearcher - 2007-06-10 10:53 PM
I as well have Anxiety and Panic Attacks I am on medications for them as well. I am completly new to Meditation and Yoga.. So, these ideas might help me in some way too.
Mandy
I just replied your other post in the Begginer's Thread. And, to my amazement my current response there was identical with 3. which I gave you long ago. Hurray!!! |
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| Hi there,
I am new to this site, as well as forums, which I barely know how to use. I have had anxiety/panic attacks and bouts of depression for for 15 years. I do not know the first thing about Yoga, except that it might be able to help me, and I am desperate. I would appreciate any information provided, but am somewhat embarresed that I have had this condition for so long.
Where do I start?
The Yoga terminology alone is intimidating to me, and my ability to concentrate is poor.
thank you in advance
Rockhound |
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| Rockhound, I too have suffered from anxiety/panic off and on for about 15 years and started to take yoga classes earlier this year. They have made a tremendous difference. You won't feel intimidated when you go as you should sign up for a beginer/level 1 class and everyone there will pretty much be in the same boat as you, new at it. Some people say the cannot afford it, but can you afford not to? What price for happiness? It is not like they are very expensive, mine cost me about $45 a month. At least sign up for a couple months to get started on the basics, if you can't afford it beyond a few months, at least you will have the basics for a solid home practice. |
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| Anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks and depression are all potentially serious medical conditions. You can seek medical advice and be given drugs that you will build up immunity to and become dependent on (but will help in the short term), or you can start a serious long term program of exercise, breathing, diet and understanding both your body and your mind (yoga). The second choice (yoga) will be slow and a lot of work (as well as a lot of fun) but you will also cure the problem, not just mask the symptoms.
If you want to change, you must be willing to give up the things that you like as well as the things that you don't like.
If you want to find a M.D., you will want to find someone that has completed medical school, passed their exams, is a specialist and has had multiple years of experience with these problems. Make sure to take the same care in finding a yoga teacher! |
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| pranayam, kapalbhati, shirshaasan, servanngasan, shavasan is very useful to you. and avoid smoking, non veg. and drinking. |
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| " If you want to change, you must be willing to give up the things that you like as well as the things that you don't like."
Believe me when I say those words are just burning in my head.
Thank you all for your responses. There is very much wisdom on this site, which I have only just begun to explore. I think it is a good site.
I know there is a class starting soon in my neighbourhood, I actually called last yr at this time, but didn't follow though, just keep masking the symptoms.
I am 48 yrs old and feel about as flexible as a 4x4 dried out in a barn. I make it to work each day, and thats about it. I need something to get me going again, but each time I try, a nagging inner thought of "too little, too late enters my thoughts and things remain the same.
I know the classes are expensive, but as mentioned it's hard to put a price on happiness or peace of mind.
I need to do some more research on whats out there, as a book or disc for me will just gather dust. I will need more to motivate me.
thanks all
Rockhound |
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| Take the class. You must start somewhere. Don't worry about whether it is the right one or not as the right one will come to you in time. |
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Expert Yogi
Posts: 8442
 
| Go ahead and jump, Mike. Anxiety feeds on delay and "research." Register for the class and go whether you feel like it or not. If nothing else you will have taken action to help yourself feel better  |
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| GO!! You will not regret it, I guarantee it. |
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| I experienced anxiety and panic attacks last year after a sleu of things happened in my life. I refused to go on a prescription (Lexapro) as it made me feel horrible the few days I did take it. After doing much investigation, I decided to quit caffeine 100%, start taking 1 tblsp. of good quality fish oil along with 2 tsp. of good quality flax seed oil. The pills do nothing, as you need to take so many to get the correct dosage. So take the oil off of a spoon. The taste is just fine, it usually comes with lemon or orante flavor. Carlson's is the best brand for fish oil. I am happy to say, I have not had one panic attack since I started that remedy. It works!!!!! |
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| i have had anxiety issues for years. I figured out the percet combo on how to no suffer from anxiet.
