I don't know what to do. I just had a panic attack at work and I broke out in red blotches over my face. I quickly made an exit out of the office and went to the toilets where I stayed for ten minutes. Basically I was doing this major task at work and made a big mistake. I completely panicked. You know when you get that bad feeling. I don't want to tell my manager now. I need to calm down, I need advice. What do I do ? Please help me..

Sorry. Obviously I came to the wrong board.

Sorry. Obviously I came to the wrong board.
Wait! Do you mean that you found the Panic Board, or that no one here answered? I just came online a few minutes ago, it's only about 9 in the morning here, just starting work, and I have my own stress situation to report but saw your post. Well it looks like 3 hours have passed, what did you do? For me, if I take a Xanax and wait an hour or so the panic goes away. I have NOT shared that I have anxiety/depression issues and meds with my employer (perhaps I should but so far I've done ok without revealing it). I think you could tell your co-workers something like you had a sudden attack of indigestion/cramps or along those lines, or nausea/feeling you would vomit, and had to be alone for awhile. Please let us know what happened.

Sorry, I wasn't being sarcastic! I'm feeling better now. I tried the breathing excercises and attempted to shake it off (so to speak). Nobody knows that I suffer from panic attacks and to be honest it only started happening in September last year. The only way I can explain it is: I panic, find it hard to breathe, my chest tightens and I break out in red blotches over my face particularly my forehead and I become very consious because everyone can see it. Once I've calmed down they disappear. I've researched this condition online and yeah I've seen all the stuff about breathing and letting go, but funnily enough, I only seem to remember it after the attack. I have tried meditating lately to relax but I can't seem to concentrate. I feel like my head is a local chat room, I'm always thinking of 1001 different things at the same time. Does anyone else feel like this ?

Well I take it you are finishing your day OK.

Yes stress/anxiety can cause all kinds of skin conditions. I came in to work this morning to have one person imitate the awful look on my face, then to have my supervisor tell me that a report had to be re-printed because it went out with a mistake last week-- and as the "1st editor" on it, I take the biggest share of the blame, although they are pretty good here about letting a mistake once in a blue moon go by and I haven't had a blunder like that in awhile. I have to fight wanting to pretend I am physically sick (instead of just stressed to the max!) and taking a half day -- I'd rather just get the day over with. ONLY 6 MORE HOURS FOR ME!

to ric,
sometimes the mind does go blank during a panic attack so you cant remember the coping methods, the main thing is to relax and breathe deep and slow, accept what is happening and dont fight back against it

get any valium type meds and disolve 1 under the tongue for fastest relief from a panic attack, carry a few tablets with you
a year round suntan will help hide the blotches

meditating doesnt help everyone, go for a walk during your workbreak to relax.