Panic attacks happen to the best of us. The sensation is typically caused by something triggering an intense feeling of anxiety which can cause heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and thoughts of impending doom.
The most frightening part of a panic attack is that it feels like being out of control. And feeling out of control can often mean that there is nothing we can do to help ourselves. But that’s not true.
There are many tricks that can be done to help us calm down, including breathing techniques and changing our surroundings. One other nifty hack involves a lemon.
Grab a lemon, and cut it in half to form two wedges. (This can also be done ahead of time in case of future panic attacks.) Now, stick a wedge into your mouth and squeeze.
The reason this works is because it brings your attention back to the present moment and takes the focus off your thoughts that are looping around your brain. If you don’t have a lemon on hand, you can also perform this hack with sour candy, or keep some lemon essential oil in your bag to smell.
Just remember, you got this.