Friday, July 20, 2012

Don't Let Panic Attacks Define Your Life

Panic attacks affect millions of people and can be crippling. It can affect the things you do, the people around you, and hurt your self-esteem. It is essential to learn how you can best cope with your panic attacks. Read this article and you will find out how to control panic attacks and enjoy your life.

It's better to accept a panic attack than it is to try and fight it. Instead of putting your attention on the panic attack and the feelings associated with it, focus on how the feelings will soon pass. You absolutely must remain calm during a panic attack. Remaining calm can be accomplished by reminding yourself of the actual vs. conceived effects of serious anxiety, but fighting too hard can have the opposite effect.

A good tip for panic attack sufferers is to be aware of what your body is doing when you feel one coming on. You have to tell yourself that nothing bad is going to happen; that your nervous system is just a little bit over-stimulated for now. This will help you keep the right state of mind and will lessen the length of the attack. Panic attacks are horrible, and this tip is not meant to down-play that, though if you can adopt this type of thinking, you will be able to negate some of your panic.

The Internet makes finding panic attack support easy. Support groups are often helpful because they allow you to interact with others who are dealing with the same issues, and they will listen to your concerns and give you helpful advice.

You may be able to decrease the frequency of your panic attacks if you deal with other medical issues. A lot of times, panic attacks come from other psychiatric conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder. Once you seek treatment for the underlying causes, the panic attacks subside.

Most people can succeed at ending or controlling panic attacks just by simply understanding how they feel. Try reminding yourself that feelings are subjective and do not have ultimate reign over your life. Think of something positive and say it to yourself repeatedly until you really believe it.

The flight and fight energy must be directed elsewhere. Any energy built up while you are suffering from a panic attack is best directed towards something that can distract and relieve your mind from the current moment. Try cleaning up the yard or exercising while you watch anime. If you are doing something vigorous, yet productive, the panic attack will likely go away faster.

It is such a vicious circle, but fearing a panic attack can cause an incident itself. Avoid obsessing over your anxiety and the triggers associated with your attacks. By obsessing on previous attacks, you may start to feel panic creeping in. The underlying concept involves the power of suggestion in that simply letting the thought of panic attack enter your mind prevents you from pondering anything else.

You don't want to be a loner if you are having panic attacks. By surrounding yourself with positive, energetic people, you will find that they help to lift your spirits when you are struggling with things. Be sure to surround yourself with friends and loved ones often for extra support.

At the first indication that a panic attack is beginning, right away start to put your attention toward something else. Think about your favorite song or do a puzzle. Do whatever you can to get your mind off of the feeling of panic. An effective distraction can avoid a full-fledged attack and provide quicker relief.

If you are having a panic attack, stop what you are doing, take a seat, and concentrate on your breathing. Breathe in through your nose and make your stomach rise. Try to count slowly to five as you breathe in, and five as you breathe out through your mouth. Do this 10 times, and you should be calmer and more relaxed.

If you suffer from frequent panic attacks, you must be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. Not getting enough sleep can not only increase the frequency of attacks, it can also keep you from clearing your head and calming down if you have one. You should try to get eight continuous hours of sleep every night.

Now that you have gained some insight into how to properly manage your panic attacks, you will be able to gain more confidence and enjoy the little things in life. It is common for people to have panic attacks, but once you know how to deal with them, they do not have to take over your life.

No comments:

Post a Comment