Audio that helps you cope with a panic attack. This is not a relaxation audio. The purpose of this audio is to coach you when you are experiencing high anxiety or panic. The focus of the audio is to help you learn to tolerate the uncomfortable sensations of anxiety while learning to reduce the symptoms. This is based upon the theory that the fear of the symptoms tends to trigger repeated panic attacks and that as you reduce your fear of the symptoms, the likelihood of panic is reduced.

NOTE: Due to the non-specific nature of panic symptoms, it is important to obtain a complete physical and an accurate diagnosis from a physician prior to assuming that the experience was a panic attack. For more information, read How to Manage Panic and Anxiety.

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This audio provides assistance when you are overwhelmed with anxiety and can't focus on relaxation especially if you are experiencing depersonalization or derealization (you or your surroundings don't feel real). The grounding technique can be particularly helpful when someone has anxiety due to trauma which is causing flashbacks to the memory of the trauma. It has you focus on your immediate surroundings to help focus away from the traumatic memory.

This type of audio is not for the purpose of relaxation but to help you feel more focused so that you can use other techniques. Once you have used the mindful grounding technique and can focus a bit more, it is a good idea to use the relaxation audios to help calm yourself further.

It is best to listen to this audio for the first time when you don't need it so that you will have an idea of what to expect. In addition, developing an understanding of mindfulness can help with this practice: Understanding Mindfulness.

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This educational audio helps you to understand the concept of tolerating anxiety and why it is important. The fear of the anxiety and the demand to get rid of it makes the anxiety worse. The more you learn to tolerate anxiety, the less intense and frequent it will be. Developing mindfulness skills increases the ability to tolerate anxiety because mindfulness focuses on the immediate present not on the catastrophic worries about the future. The more that you focus on the "what ifs" regarding anxiety, the more likely your anxiety will be triggered. However, the more you can can understand and accept the anxiety, the less insistent it becomes.

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Frequently, people who have panic attacks develop a fear of having a panic attack while driving a car. They are afraid they will lose control and hurt themselves or others. For most people this fear is based upon inaccurate assumptions about panic attacks and how an attack can affect driving. Although there are a few people who may have medical conditions that can be triggered by a panic attack, most people who have panic attacks can safely drive or make the decision to determine the need to stop driving while calming themselves. If you have been checked out physically by your physician and cleared for driving, this audio can help explain why you can safely drive with a panic attack.

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This audio can help coach you while having a panic attack when driving. It is meant to be used for therapeutic driving exposures when challenging the avoidance of driving. It is not meant for general coaching. Listen to the Panic While Driving Education audio prior to using this audio during driving. Consult with your therapist and obtain clearance from your physician prior to using. For more information, read How to Manage Panic and Anxiety.

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