How To Cope With Panic Attacks 

Have you experienced panic attacks? Share what helped you in the comments below and make sure you do not miss any of our future films by subscribing to our channel and turning on notifications.

Panic attacks for me are like the feeling I'm going to die like my body is going to self destruct, I just hate they come out of nowhere, it's good to know I'm not alone though.

During a panic attack our mind behaves like there's a lion in front of us. Remember, there is no lion.

Hey random person reading this, calm down it’s all gonna be alright I love you and I hope you have a great night or day. Much love smile 💕 I wrote this when I was 14 and severely depressed, I seen all the other comments saying similar things and they made me smile so I wanted to write something for others to feel good. I grew up struggling a lot with mental health as I have autism and other disorders, if you’re gonna reply to my comment with any type of criticism please reflect on your own life first. I know I didn’t have a magical way of words but don’t take that innocent mindset I had for granted and send hatred my way.

"You have every right to exist and draw pleasure from this life"

*_Did anyone start to feel anxious when he went into detail about a panic attack example?? I love the unique style of your drawings! You inspire me to become just as good one day :)_*

Hearing that everyone is allowed to fail very often was so soothing (I'm currently dealing with a stressful situation that's brought on panic attacks)

For the people who’ve never experienced a panic attack, just know that it feels terrible

If you’re not sure if you’ve had a panic attack you definitely haven’t Best advice is to name: 5 things you can see 4 things you can touch 3 things you can hear 2 things you ate today 1 thing you like about yourself I find it helps when my thoughts get carried away by themselves

I have that phrase tattooed on my arm "This too shall come to pass." I was told it's morbid to think about death everyday. I've never felt freer thinking about it every day.

If you are reading this you are NOT alone❤️ You are NOT crazy✅ Thank you for creating a video which helps people understand panic attacks better❤️✅

A panic attack is not just a realisation that you are feeling high levels of anxiety or worry. Your brain/mind is so possessed by the feelings of anxiety and its biochemical counterparts (adrenaline, cortisol etc) to where one starts to feel that they are detaching from reality into true and genuine madness. This is a terrifying even horrifying episode that can leave you with symptoms of PTSD after the first few panic attacks if they are overwhelming enough. I started having them at age 27 and my life has never been the same, I've even mourned for my life before I started having panic attacks. For the last few years I have lived in a near constant state of heightened body awareness where even a stomache rumble or a slight headache, a strange thought, the sleepiness that comes after a big meal, can cause me heightened anxiety and an irrational idea that they signal my end. When you live with the kind of anxiety disorder that I have you face death multiple times every single day.

This made me cry. I've been having panic attacks recently. I am unable to think clearly, my thoughts get cloudy and I just sit there in fear. I haven't been able to pin point the reasons but your video has made a lot of sense to me. Looks like it's time to meet my therapist again.

I got over the fear that I was going to die, by saying “fine. Then I’ll die.” No more panic attacks.

I discovered that my panic attacks were caused by my hypersensitivity to caffeine. After my switch to decaf drinks, no more attacks, ever.

I suffered from panic attacks in my 20's. One of the most frustrating comments I got when I told people was, "But you seem so normal." There's nothing abnormal about getting panic attacks. Some of the most successful "together" people in the world have suffered from panic attacks. George Stephanopolous and his wife Ali talk about how they bonded through discussing their panic attacks on their first date. I don't have panic attacks anymore and I now consider them a gift. I got help and I understand them now. I learned a lot about myself. If you are having panic attacks go talk to someone about them and get help. You are normal:)

Whoever is reading this in the middle of the night with a horrible anxiety attack, we will make it through this. You’re safe, you’re loved and wanted. You are significant. Instead of dreading death that could just happen, focus on the life you still have to live. I love you, as one miserable pile of problems to another. Goodnight ❤️

“You don’t have to be competent all the time” this helps me feel less pressure, thank you for the reminder

You you beautiful crazy worrying human... You are worthy and deserve to exist ❤️

this could not have come at a more perfect time. thank u

Well.. Panic attack for me feels more like.. You can't cotroll your body..heart racing and not being able to control your breath, or understanding why this is happening... What is going on am I having a heart attack or panic attack. It's not always a thought that triggers a panic attack. It can happen at night before bedtime when you might be calm and ready to go to sleep.. The worst and most frightening thing about panic attacks and anxiety attacks are how fast they go 0-100.Calming techniques that I use that work for me is tapping,breathing exercises, and if it's a mild anxiety attack I force myself for a walk or a run. It helps But tapping is my favorite.

Thank You, There is so much to learn on your channel.

