Reddit mentions of Self Help for Your Nerves : Learn to Relax and Enjoy Life Again by Overcoming Stress and Fear

No problem at all, it's really interesting hearing your experiences as well, so thank you too!! :)

I've had panic attacks probably from when I was about 7 years old, but each time they're totally different and for a different reason. So I had them for probably a couple of years when I was 7-9/10. I had no idea that's what they were until a few years ago, it popped into my head. This was because I was terrified of the dark, so I'd get them lying in bed at night, hear my heartbeat through my pillow and then have to sit up suddenly sweating and put the light on. Then I was totally fine for years.

Then aged about 18 I started developing a wasp/bee phobia and this escalated over about 4 years to the point where I'd just have to see one and would start hyperventilating and run off and do all kinds of genuinely embarrassing things. I had one session of CBT for this and was able to totally, totally cure this phobia on my own.

Now I'm 30 and have just had this recent panic disorder come on in June this year, as well as having a one-off but very intense panic attack last July when I had too much caffeine.

So, I know I'm someone who has a sensitive fight or flight response, but also that I can recover from these things and go about like normal for a decade or more at a time! :D

Yeah, I also can't just carry on as normal after an attack. It can stay with me for hours, days, or recently a few months of not feeling totally right.

I think it's a good tactic to think of this as a wiring problem in the brain for sure. That's how I intend on trying to treat this. Oh also, I just got this book by Claire Weekes delivered yesterday and am already half way through it. I'm finding it genuinely really really helpful. She describes what we're experiencing very precisely and it's really consolidating my confidence about what this is, as well as describing some really good techniques to use to recover: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0722531559/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE

It's called Self Help for your Nerves if you aren't keen on clicking links. :)

just recommended this book to some one else. Really helped me.

I really recommend this book. Couple of quid second hand. It will change how you see your anxiety. You will get better it’s just difficult to see a way out when your nerves are sensitised. But there is, millions of people do it every year. Chin up OP https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Help-Your-Nerves-overcoming-stress/dp/0722531559#productDescription_secondary_view_div_1521490242353

I'm not a professional but your current situation is a perfect example of the type of situation in which someone begins to experience anxiety and panic attacks, well done for identifying it yourself - that's half the battle won.

I would recommend that before meditating or listening to recordings, you first learn to recognise and alter the physiological conditions that lead to a panic attack, most people for example don't realise just how quickly they are breathing before a panic attack comes on. You need to understand things like the impact of "safety behaviours" and "avoidance" on how anxious you feel, it's good to know what you might be doing to encourage the symptoms so that you can stop doing those things. Meditation will be very helpful when you understand this, but before then I can't see it helping too much.

This book is a good start for understanding that side of things: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Panic-Attacks-Overcoming-Fear/dp/0745955452/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=understanding+panic+attacks&qid=1567412709&s=gateway&sr=8-1

IMO the next key thing to understand is that to "fight" anxiety you have to do the exact opposite, give in, don't struggle. If you feel a wave of anxiety the key is to let it wash over you and to loosen every muscle in your body as much as possible, any activity to remove or fight the anxiety only confirms to your brain that you are in danger and encourages it to release more panic inducing hormones. If your brain signals to you that there is a threat, and you do absolutely nothing about that threat, and in fact stay still, breathe steadily and loosen your body - the waves may continue to come but they will subside eventually as it becomes clear to your brain that the hormones it is releasing are unwarranted - though for this to work you really need to believe that what I'm saying is true.

If you want to understand more about this approach then Claire Weekes is your go to author, her writings are quite old now so some of what she says is a little outdated, but her basic four step approach to overcoming anxiety is the most helpful thing I ever read. She is talking directly to those at the most severe end of the panic spectrum but the same treatment still applies to those who are just beginning to experience panic attacks, the earlier on in the process that you come to this the better!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Self-Help-Your-Nerves-overcoming-stress/dp/0722531559/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=self+help+for+your+nerves&qid=1567413327&s=gateway&sr=8-1

Hope this helps - if you aren't the type to buy and read self help books then just google around for panic attacks and breathing exercises, and the Claire Weekes method.

And yes do seek therapy if it's accessible to you, but don't think that you can't learn about this and help yourself in the meantime!