Having panic attacks means that you must find information on how to deal with anxiety. In an increasingly high-pressure world, it’s no wonder that instances of panic attacks are on the rise. Here are some tips to help you deal with a panic attack.
If you start to feel the symptoms of a panic attack developing, do something relaxing, such as listening to music. Listen closely to the lyrics. If the song is calm and peaceful, you’re sure to find something in it to inspire you. As you divert your mind from your symptoms, it becomes easier to calm your body.
When you’re experiencing an attack you can use visualization techniques to help end it. Start breathing deeply and then close your eyes, next focus on each area of your body that is giving you trouble. Imagine yourself being calm, then relaxed, and finally going back to normal, and soon enough you’ll find it has.
While it’s difficult to think clearly during a panic attack, there is a simple tactic you can use to lessen the severity and duration of the attack. By splashing your face with cold water, your body automatically responds to what is called the “dive reflex.”� This tricks the brain into thinking that you are going underwater, and it sends messages to the body to slow down your heart rate and restrict blood flow to your extremities, allowing you to breathe easier and feel calmer.
Using tactics to distract yourself during a panic attack can help you calm down faster. Try counting backwards from 100 as quickly as you can. Work on a complex math problem. Turn on the radio, and sing along to a song that you know. Concentrate on eating an apple. Do a crossword puzzle. Anything that requires focus and clear thinking is going to help you take your mind off of your anxiety and channel it into an activity that will help you relax.
To cut down on the amount of stress that someone feels they should increase the amount of exercise that they do. Stress is one of the leading causes of panic attacks. If someone can rid their lives of stress, they will be able to have less panic attacks and enjoy their lives more.
As you experience a panic attack, you should focus on your feelings and write them down in a journal. You must focus on your REAL feelings, not fears of what might happen to you down the road. Keep to what you feel right now, and how you think those feelings relate to your pre-attack state.
If you feel like you are prone to panic attacks, you should try to avoid to much caffeine and alcohol consumption. Both of these substances have been shown to cause an increase in the chances of a panic attack occurrence. Control the frequency of your attacks with this simple tip.
When you have a panic attack, try to find something to do that you enjoy. For example, some have found it helpful to perform a cleaning task that is repetitive, like vacuuming. Both the sound and the motion might help to relax the body and the mind. It can also provide a feeling of accomplishment when you’re done!
Consider doing something exciting when you have a panic attack, like rock climbing! This will put your adrenaline to good use while also showing you that you’re able to do something terrifying without ending up with any negative repercussions. What a great way to show your fears that you’re the boss of them, not vice versa!
When you begin to feel tension and panic you should try watching a funny video on TV or on the internet. Make sure that you laugh out loud. The act of laughing and opening up will help you relax and will release hormones that will make your worries disappear.
Always give yourself rewards for getting over a panic attack! Think about all the techniques that you used and how successful they were, and how you’ll use them again if you have to – but you really won’t have to because you’re going to work hard on keeping healthy in the meantime!
Borrow an idea from the airlines by breathing into a paper bag when you are feeling panicked. Not only does this act help to distract you from your panic attack, but because of the increased amount of carbon dioxide in a closed area like a bag, the air you are breathing will relax you faster.
Know your panic attack patterns, so that you can better prepare yourself for an oncoming attack. For example, some people have attacks of as short as 15 seconds while others may have single attacks that last for half an hour or more. Still other people can have multiple consecutive attacks in a small time frame. Knowing what triggers your attacks and how long they will last will help you to weather them as calmly as possible.
Reducing the stress in your life can help to decrease the frequency or severity of your panic attacks. Stress stimulates the production of adrenalin and is often directly related to a panic attack. While some stress factors are uncontrollable, others can be managed, reduced or eliminated by your actions. For example, if you lead a busy lifestyle and have little free time in which to relax, learn how to say no to people who need favors or bosses who constantly want you to work overtime. Be polite yet assertive. Put your health before the needs of others for a change. It’s not being selfish ” it’s being smart.
There are many kinds of people who suffer from panic attacks. In joining a support group you may discover techniques that have helped others which would work to help you, and simply knowing that you are not alone in your condition can offer great relief as well.
If you are suffering from panic attacks, it does not mean that you have some intrinsic flaw, or that you are weak. Living with panic attacks shows how strong you really are. Utilize the tips in this article to learn how to cope with your panic attacks. You may be lucky enough to get rid of them completely.
Read more: Panic Attacks: Tips To Help You Minimize Them