I'm not the only one that's absolutely terrified when this happens am I? Like not just scared, full on terrified.. anyone else get stomach pain with it? I can't deal 😥

Almost killed myself in an episode of panic attack while being high on weed, a few years ago. It was almost like my psyche split up and they were in direct conflict. One told me to kill myself, another told me to survive the night and everything will be okay tomorrow(I used to live alone). I didn't listen to both of them and sought help immediately as I couldn't trust myself with my own safety. It was the best decision I ever took. Never be ashamed to reach out.

I'd like to chip in from my own experience, probably in an unexpected way. When I was young I had two controlling parents, one a tyrant, the other unable or unwilling to express anger. I allowed myself to become cowed under their influences, i learned to avoid risk and to never express anger directly. Both of these behaviors ultimately made me feel helpless. Helplessness is a key trigger for panic attacks if the helpnessness is not confronted. The answer, it was twofold. I learned to regularly challenge myself, constructively but ambitiously, challenges I posed for myself rather than letting others set the agenda for these challenges, in other words creating a path of personal growth via these challenges.....In the process learning to understand my capacity to become competent at activities which I chose .... activities which required significant personal effort to achieve competence/efficacy at. And in the same token becoming significantly less 'helpless'.... over time of course, there are no instantaneous solutions-resolutions. Second, i learned via counselling to take responsibility for my own anger and other internally corrosive feelings, if the unackknowledged rage or frustration or dismay was the result of unfair treatment by others I adopted a new strategy, which I've since long understood is really a 'necessity', to let them know I wasn't going to abide their ill treatment. To let them know they would get a dose of their own medicine if they were abusive of me. Or at minimum to be much more assertive , to stand my ground, verbalize my concerns with their behavior, let them know my perspective and my worth. That latter strategy is crucial to overcoming passivity, passivity is a key role player in becoming un-moored from a normal sense of resilience, capability, and self-confidence. Challenging one's own passivity , over the course of many weeks and months, is the death knell for panic attacks. I have not been bothered by panic attacks for over 30 years, not once.

Been feeling a lot of anxiety from work. To the point where I can’t sleep at night and I lie awake having a panic attack. Watching this video and reading everyone’s comments make me feel less alone and that I can get through this. Thank you.

*When the world is crumbling, when you see monsters instead of people - remember:* All you got is BREATH. Breathe like it was your last moment, let it go and think about the best memories experienced.

My favorite saying..."This too shall pass." Love it!

I've had panic disorder since I was 9. I'm currently 22 and I still suffer from panic attacks occasionally. The trigger for my attacks is stomach aches and nauseous feelings. No matter how I try to convince myself that I have been through these hundred of times, every stomach ache still feels like the one which is going to kill me.

"Let the light of public playful confession chase away the shadows of shame."

Wishing everyone who needs this video right now the best of luck. Sending good thoughts. You’ll pull through, promise.

Panic attacks make me feel as though impending doom is just around the next corner, watching and waiting.

Before I watched this video I was thinking “when I die it’ll be like I never existed” and then this video says the same thing but somehow it uplifted me

Waiting for an episode about attention seeking and neediness as well as the anxiety that's associated with the fear of not being loved.

0:41 they feel like your about to have a heart attack, but your still alive... Edit: This video is amazing :O

Would not wish this on even my worse enemy.. I hope everyone who suffers heals from this..

Not long ago I went to the gym for the first time in six years, I had a couple of people with me who knew I have Social anxiety (I can't leave the house alone - it sucks) and in the first ten minutes of being there I had a panic attack. I popped into the toilet and covered my mouth with my hoodie to catch my breath. All the time my nephew tried to take my mind off of things by talking about the new FF7 trailer. As I listened I thought about why I put myself in the position I was in and realized I was there to improve and make myself healthy, happy and improve my life - and sure enough after about ten minutes I was back out there lifting weights a d doing squats. Having a logical answer and someone to talk to got me through it and I now feel pride about my actions. Good luck to everybody fighting this unseen battle. Never stop fighting.

Leaving yourself flow with the chaos really helps, some weeks ago i needed to go to a medical apointment to get into highschool, it wasn't a big deal but i was feeling like i was about to die!! While i was on the way, my legs where shaking without control, my belly was about to throw all my breakfast and my heart was beating like crazy, i felt trapped and powerless but i wanted to get the control back so i started fighting with all my straight to keep my legs quiet, i was trying to breath deep but everything seemed to make the situation worst so i remembered that advice one teacher once give me and i leave myself go, after some time everything seemed to be normal with my body again, i was still nervous but i told myself "dO iT bItCh!" And even tought i am really shy i get to the apointment and everything went just fine!

