Learning to control my Panic Attacks during the beginning stages of EMDR Therapy

Let me tell you my initial EMDR therapies. 

When I started this therapy , my anxiety was at the top level so that frequency of panic attacks increased.

I was feeling more anxious , phobic day by day.

We created an utopian relaxation place and named it while psychologist were applying tactile bilateral stimulation technique of EMDR. After the first session,  I applied tactile technique along with calling my utopian place name  while feeling very anxious , I suddenly started to yawn and felt relax. This situation had  really given me hope for the progress.

After 2 or 3 days of the first session a panic attack caught me  at the time I went to bed. Sudden anxiety started followed by nausea and finally panic attack.

I started to run from one room to another in a panic mood saying "I dont feel good, I feel bad, I am not fine " 

Then I sit down on the carpet in the living room. My therapist told me "panic attack lasts for about 15 minutes" I recall the words and started to wait with closing my eyes. I told myself "ok attack will finish in minutes"

I remember squeezing my hands. My panic attack lasted approximately 20 minutes. 

Did I go to emergency? Nooooo! :) And I think this was the first greatest achievement for me in that issue.

As soon as I came back to normal ; I tried to figure out the triggers of this panic attack Then I found following 

 1. I had eaten really terrible (high carbohydrate) which then resulted in stomach gas and reflux 

You know stomach gas affects heart beat rate, and if you dont get rid of this gas you may feel faint.

My nausea was the result of this situation.

2. I watched the sad news in TV , felt very sorry and scared.

These two  triggered panic attack as external reasons. 

Surely panic attack may start suddenly with no evidence of triggers, I think these may be called "intrinsic reasons. "

I notified the situation my therapist , and she told me EMDR would not cause Panic Attack, but Panic Attacks during EMDR would be very helpful in understanding how to control attacks. 

I guess victory was mine as I didnt go to emergency