How to Beat Panic Attacks with Spiritual Principles

Millions of people each year are affected by panic attacks, which are a form of an anxiety disorder. Panic attacks usually come on suddenly and without a rational cause as to why they are occurring in the first place. Symptoms of panic attacks can include a rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, a feeling of being disconnected, chest pains and rapid breathing, just to name a few. The symptoms can be very traumatic for the one experiencing them, and some people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks or strokes because of the similar symptoms that are experienced with both attacks. They strike without warning and can occur with anyone, at any stage of life.

Common Causes of Panic Attacks

Some common causes of panic attacks can include a family history of anxiety-related disorders, nervousness, stress, a sudden traumatic event in your life, like a divorce or death of a loved-one, and childhood traumas like physical or mental abuse. You can have some of these causes, or none, and still have a panic attack anyway.

The Most Common Treatment for Panic Attacks

The most common treatment for panic attacks is giving the patient antidepressants such as Prozac or Zoloft. Along with giving the patient antidepressants, psychotherapy can also be recommended and cognitive therapy is commonly used as well. Cognitive therapy is introduced to the patient so they can learn new thinking patterns in response to stress and other environmental factors. While many people suffering from panic attacks have found relief from these methods, there might be a safer alternative to the medications that are being prescribed so often for panic attacks and other anxiety-related disorders-spiritual methods are one avenue that you might want to explore.

Spiritual Solutions to Panic Attacks

While this may sound far-fetched or even absurd, you can use spiritual methods to combat panic attacks. Physicians and scientists are now acknowledging that there is a strong mind-body-spirit connection that cannot be ignored. With panic attacks, they start in the mind first, with symptoms being the direct result of the mind at play. Many panic attacks can be caused from years of emotional stress and toll on the body, especially if the person experiencing the panic attacks has a tendency to keep the emotional stress inside, without letting their emotions out and actually feeling them.

Spiritual practices and alternative methods can be a safer alternative to using medications. Prayer is one spiritual method that has been said to create actual energy when the intent of the prayer is strong enough and not 'just words'. You don't have to be a Christian or belong to any other religion to use your spirituality to help with panic attacks, or any other problem. In his book "There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem", Dr. Wayne Dyer goes into great detail about how to use spiritual principles in our daily lives for dealing with problems. Panic attacks are no exception.

Meditation can be very beneficial for panic attacks because it helps the sufferer to relax and connect with a higher power as they are meditating. Connecting to the higher power, the Universe, God, or whatever you might call your own spiritual connection, is imperative when dealing with panic attacks and anxiety in general. They say that "silence is golden", and silence can help you tap into those emotions below the surface that can be the root cause of the panic attacks. Finding the main cause of the panic attacks is half the battle when trying to free yourself from these painful and sometimes embarrassing attacks.

Yoga, while not considered to be spiritual by many people, is another effective way to deal with stress and anxiety, while strengthening the mind-body connection that is so important when dealing with panic attacks. Because many panic attack sufferers can develop phobias as well, yoga and meditation can increase the connection between the mind and body and create a balance that is important. Yoga not only stretches the body and strengthens it as well, but it releases energy blockages and creates an even flow of energy that can be very beneficial in combating stress.

Along with using spiritual methods, make sure that you visit your doctor first if you think you are suffering from panic attacks. If you wish to travel the alternative route to healing, they can often lead you in the right direction when it comes to finding holistic and non-medical treatments for treatment. Also make sure that you don't let yourself become overly tired, stressed out, eliminate caffeine, and eat properly. These are also key things to remember when trying to deal with panic attacks. With some combination methods and some patience, you can be free from panic attacks.