Common causes of panic attacks are hyperventilation and or vision defects . What often alleviates a panic attack is to hold your breath for a few moments and or close one eye . Then laugh at the panic attack , as fear of having a panic attack can cause panic attacks . Low blood sugar or dehydration can also trigger them . Please let me know if this advice has helped you .

Excellent video ❤️🧡💛💚💙 I experienced my first panic attack at a job I ended up leaving two years ago. Feeling of "not being allowed to get away" from my desk, confronted by that very angry customer that broke the proverbial camel's back. After five years of dealing with dirty politics and believing that sucking farts was the least I could do to earn a paycheck, I had to learn the hard way that ignoring my truth and intuition would cause my "fearless bubble" to burst at a very inconvenient time for me, but as it turns out, at just the right time the universe wanted it to burst. The truth is, we ALL struggle with anxiety. Don't be intimidated by anyone. Everyone is playing a "part" and wearing a mask. You don't have to put up with @$$h0£e$. You WILL get your power and fearlessness back.

Warm baths, breathing techniques, super soft blankets, calming music, aromatherapy and treating myself super kind and lovingly during a panic attack are my go to’s. I used to slip into them easily if I felt one coming on. Thankfully, after having so many I learned how to approach them and navigate through the initial stage to where I avert a full blown attack. PS: medicine is a big help as well. Never be ashamed to take medicine.❤

I’ve had agoraphobia for 30 years. I missed holidays with my family, friends special birthdays, weddings, I missed my grandmothers funeral and this week I missed my sons graduation. Next month I will miss my daughters graduation. Panic attacks are cruel.

After browsing useless articles about breathing exercises, this video has actually made me feel so much better - had a panic attack at my first day starting university again after a long time. Thank you 💜

Thank you for this. I had one back in two years, I forgot how I got through it but it was from some video of your channel too. This is helping me out. I can't concentrate in my studies and I'm just so scared of everything, I cry myself to sleep every night. It's been days now I feel so helpless. Its just not impressive to see myself like that. I've always thought I've improved a lot mentally since the last two years, I'm so humbled by this occurrence. I am once reminded of my vulnerable state. Thank you for this, truly.

I've had 3 panic attacks. I'm constantly stressing over everything, but those 3 times were over the top. The first time it happened, the only way I was able to stop it was by literally facing my fear in the face and doing what gave me the attack in the first place.

This is probably the 5th time that you’ve posted a video on the exact time that I need them.

Yes! What helped me is breathing techniques , mindfullness and the curiosity and courage to face what I was scared of deep down . It was not at all pleasant but necessary . It made me stronger but I still get anxious at times . I've learned that's ok .☺

Just had a panic attack for the first time today. This video helped me to have a much needed cry and to think about why it happened in a structured way. Keep up the amazing work releasing these videos!

Apart from social anxiety for various reasons, what I hate the most about panic attacks is that I can't figure out what's going on or why it's happening

Is a panic attack where you tense up in places, and then start trembling uncontrollably... sometimes with a feeling of hopelessness or a feeling dying?

Oh my God.. You have no idea how much this video means to me 😭I am 26 and I am just facing all these things that I have never heard from anyone else.. I am even scared to take an elevators or go to a parking basement, I feel like I'll just die there.. Thank you so much for giving me an idea on what's the real situation is like.

Been hitting rock bottom these past few months. Watching your videos feels like a big fat warm hug. Thanks.

I've watched this video so many times and it progressively helps. A calm and reasoned voice reminding me what I forget. The last words are so beautiful they bring me to tears. One day I hope I will have someone in my life who can say something like that to me, but even if that never happens, I can say them to myself. And I can listen to Alain saying them.

*BREATHE.* Life is control by the breath.

Every 30 seconds in this video there's a "Woah that's me"-moment. Great stuff, and so compact!

When I describe what a panic attack feels like, this is how I describe it. Imagine yourself in school, maybe elementary school. While in class, you lean back in your chair. When you get to the point where you suddenly realize the chair has gone backwards just passed the balance point, beyond recovery. It is in that very moment when you know you're passed recovering your balance; that feeling of uncontrolled adrenaline.

I stopped watching your videos for almost two months. Now I know that deep inside something was missing. Your content heals souls. Thank you, I needed this video so much.

Most of my panic attack thoughts are about dying or phobias. When I am on a open area with lots of people and I'm sitting on a chair, it will most likely to attack me. I always thought of floating and everybody will see me. I feel like dying and no one will be there to help me as I am the one controlling my mind and I will feel it alone. It's like there's a battle in my mind and I'm losing with no one there that can help me battle it.

