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Looking for excellent meditation apps

Narlah
Community Member
Hi about 3 month ago I had my first panic attack im a childcare worker and I had a panic attack with child in the work van. It happened 1 more time after that. I've been to my GP and been seeking help through a physiologist and been put on anti anxiety medication. Im trying to work out what makes me anxious, we've moved house, gone casual at work but now I'm finding it hard to sit in a waiting room at a doctors or out for dinner. Im wondering if there is some Excellent apps out there that could help. 
7 Replies 7

TheSteve
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Narlah,

Thanks for sharing, that is a pretty scary thing you experienced. You may find it comforting that many, many people experience panic attacks. I have experienced them, and had not done so for years until I did again this September. It was so odd, feeling the panic come on just like before. However, when you learn what panic actually is, you can actually laugh at it (I know it feels like no joke at all, but it is nothing to be afraid of).

Often times, the fear of panic, of having an attack, is exactly what CAUSES it. There is often nothing else. We create a situation in our mind, our mind mistakes it for reality, and it sends signals to our bodies to react a certain, physical way, and WHAM - panic attack.

If we can cut it off at the root, at the thought level, and then be mindful of the physical response, panic will become something we gain full control over. It will become something we keep on a leash, we control.

Our breathing is immensely powerful as an agent to control panic response. The breath is something we can control, which can be a manual transmission we can use to control our bodies function, instead of letting the auto-pilot go haywire! Stick with your psychologist, learn their coping methods, explore the physiology of panic, and you will get through this. I know you will.

Good luck to you.

Steve

 

Beltane
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

In all honesty, proper therapy is the best way to get a hold of anxiety and panic. There are many different types of therapy and obviously different therapists do different things so if you're finding your psychologist isn't helpful you could find another.

your therapist should be helping by giving you strategies to practice at home- this might also include reading therapy books, doing "homework" or whatever to practice techniques.

theraoy is all about changing how our brain reacts to things- as the above poster said, panic is a natural response to danger. Your body releases adrenaline and stress hormones causing a "fight or flight" response to the danger.

pakic attacks are a problem because your body is reacting to everyday situations as if they were terrible dangers- so it's releasing those hormones. Medication aims at fixing chemical imbalances in the brain and therefore calming the mind/ body down, and relieving feels of deoression etc.

therapy of course is aimed at changing how your brain thinks about things, how it reacts, how it copes. Over time you basically have to relearn and retrain your body to react to situations normally rather than overreacting and treating them like a danger.

 most people do CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy). I did that for a while but now do ACT (acceptance and  commitment therapy). So I can recommend books and apps that I love but please note they may be different to what your therapist does. Still no harm in checking them out in the App Store (these are iPhone apps).

headspace 

Beltane
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Sorry I sent that post too early!!! 

Get Some Headspace (meditation & mindfulness, guided meditations)Smiling Mind (meditation, guided meditation. One of my favourite apps as very well done, counts your meditation minutes, assess your progress)ACT Companion (my all time favourite app, has lots of little 5-10 minute activities you do including meditations, and other activities. Based on ACT therapy. Currently waiting for an update for the new iOS so if it's acting a little funny rhe new update is coming out soon) my favourite book is The Happiness Trap by Dr Russ Harris- really good ACT psychologist. Second half of the books had some GREAT things to practice which are amazing for panic attacks. Basically about being mindful (aware and present in the moment), meditation, recognising distressing thoughts for what they are- just thoughts not FACT. You can get it from Amazon as a Kindle ebook (there is a free kindle iPhone app)

Narlah
Community Member
Thankyou everyone. My phyc suggested try apps but there is so many just trying to narrow them down.  She suggested this book "Living With IT" A survivors guide to Panic Attacks by Bev Aisbett

Beltane
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

I've read that book, it's actually quite an interesting read (it's not dry and boring like some books!). There's a sequel too, if you like it.

i enjoyed it when I was doing CBT theraoy 😄

Chris_B
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

Hi Narlah,

Welcome to the forums. While it has been developed for women during pregnancy, our new Mind The Bump meditation app contains exercises and techniques that you and others may still find useful. You can find out more information on that here.

karfageniiy
Community Member
 Buddhify is better suited for those who are already somewhat familiar with mindfulness and don’t need help with motivation. The Calm app has 16 free meditation and breathing exercises, including a 7-day beginner’s program. Aura focuses on short bursts of meditation (programs last three, seven, or ten minutes) that are ideal for people on the go.