Freeze out panic attacks from onset
PEOPLE suffering from panic attacks often struggle to suppress feelings of anxiety when they start to surface.
But one woman says she has found a simple solution to help beat hers – and all she uses is an ice cube.
Writing on Tumblr, the woman explained she found out about the trick from her boyfriend.
She had been about to have a panic attack when she called him for help and he told her to pop an ice cube in her mouth.
The cold nature of the ice would shock her body and bring her out of her state of panic and “back into the real world”, he advised her.
She said the method actually worked and she now used the ice cube hack regularly.
John Tsilimparis, MFT, director of the Anxiety and Panic Disorder Centre of Los Angeles, has previously hailed the ice cube method but said there were other ways it could be used to distract the patient.
“This technique can help you divert your attention away from a panic attack, especially if you’re in the throes of a particularly intense attack,” he said.
“Take out an ice cube and hold it to your hand for as long as you can (you can put the cube in a paper towel).
“Then, place the ice cube on your other hand. This focuses your mind on the discomfort, de-escalating your symptoms”.
Other experts also hail such techniques as drinking cold water, paying particular attention to how it feels in your mouth, and also using ice cubes or frozen vegetables to put on the side of your face.
The Sun