I go to yoga class and then go get a massage right after. My yoga class is in Hollywood and I am really excited because there is a new spa opening up at the Hollywood and Highland center/ It is called Spa Luce and from what I have heard it is supposed to be the new flagship spa of Hollywood and Highland. I am very excited for my next yoga/massage session  |
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| jimg - 2007-08-22 5:11 PM
). The second choice (yoga) will be slow and a lot of work (as well as a lot of fun) but you will also cure the problem, not just mask the symptoms.
!
I think you gave a a good response but we must be very careful making statements like this. Anxiety and depression are never "cured" by yoga. They are a lot like diabetes and other chronic illnesses in that they are merely controlled. Which is great. But you must always be vigilant with your practises to keep your state once you achieve some level of inner calmness through yoga, meditation etc.
My personal experience the last 15 years has been that yoga/meditation is a valid form of controlling anxiety and depression. |
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| There's lots of good advice on this thread. I'd like to add my 2 cents to it.
I suffer from social anxiety/panic attacks. I have been able to control it using these things.
- I started doing the sequence listed at: http://holisticonline.com/remedies/Anxiety/anx_yoga.htm
- Do Pranayama series. I follow Ramdev Baba series. Check it on Youtube
- Do self massage with Sesame Oil & keep it for 30 mins before bath & after yoga session
- Get 10/15 mins of sunlight.
- Meditate if you can.
- Also find out the source of the anxiety. Its something in your daily routine. For me, it turned to be my food allergies. So when I eat something that I am allergic to, then I get more anxious.
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| These days difficulty falling asleep seems to be an everyday occurrence. It’s just that some days are even worse than others. Here are a few things that help me.. First thing I do is walk by myself. It doesn’t have to be an hour walk. Sometimes I’ll go out for only fifteen minutes. I get to think things over without any outside distractions and decide what issues (personal or business), to clear up or resolve first. Just being outside in the fresh air is also very relaxing!
The second thing I do is use an aromatherapy eye pillow. I find it to be extremely relaxing and a terrific way to clear my thoughts and get me in a better frame of mind. The eye pillow blocks out any light and allows me to just unwind. It’s especially great after a tough ride home in traffic. The weight of the flax-seed inside the aromatherapy eye pillow applies the perfect acupressure on my temples and eyes. It’s great for headaches as well. You can find them in a lot of specialty stores and also online. I know that lavender is very soothing and calming but I use peppermint. It just opens up my sinuses and helps me breathe so much better. That fact alone makes it easier for me to fall asleep. The one I use I found online at A Touch Of Satin. Their website is http://www.atouchofsatin.com if you’re interested. They had a page on their site that talked about the benefits of the different scents. You might want to read what they say about them.
As far as panic attacks are concerned, I would suggest your friend get a book titled "Peace From Nervous Suffering" by Dr. Claire Weeks. It is terrific for anyone dealing with panic issues. Good Luck!
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| Thanks Cathy Fisher for two things. I started walking every day at your suggestion and I feel more relaxed, I've lost some weight and I can actually take a deep breath now.
Secondly, I did go to A Touch Of Satin as you suggested and bought one of their aromatherapy eye pillows. I also got peppermint and it has not only opened up my sinuses and taken away some stress headaches BUt it has allowed me to get my thoughts together and not feel so overwhelmed. I'm tired of feeling the way I have been feeling and the fact that I can get a little time to de-stress and collect my thoughts is a great thing.
Thanks again, and I have recommended your ideas to several friends. Its amazing how many people these days are going through feelings of despair and hopelessness. Say A Prayer!!! |
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| tourist - 2007-01-23 7:38 PM
One simplistic thing I heard (I think it was Shirley MacLaine ) was to not even think about your inhale when you are panicky. You WILL inhale - the body won't let you do without oxygen if it can help it. Just lengthen the exhale. That has pulled me through some crazy moments over the years 
An excellent thing I have found with my own anxiety is to remember to not stop breathing because often times anxiety arises when you don't realize that you aren't breathing correctly and are taking shorter breaths and thus causing an increase in anxiety.
A good technique to go along with lengthening the exhale is to lengthen your exhale to the point where you have no air at all and hold it like that for 3 seconds or so(don't do it for longer than that or you could pass out), and then slowly inhale. And repeat. Might want to try that. |
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Anxiety/insomnia/panic attacks