When I’m having a panic attack I go into a room and scream all the pressure out and sometimes I go on a run just feels like I‘m running away from the panic attack I just run till I feel the pressure is gone till it feels like not being pursued by it but the least is by talking to someone sadly I’m alone all by myself that is what makes me struggle the most

This is simply beautiful, generous, beaming with compassion, love and hope for those afflicted. Thank you so much for your wonderful and meaningful work.

This may very well be one of the most emotionally calming essays ever to be written. Thank you.

I'm so scared I suffer extrem panic attacks multiple times a day, been trough a violent mariages and got so sick with panic attacks nobody to talk to

I really needed this today :) Truly, deeply needed this

My family is preparing for a vacation where we will have to fly for 2 hours. I’ve never been on a plane and I’ve been dreading it.. so the plane example hit really close to home. Thanks for helping me become mentally stronger and with this knowledge I know I’ll get on that plane and be fine! 💙 To everyone with anxiety and panic in them like me, stay strong! And live life with fear in your control not the other way around!

Thank you Alain, you've cured me from panic attacks...I got a new job as a teacher, I teach in highschool, elementary school and primary school, and I had panic attacks every day, it was unbearable...untul I saw your first video on panic attacks and it was so helpful...in a week my panic attacks were gone and yesterday I stumbled upon this video and it was even more helpful...thank you so much

The description of the flights experience at the beginning makes me never wanna fly again. Good luck getting that out of my head next time I fly

I remember my first panic attack last year. It came out of no where. I didn’t even know it was panic attack. All I knew is I felt as though I was definitely going to die. A year later, it’s gotten worse and more frequent. About to go onto medications. Hopefully they will help

I wish I had seen this when I was dealing with panic attacks. You have clearly shown a lot the information I have learned over time that has kept me from having more. The fact that this exists is incredibly soothing for me. I will make sure to share with friends experiencing panic attacks now. Thank you!

This video came a week after I had an anxiety/panic attack. I'm still going through the stages of it, but I'm getting a little better.

I had a really big panic attack at 11pm like 2 weeks ago because I tried to comprehend death in an anxiety-prone state. I was steadily anxious for like 3 days before my anxiety shifted to my age and the fear of getting old (I'm 26). It subsided a bit after a week or so but even now I'll sometimes wake up anxious. Your example at 6:33 didn't really help much, lmao.

This is actually one of the best video's I've seen about panic attacks, it's rational, calm, and puts stuff in perspective. Thanks!

i have a panick attack right now.. and i also have a collapsed lung.. so those two combined dont feel too well... but trust me.. you can get through it if i can :)! we are not alone with this and we wont die from it we are stronger than is... goodluck to anyone who suffers from this aswell

towards the end I felt really good about embracing my inner demons and I ended up crying for the first time in what feels like forever :’)

I get a panic attack every time I fly. That feeling of being out of control is unbearable!

Thank you The school of life. I really love you and you have given my life back

I had a panic attack at work today and I at first tried not to tell anyone, and then I felt super dissociative and scared so I needed to find a quiet place so I went to the office and told my manager and she did her best to help me. She got help from my coworkers and a lot of them related to my feeling and they gave me lots of hugs. I am so glad I confessed that I was feeling very terrified for seemingly no reason. This is a new thing for me that I have never felt before but he's right that its best not to add shame and embarrassment to our fear.

this is an incredible video, thank you!

These thoughts doesn’t only help with panic attacks but also with every day anxiety

This was seriously helpful. Perfect timing. Thank you

that's just so beautiful and so pure. You're doing such an awesome job folks. You're not just changing lives, you're saving them. Keep up the work! ❣️

I never knew how a panick attack felt until just now, I throught it was just getting worried but I was upset and thinking about bad things and then I got shortness of breath and I felt as if I was going to faint and I was dizzy and I tried to walk to my bathroom and when I got in I felt nauseous and sick and it felt like I was in a nightmare and going to die but I don’t even rmeber the rest but I’m fine now I just never knew how horrible and scary it was and I hope it doesn’t happen again :/

Thank you it's so hard sometimes damnnit. Especially when its chained panic attacks.

I've been watching a bunch of videos about coping with panic attacks and anxiety, they were all formulaic and basically exactly the same with the exact same advice. This one was unique, the affirmations it gives you are so helpful and I will try them next time I am struggling. "everyone is allowed to fail often" i've never heard anyone phrase it quite like that; means a lot. Thank you so much for this video. *edit* just saw you have a book- will have to check it out!

The person who had the idea to make this video, bless you. Just bless you!

