So I don't know if I've said this already, but I am now counting each day that I do not have a panic attack. Kinda like counting the days of sobriety. And I can now say....."echkhuem" (clearing my throat to get your attention).... drum roll please.... I have not had a panic attack in 20 DAYS!! Oooh and let me tell you, it feels SO good. I will also add that it hasn't been easy. It has taken a lot of will power, focus, and determination -- all which grew from pure frustration and being completely fed-up with having them. I mean I am seriously tired of having these stupid things, so I have wholeheartedly decided to fight them. How?? Well I wish I could say exactly how I am doing it, but I can't. I can tell you some things that seem to be helping though.
"Thought stopping," for one, is a wonderful tool. To put it simply, whenever I am having a scary/obsessive thought, I have to stop it immediately. Kind of like slapping my brain in the face and telling it to "knock it off!" Sometimes that even means doing something loud and abrupt --like clapping, yelling "stop," or pinching myself-- to stop my thought process and put it on a new course. It's a process of breaking my brain's bad habits, and it seems to be working! On the scientific side of it, it is creating new neural connections and breaking down the connections I have made so strong that compel me to do certain things (like hyperventilate). Every day is a little bit easier, which is such a promising experience.
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