Attacking Anxiety: Now is the Time
What starts a panic attack? The triggers vary with individuals. If you worry too much about everything, such as unwanted thoughts, phobias, nightmares of a previous traumatic event, fear what people think about you, or you dread places where there won’t be help if you need it – you have a type of anxiety disorder and have to deal with anxiety attacks. Attacking anxiety can be a very big challenge on the part of the sufferer.
Do You Have Anxiety Disorder?
You might have been experiencing some difficulties or feelings of dread and dismiss these as one of those things that can happen to anyone. You have an anxiety disorder if you continually worry needlessly and if your constant worrying affects your responsibilities and you begin to avoid situations or activities that trigger your anxiety.
Physical symptoms include fatigue, insomnia, headaches, muscle tension, profuse sweating, upset stomach, and rapid heart beats. Apart from the physical symptoms, you might be experiencing any or more of the following – feelings of dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tensed or edgy, irritable, restless, always anticipating the worst, or you feel that your mind goes blank.
If these symptoms bother you frequently, seek medical help or therapy immediately. The earlier you seek help, the better because you can be alerted to the possibilities of debilitating panic or anxiety attacks and you can be prepared should it happen again.
Ways in Attacking Anxiety
It is normal to worry but if worrying becomes an everyday routine, that would start a downward spiral of your physical and mental health. Worrying excessively triggers anxiety attacks and these attacks are accompanied with one or more symptoms that include a surge of overwhelming fear or panic, feeling of going crazy, rapid heart beats, chest pains, difficult breathing or choking sensation, hot or cold flashes, trembling or shaking, stomach pains or nausea, hyperventilation, or feeling detached your surroundings.
The symptoms can increase your fear and not knowing what to do during an anxiety attack only increases your fears. If you suspect you are going to have an anxiety attack, try to relax. The episode will last just a few minutes or may take an hour. During the attack, stay calm. Take a deep breath and calm down. Keep reminding yourself that it is a panic attack, not a heart attack.
During an episode of anxiety, sit down or if it is possible, lie down. It is important that you feel comfortable. Relax the muscles in your body by tensing them and relaxing them alternately – all the while regulating your breathing. Attack your fears by driving out all negative thoughts and replacing them with scenes of happy events. If the episodes become frequent, don’t keep your fears to yourself. Discuss the problem with family members and seek anxiety therapy.
Since there are different therapies or treatments in attacking anxiety, anxiety therapists have to pin down the cause of the problem before starting you on a treatment program. For anxiety disorders, therapists recommend behavioral therapy which can take up to 20 sessions depending on the severity of your anxiety disorder. In medical treatment, doctors prescribe medication to prevent the onset of future anxiety attacks.
