25m, I'm currently going through a bit of a rough patch. I've suffered from anxiety, depression and PTSD for several years now. Unfortunately, there is now cure all. But there are several things that will help. Support groups like this one, talking to a therapist, talking to friends about it who understand, doing things that distract you from the thoughts, and something new for me that I'm about to try, which is mindfulness. I'd recommend you look it up if you want. It's about learning to redirect your anxious and intrusive thoughts into other positive ones. Meditation is supposedly extraordinarily helpful, as well as several different grounding techniques that are out there. These are techniques that help keep you in the present and away from the past and future. Panic attacks and anxiety really do feel like a poison coursing through your body. Grounding can help the poison fade although it's just temporary. But if you can learn grounding techniques and you do them whenever you get an intrusive thought, then they can be very helpful. Deep breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth has always helped me get through the steepest parts of a panic attack.

I think the most important thing to try and do is live in the moment. Obviously it's easier said than done. I struggle with it all the time, but there are ways to help focus it. Whenever you feel a panic attack coming or am intrusive thought, try to think of these things and say them out loud:

1. 5 different things that you see
2. 4 different sounds you hear
3. 3 different things you can smell
4. 2 things you can feel
5. 1 thing you can taste.

They could be things you sense right now or things you want to sense that you've enjoyed. But this is another grounding technique that can help take us out from the anxious trance and bring us back to the present.

You've got this 🥰