I had my first panic/anxiety attack in my mid-20s, and then more frequently in my late 30s. It sucks, and especially the first couple of times you really may ha

I had my first panic/anxiety attack in my mid-20s, and then more frequently in my late 30s. It sucks, and especially the first couple of times you really may have no idea what hit you. There were a couple of things that ultimately worked for me, although I think it's important to note they may not work for everyone since people are different. What helped was a combination of CBT and Buddha breathing and mindful breathing-focsed meditation. I also became (with the help of my counselor) more self-aware, so I could realize when I was starting to become anxious and use breathing techniques to intervene before it became a full-blown attack. I don't do it as much now but for quite a while I had a serious journaling habit (I'd go through a Moleskine-sized hardbound notebook every couple of months) and that turned out to be surprisingly helpful; I could get the things that were stressing me out or depressing me written down on paper and out of my head. For me, at least, it worked. All that said, for someone who's dealing with anxiety, I think the best thing is to talk to a professional. As for me, things have gotten better; I don't get these attacks so much anymore and a lot of the time I'm able to keep them from escalating into a full blown one just by focusing on breathing for a while.