How to Stop Panic Attacks and Finally Get Some Relief!

Panic attacks come out of nowhere it seems. Suddenly you feel extremely nervous and your insides are feeling things that are out of the ordinary for you.

Some people feel like they may be dying, are having a heart attack,suffocating. Some breathe very rapidly, and
after some time, the symptoms go away.

You are thinking: "Where did this come from?" Unfortunately the attacks can come without warning and with
no discernible triggers. Although the attacks are very disturbing while they are happening, generally no physical harm comes to you before, during, or after the attack.

Yes, you do feel drained and the mental stress is overwhelming but thankfully, physically, you are all right.

Is there any way you can determine who will have a panic attack?

Unfortunately, no. A small portion of the population has them sometime in their lives. A small portion of those people have them frequently.

There are even some that have them one right after another. These people need to seek the the advice of a
medical professional because the attacks may be the effects of underlying conditions, especially clinical depression.

What causes panic attacks?

Listing all the causes is way beyond the scope of this short article. Suffice it to say that it is different for everyone. A single cause is not known. Sometimes perfectly healthy people can have an attack all of a sudden. Something happens in their lives that exposes them to the sort of anxiety that their minds and bodies can't handle.

One of the main causes is thinking about a situation and "blowing it out of proportion". In other words, worrying about what may happen, not what is happening now. Focusing on all the "what ifs" and not on the possible solutions.

There have been isolated cases which heredity is the cause. It is thought, that if one family member has been
prone to panic attacks, so will the child. That is not so much a result of hereditary as it is conditioning.

For most people, living in fear of the next attack will be the precursor for the another attack.

What are the symptoms of an attack?

There are many, and what one person may experience, you may not necessarily experience. A few of them are:

Changes in vision
Dizziness
Rapid heartbeat
A tightness in your chest, similar to that of a heart attack
The list goes on and on

The good news is that once the attack is over, so are the symptoms.

So how do you stop panic attacks?

As we discussed briefly before, most people are in fear of the next attack, which leads to anxiety, which leads to more attacks. So doesn't it stand to reason that the first step would be to deal with the fear? In identifying what causes the attacks and alleviating that cause, we subsequently stop the attacks. No fear=no attacks.

The body and mind go into "panic mode" because of certain triggers and thoughts. These are different for everyone. Try and monitor your thoughts during your panic attacks. It's "easier said than done" but vital to stopping the panic attack. If you can interrupt the thought pattern, replacing the negative thoughts with positive ones, you can stop the attacks immediately. It takes practice, but it will become easier the more you do it.

Imagine, if you will, the process. Right before your attack, the majority of your thoughts are fearful. A sensation is triggered in your body, leading to more fear based thoughts, which leads to more sensations triggered in your body, which leads to more fearful thoughts, well, you get the picture. It is a snowball effect. If that process is broken, it stands to reason that the attack will be broken as well.

Another way to help with your attacks is to discuss your fears with someone you trust. The more you hold everything inside, the more susceptible you are to more attacks. You know, sometimes just a hug helps too.

At the risk of sounding all "woo woo" on you, sometimes just making yourself laugh helps. Just laugh for no reason. Think of something funny that has happened before. Don't just chuckle,"belly laugh"!

It all boils down to control. Control your thoughts and fears and you will overcome your panic attacks. With practice you can do it!

Listen, you don't need to be embarrassed just because you experience anxiety and/or panic attacks. Information is really an important weapon against the battle against both panic attacks and anxiety attacks. Increase your arsenal of weaponry by clicking the following link: How to Stop Panic Attacks