How I Slew the Panic Attack

Panic attacks are scary and I don't mean to minimize them. I've met folks who have them frequently, which must be terrible.

I mentioned in "Healthy Body" that I had a panic attack in the Philadelphia airport.

I was late for my flight and the TSA lady was despicable to me. She acted like she wished I would just die. I knew no one in Philadelphia. I started breathing heavy, felt dizzy and my heart was thumping.

I had one other panic attack in my life, so I knew what was going on. I thought, "I'm going to keel over and someone will call 911 and there I'll be on the cold floor surrounded by strangers asking, "Is she dead?" These thoughts make panic attacks even worse.

I looked for a chair. A security guy asked if I needed help and I said, "Panic attack-just need to sit down."

He gave me a chair. This is what I do about a panic attack:

Sit comfortably. Breathe in through nose for slow count of 5. Hold it for a slow count of 5, Breathe out through mouth for slow count of 5. Repeat. I did this for 20 minutes and then was OK.

You can only think of one thing at a time. Thinking about precise breathing drives out thoughts of TSA ladies wishing you dead.

Funny thing about breathing: we do it automatically most of the time, but we can also control it. The basis of meditation breathing maybe?