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Home › Entertainment

Question of the Day | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

How do you regain control in a moment of panic?

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Joan Ganz Cooney

Joan Ganz Cooney | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

Joan Ganz Cooney Snaps Out of It

I regain control when the reason for the panic has passed, and then I calm down right away.
comments0 Comments
Liz Smith

Liz Smith | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

How Liz Smith Simmers Down

I am apt to go make myself a cup of tea and get in a hot bath and calm down. "This too shall pass" is not a bad motto, though it doesn’t help a lot when things seem dire. I always need to stop and think and not behave impulsively, which is my wont.

Click here on this text to read my New York Post column.

comments1 Comment
Judith Martin

Judith Martin | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

Why You Want Judith Martin Around During an Emergency

I don’t panic, so you want me around during an emergency. It is afterwards, when everyone else is relieved and happy, that they turn to me and say, "What’s the matter with you?"

comments1 Comment
Marlo Thomas

Marlo Thomas | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

Marlo Thomas Is the Calmer Half

I’m not really a panic artist. In fact, I’m pretty good to have around whenever everybody else is losing it. There’s a great saying that a good marriage is when both people don’t panic at the same time. So Phil’s lucky — he gets to panic whenever he wants.

comments2 Comments
Joan Juliet Buck

Joan Juliet Buck | 01/21/2009 11:00 pm

Joan Juliet Buck's Rx for Panic

I go into my meditation, and if I can’t sit down and do that, there are little pills called Beta Blockers.
comments2 Comments
Read more about: Anxiety, Health, Lifestyle, Panic, Stress

95 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Linda Myers
I take a time out to listen to what my heart is saying, rather than my head. Most of the time that will bring some balance or clarity to see what is going on, much clearer.
By Linda Myers on 01/22/2009 12:23 am
Lizzie R.
I get worried, but never go into a full blown panic state. I take a lot of Magnesium Glycinate 400mg daily and another supplement called L- Theanine, which I buy online. These keep me calm and centered.
By Lizzie R. on 01/22/2009 12:38 am
Yana Berlin
Stop, breathe, think, and hopefully let it go.
By Yana Berlin on 01/22/2009 12:54 am
Mugsy Peabody
I don’t panic. I skip that somehow. One time a child was about to be hit by a car in front of me, so I stepped out and scooped up the child. I fainted about an hour later. Another time, I was singing and walked into a kitchen where my roommate had started a fire. I put the fire out, and left the room. Someone later mentioned that I hadn’t even stopped singing. “I didn’t have time,” was my explanation. I couldn’t sleep at all that night. Somehow, when there’s really a panic situation, my brain jumps over anything extraneous, and it’s only later, when I realize what might have happened, that I lose control.
By Mugsy Peabody on 01/22/2009 1:58 am
Susan B
Mugsy, your experiences brought some very similar memories of my own to mind. I finally get around to losing it AFTER the crisis has passed. It seems that adrenaline blocks a typical panic response in us. I guess that’s a good thing.
By Susan B on 01/22/2009 11:02 am
Mugsy Peabody
I sincerely hope so.
By Mugsy Peabody on 01/22/2009 6:03 pm
Constance K.
I breathe deeply and focus internally upon someone, someplace or something I love. Honestly, though, I’ve also screamed and carried on when it was about my kids.
By Constance K. on 01/22/2009 2:33 am
Dona Howlett
I’ve only panicked one time in my life. that’s when I was told my daughter in law was murdered (by phone) and my grandchildren had been kidnapped. I really lost it that time. I’ve never panicked since……… Most everyone in my family like me to be around during times of trauma. I’m very together and seem to know what to do to make things better.
By Dona Howlett on 01/22/2009 2:42 am
Lizzie R.
Dona - that’s just terrible. Your daughter in law murdered, your grandchildren kidnapped!!!! Who did it, and were the grandchildren recovered and ok? Oh my god, I am just stunned by this, and, of course you lost it. What an experience. Thanks for sharing this, and no wonder you’ve never panicked since.When some terrible tragedy happens that takes care of all your panic forever, it seems.
By Lizzie R. on 01/22/2009 3:14 am
Jennifer Dooley
Dona. Their are no words to tell you how sorry I am that your family has had such grievous trauma. I hope that your Grandchildren and Son as well as all those touched by this have healed. Bless you and Yours.
By Jennifer Dooley on 01/22/2009 8:23 am
Dona Howlett
I M lizzie and Jennifer, Thank you for your comments. No, my grandchildren were never found. It’s been 32 years since this happened. The pain never goes away.
By Dona Howlett on 01/22/2009 5:45 pm
Lizzie R.
That is just so sad, and I can understand how you feel. When my son was killed I knew that whatever else happened to me there would never be anything as bad as this, so would be able to cope. The same thing happened to you - you get strength from loss. Of course the pain will never go away, as a big hole gets left in your heart and soul forever.
By Lizzie R. on 01/22/2009 6:50 pm
Dona Howlett
IM Lizzie, Yes, going through a terrible trauma either strengthens you or destroys. I’ve had so many terrible trauma’s I’m surprised I’m still standing. My oldest stepson lost twin babies……… My youngest step son lost his wife at age 30 (cancer) My youngest son lost his 16 year old son after having a Heart Transplant at age 14.It just seem to go on and on…………..I do wonder at times what kind of Message God is sending me. Now my oldest son who’s wife was murdered and his 2 daughter’s kidnapped is living Hell here on Earth. He has a 19 year old daughter who is slowing dying of Epilypsy. You can check my http://www.myspace.com/donahowlett I have the photo’s of my two missing granddaughter’s on this site. My constant prayer is ‘Some day they will find us’ Any one who would like to send these photo’s out to everyone on their address list would be greatly appreciated by my family I have this fantasy……….Some young woman will see these photo’s and say my gosh “That’s Me”
By Dona Howlett on 01/22/2009 8:13 pm
Dona Howlett
Lizzie, I’m sorry about your son………….How old was he? I would not wish this kind of pain on anyone………not even an enemy. No one knows unless they’ve suffered the same kind of tragic loss. My heart also goes out to you.
By Dona Howlett on 01/22/2009 8:19 pm
Lizzie R.
My son had just turned 21, but his death pales in comprison to the losses you and your family have suffered. I was once told that god never gives you more than you can deal with, but have often questioned that. In your case He and you must walk close together, and He must carry you a good part of the time.
By Lizzie R. on 01/22/2009 8:56 pm
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