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I've been having really bad panic attacks lately - Thinking about death, what happens when you die, does it all end, do you 'start over', just generally what it feels like. I don't know. Death is inevitable, but it scares me so much. I've been having aweful panic attacks over it, but my mom says I should just wait till the next psychologist appointment. What should I do?

Are you on any anxiety meds? If so, you could call your doctor and ask if you can take a little more until your visit. You might want to try jogging when you get a panic attack. Sometimes when your heart rate matches your activity level, it can feel better!

I do that when I get panic attacks (average of one semi-major one every 6 or so months, so I'm not on meds from it).

The last one I got, I just grabbed my sneakers and my cell phone and took off. And 9:45 at night. Uphill, to my friends house. She lives about a mile and a half up our steep and rather windy hill, and I was there in under 15 minutes (more like 11). It was really awful, though, but I felt physically better (minus the shaking and shortness of breath).

Unfortunately I'm due for my next one very soon, and as finals are this week...

I would call your psych and let them know, personally. And trying to avoid your triggers help, but if you're anything like me than that's a hell of a lot harder than it sounds.

Comforting music can be helpful as well if your mind is on thoughts you don't want it to be. To help manage my anxiety I make mixes, or now that I have a iPod I collect mp3s, and listen to them on walks or jogs. Think back to what songs made you feel good in the past, and don't think about just listening to what kinds of music you usually listen to, just whatever has made you feel calmer even if it's a totally cheesy song or it's something you'd never hear on mainstream radio, like classical or obscure european bands.

If I'm crying a lot I listen to It Can't Rain All The Time by Jane Sibbery, it's a slightly cheesy song but it works very well, All Is Full of Love by Bjork, The Scientist and also Yellow by Coldplay, Run For It by Delerium or Ghosts by Dirty Vegas.

If I need to calm down and focus it's Staralfur by Sigur Ros, Music For Vampires by Cocteau Twins or Pachelbel's Canon by Johan Pachelbel (a very effective classical song, really, if you just let yourself enjoy it it's very useful. I recommend the D Major version.)

If I'm angry, Never Alone by Bif Naked, Unfinished Sympathy by Massive Attack (a good calm down from anger song), Lullaby For The New World Order by Matthew Good, and it's a old one but You're So Vain by Carly Simon. Those are songs that can change anger, that's important. Songs that are just straight out angry are better saved for a time when you can take it.

They may not all be my usual listening preferences, but they work for me. Everyone has their own songs that'll work better then others. It's good to have some favourite emergency songs around. Music has a huge effect on the brain, and the pain of panic attacks can sometimes be lessened if the brain gets distracted if only a little bit from the point it can't get away from.

Update: I'm doing slightly better - Thanks for the help. Because of a disability, I can't distract myself by going for a walk like I used to, but I've found a computer game that pretty much takes your whole attention to play. I talked to the psychologist recently, too; she said to think about something that really pisses me off, and that'll get my mind off of it. She suggested fundamentalist Christian websites... It worked XD Also, I got 25 mgs added to the Zoloft dose. Hope that can hold for a while...