Understanding and Overcoming Panic Attacks
In a panicked state, you are bound to make the wrong decisions, or if you let it rule you, you will avoid the things or places that trigger the onset of the panic attacks. Panic attacks can conquer you if you don’t take steps in overcoming panic attacks.
Understanding Panic Attacks
When a panic attack and another gets you, you start fearing them. Either you fight it or flee from it when you experience an attack and the attack can happen anytime and anywhere. Commonly, panic attacks are associated with fear of open places or agoraphobia. The sufferer experiences these attacks in public places and as a result shuns these areas.
The body and the mind take on the punishment of panic attacks. Physically, you sense your heart pounding, you struggle to breathe, and feel tightness in your chest and a lump in the throat. You might be nauseous or lightheaded, or to an extreme, experience profuse sweating. Your mind races as you fight off the fear that grows and keeps on growing during the attack. The episode can last a few minutes or an hour and goes away leaving you confused.
Panic attacks have been associated with genetics but there are attacks caused by external influences such as the environment or stressful jobs. Teenagers are also prone to panic attacks although they don’t recognize them as such. Women are also more prone to have these debilitating attacks than men but it is reported that men don’t always seek professional help.
Panic or anxiety attacks can occur during or after life-changing events. Peer pressure during the teenaged life, a divorce, a death in the family, or a loss of one’s job can cause depression which can lead to panic attacks. If you have just gone through a low period in your life and are experiencing the symptoms, you are subject to panic attacks and need to learn techniques in overcoming panic attacks.
Overcoming Panic Attacks the Right Way
If you are feeling the symptoms of an attack, sit down and take a deep breath. Use the progressive muscle relaxation technique. Make a tight fist and simultaneously flex your hand upward. Hold it in position for ten seconds and release slowly. Let your arm and hand go limp and feel the sensations as your muscles relax. Do this several times focusing on the sensations of tensing and relaxing.
Think positive. If there’s a negative thought bothering you, overcome it with happy thoughts. Think about your family outing or the time you got a promotion. Imagine happy scenes in your mind and keep at it to banish that negative thought. Also, talk positive self-talk when negative thoughts start troubling you. Those negative thoughts can trigger a panic attack.
However, these exercises have to be practiced daily because you can’t rush things and overcoming panic attack is a complex process. With the help of a professional therapist, you can conquer those attacks and start living again. Seek professional help now before those panic attacks control your life and your mind.
