I'm always surprised when an anxiety attack hits. I'll be doing something mundane, then there it is. It comes out of nowhere, feeding on nothing logical and lasts for no pre-determined time. It's been months since my last bout of panic, since that gripping, heart-pounding doomsday feeling took over.Today while I was editing and preparing a story for a competition entry, anxiety attacked. I felt overwhelmed and out of control despite the conditions of my reality being calm and autonomous. I put aside my rising panic long enough to submit the story, ignoring the voice in my head screaming that it wasn't ready. Then, when that didn't stop the attack, I went outside to weed the garden. In a surprisingly short time the act of having a definite, productive task with a measurable outcome calmed my mind. I think the physical exertion also helped. Now I just need to remember that and gain access to a garden wherever my next attack strikes.
What else do people do to combat an anxiety (or migraine) attack?
