Something to think about if you have panic attacks or the feeling of disassociation, which is the feeling that you are not where you are.
Place your attention on a specific physical task that requires concentration. This could be fixing the brakes on a bicycle for the first time. Or gluing a broken piece of pottery. It could be anything that requires undivided attention. For this reason, a new task is better than one you are already good at.
Diverting the attention away from panic mode could also be as simple as watching a favorite comedy. Or giving your attention to your pet dog.
The mind is a powerful thing. I believe panic attacks are like the ruts made by tires. The more we fear panic attacks or think about them, the deeper the ruts become. Shifting the focus and learning to get out of panic mode can become a habit like anything else. It is like forming a deeper rut that forces the tires to go in a different direction than the panic attack.
Keep working at it. A time may come when you can look back at panic attacks as only a distant memory.
