It’s actually your body telling you “I need attention here!” It’s telling you that you need to slow down because a panic attack is a friend (it’s saving you from pushing yourself too hard so that you don’t get really sick). It enables you to recognize that there are some things that need to be dealt with so that you can be even happier ;-).

It’s like that friend that tells you the honest truth in order to help you grow. At the time you don’t want to hear it–but it gives you years of happiness from the growth of the lesson and when you look back you see that the person was a really good friend to you.

Sometimes if you clench your fists really hard and then release and unclench them very slowly–while imagining that as you unclench your fists that you are “releasing” the panic–it can be very soothing. It helps you funnel and direct the anxiety. Almost like visualizing it so that it becomes in your control. You see, the hardest part of an anxiety attack is that we feel out of control.

Until we learn how we can control them better.

And there is nothing wrong with taking meds to stop or prevent the anxiety. But the thing is this…and this I know as I had a terrible time with anxiety in my 20s (but man was I skinny as a result!)….it will get better. But in its own odd way it’s there to help you (though what a pain of a lesson it is).

Oh, and the fact that you can talk about these attacks is HUGE. I hid mine for months not wanting anyone to know. And also start trying to inject some humor with them. Like, pick a name for them (Louie? Mildred?) and when one hits, be like “Oh there you go again, Louie, fine I’m listening to you…but I’m not letting you stay for long!”

Keep me posted as you’ll be amazed at how, over time, Louie will stop visiting as much. Because just like our real friends, once you start listening to them they stop shouting at us and causing us grief.

Here’s what helped me the most. I went to weekly psychotherapy and talked about it. I also de-stressed as much as possible and crossed things off my list as much as I could. I basically treated it like I was ill the entire pregnancy and gave myself a big old break.

I haven’t heard the Benedryl solution. If you are really miserable, they do treat panic disorder with antidepressants too (which I personally don’t think is the best treatment for PD) but it’s an idea if things get really bad since there are some that are less dangerous during pregnancy than the Xanax type drugs.

I want a third child so badly, but the thought of going off my meds makes me not want to do it. How sad is that?

Good luck, hang in there!!!

I’ve also heard that people do keep taking the benzodiazepines, like Xanax, when needed, even when pregnant. Epileptics who need such drugs to control their epilepsy also keep taking them. So it’s not out of the question that your doc could let you take it when you need it, especially once you are out of the first trimester.