The ONLY way to conquer anxiety/panic attacks, is to welcome that feeling of dread instead of fearing it, and when it does randomly come about, challenge it, eventually you become the master and control IT and not let IT control you. Confront your fear.

Thank you, I just had one today after a CT scan. The doctor shamed me for being overly anxious. I felt so small

I started to slip into a panic attack two nights ago. A complete stranger became very confrontational with me about a minor dispute she had with my son. The heart rate shot up, the singing in the ears began and I couldn’t think clearly. Full fight or flee response from the monkey brain. I managed to dial it back by reminding myself of many of the points Alain makes. It’s taken me 10 years of self analysis, meditation and some professional therapy to be able to this. I didn’t sleep that night but by morning I could see that I’d handled the situation appropriately and I was pleased with myself. I was able to take the negative and see the positive. Sometimes attacks have a slow build up and I can now deal with that automatically but it’s the unexpected situations that I still have to work at.

Thank you so much for this. I needed to hear this. It brought me to tears, but in a good way. In a relieving way. Thank you so much💖

this just saved my life

This too shall pass ☺

Thank you very much this helped me a lot! What also helps me when I have panic attacks is to write my thougts and feelings (as irrational as they might be) on a notebook that I carry everywhere I go, the more irrational my writing is, the more it calms me. It also helps me to think that I'm allowed to enjoy life as much as I imagine the others can. If you are having this panic attacks don't worry too much, you are not alone and there is always something that you can do to overcome it, you are perfectly capable of giving yourself a solution. Be brave and be yourself!

First and foremost thank you for this beautiful and compassionate video. I recently got stuck in a elevator and experienced a panic, anxiety attack or maybe a combination of both. While I was stuck I felt so embarrassed I begin to shake my heart began to race as well as my thoughts. I called 911 and sat down in the corner of the elevator and talk to the 911 dispatcher until the firefighters came. Her name was Lori. I’m thankful to be out of the elevator but just the thought of elevators now scares.

This was so good it almost made me cry

I wish people stop make banal, commonplace something like anxiety or panic attack. These two things are specific to persons diagnosed with mental / anxiety disorder. Stop presenting those like it's common, like everyone has it, like it's normal to have anxiety during the day lol. I don't really liked this video, describing anxiety like it affects everyone. Then everyone will identify with this. That way of presenting things just explains how people nowadays can't make the difference between just be stressed and having anxiety disorder, hence discrediting people who really struggle with mental disorder. Having a panic attack is not just being stressed about your competence, your worthiness in front of people or just fear to fail. It's waking up in the middle of the night, alone, with difficulties to breathe, with a heart that beats so hard you think it's gonna explode. It's calling 911 'cause you think you are going to die, and you can. Anxiety causes physical pain on the long term (for example I have more and more difficulties to walk for more than 10 minutes, my muscles are contracting too much everywhere, I have daily heart cramps with prevents me to breathe for some seconds), if you don't treat it with therapy or personal experience, you can have serious problems that can weaken your body, your vital organs, you know the rest. As a psychology student, I really don't understand this video. It gives a wrong definition of anxiety and panic attack, and provide inadequate advice. The video doesn't give any advice which contributes to the management / control of an anxiety attack (which leads to respiratory complications or else if not calmed fast). I have followed this channel for a while now, and I find that the videos are less and less correctly responding to the problematic it asks. It's more and more abstract, giving generic sentences and advice. It's not very consistent and never answer concretely at the question. I am always disappointed by your last videos, and I think this one is nearly the worst... People who have anxiety disorder ABSOLUTELY need to see a person, a therapist who can help manage their PERSONAL and deep issues. Making a video giving advice like "say to yourself you worth it" just doesn't help, and gives me the impression that this is completely out of subject, and that you are, again, someone who just don't understand what panic attack is about. Don't talk about it if you don't know about it.

As a therapist, your videos are learning sessions for me. Thankyou for all this content. You folks are awesome.

You guys are like the ultimate moral sense in the meaninglessness, and you remind us but you do it in a sensitive and comforting way, enough to bring tears to my eyes. I love you guys.

*This is a very powerful subject* Thanks for covering it.💪

I had some episode and most, if not all of them, resulted in loss of blood circulation, and then my hands and legs get numb, then I start hearing white noise than anything else. The good thing that those episode went by. Eventually.

Thank you. Perfect timing. I really need this. God bless you, The School of Life ❤ ❤ ❤

I wish my parents would watch this. I suffered a panic attack on Monday and my father yelled at me and told me I was making drama out of nothing and I shut pull myself together, bc I am an adult. My panic attack was so bad I even peed my pants which got him even more mad at me