You Can Stop Your Panic Attacks and Live Stress Free

You can stop your panic attacks. You can break free of the cycle of fear. Just because you had one attack doesn’t mean you will have another. Don’t lock yourself away because you are afraid of going places or doing things that might bring on another panic attack.

If you knew a panic attack was coming, you could get yourself ready. But you can be doing anything and start feeling the symptoms of a panic attack. While you are getting dressed in the morning you start to get this feeling of impending fear. Your heart rate quickens, you start to sweat and sometimes you feel as though you are on the outside looking in. Many people even suffer from panic attacks while they are sleeping. Can you imagine waking up to the fear of a panic attack?

Ten to twenty minutes is all it takes to get through a panic attack. For some, this seems like forever. Even thought the actual attack is short lived, the lasting effects aren’t. It can take a long time for you to feel like yourself again. It is not uncommon for sufferers to find themselves in the emergency room because they think they are having a heart attack. It is depressing to find out that there is nothing physically wrong with you, that it is all in your head.

Because no one is really sure of the reasons behind panic attacks, you can’t predict when you will have another. A panic attack is your body’s reaction to a perceived threat. The body goes into ‘flee or fight’ mode. The body is doing what it is supposed to do when threatened. The only problem – the threat is imaginary. Adrenaline is released and your body gets ready for a fight. That’s why your heart starts beating fast. Many people notice a tingling in arms and fingers. That’s because blood is moving away from the lesser needed extremities and going to places like the legs and brain.

Since you can’t predict when a panic attack will occur, everything you do starts to revolve around trying not to have another attack. You may start avoiding places and situations for fear of having an attack. This can lead to other phobias that make it even harder to go about your daily activities. Many people with extreme panic disorder may start to develop agoraphobia because their safe zone becomes smaller and smaller.

Stopping your panic attacks could be as simple as lowering the stress in your life. Even if you’re happy with your life, it can still be stressful. Are you going through a major change in life right now? If you’re having trouble dealing get some counseling to help you out.

Regular exercise and relaxation techniques can reduce general stress. Some relaxation techniques such as breathing can help you overcome a panic attack. When you feel an attack coming upon you, start taking deep breaths and reassure yourself that you can make it through. Remember that no one has ever died from a panic attack. Concentrate on relaxing your body starting with your shoulders and working your way down. Call a friend or try to do another activity.

Panic attacks are treatable. You can learn how to stop panic attacks. Stopping panic attacks means stopping the fear that another will come.