Since I suffer from panic attacks and make no attempt to hide the fact, a lot of people ask me: what are panic attacks and how do you get rid of a panic attack? how do you stop a panic attack? Well, first I'll tell you that some people think a panic attack (also known as an anxiety attack) feels a lot like having a heart attack; all of the symptoms are there, but you're not dying. I'd characterize it as this: what your reaction might be if you went skydiving and suddenly realized half-way through your descent that you forgot your parachute on your seat in the airplane. That is what a panic attack feels like. It's an hysterical state of mind that keeps building because when people have panic attacks, and they don't know what's going on, they start freaking out about being freaked out. If the symptoms of panic attacks are not recognized, it could lead the sufferer down a very dark road, perhaps even suicide. That's how awful panic attacks are, and that's how I felt until I received counseling and learned how to cope. These are the things you need to know and act on if you're having panic attacks:
If you think you've have some of these panic attack symptoms or you think you're experiencing something similar to what I've described, you should go see a psychiatrist to get a diagnosis. If you're certain you have panic attacks, and you don't want medical help, read on.
you doctor will help diagnose your panic attacks
Avoid stimulants and drugs that make you more alert, like coffee, cigarettes, amphetamines, ephedrine, ginseng, and similar substances--even marijuana should be avoided. These substances weaken your body's regulation of the fight-or-flight mechanism and can often send a person into a panic attack without an external stimulation. stimulants induce panic attack episodes
Seek advice about relieving stress to help you avoid having panic attacks. Common situations people find themselves in like crowds, flying on air planes, losing a job, and losing a loved one all have one thing in common: stress. Taking steps to lessen the amount of stress you have in your life will help you avoid slipping into more panic attacks. don't avoid the situations, but realize how they're affecting you.

Talking yourself down from a panic attack is a skill you'll have to learn if you're going to be living with panic attacks. If you start having a panic attack, tell yourself 3 things:
1. Tell yourself you're having a panic attack and that's all it is.
2. Tell yourself you're not going to have a heart attack and that the tightness in your chest, the shortness of breath, and the fluttering of your heart are symptoms of an adrenaline overload.
3. Tell yourself to get into a comfortable position and to begin controlling your breath, because your hands are tingling and clammy from hyperventilating.
The surest way to stop a panic attack is to sit down and start a breathing exercise. Take a slow, deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds. Then, release the air slowly, counting how long it takes each breath in and each breath out. Repeat this process, but keep in mind the goal of make each breath last longer.

If that doesn't work, you can always use the paper bag trick you've seen on T.V. thousands of times.