You Can Overcome Anxiety and Panic Attacks

If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks, know that there are ways that you can deal with it on your own.

.

According to an article by Dr. Neel Burton, anxiety is brought on by “apprehension at a perceived threat”. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-andseek/201210/coping-anxiety

.

Some people become overwhelmed by panic and anxiety to the point of debilitation, but it doesn’t have to be this way, and if you’ve tried prescription medication and it just doesn’t work for you, keep reading.

.

There may be something you can do naturally. Realizing that there is a direct cause and effect relationship between feeling anxious and having a panic attack, is the first step in learning how to overcome it. Panic attacks don’t happen randomly. They are usually a result of anxiety. The fear of another attack causes further anxiety, so a vicious cycle takes place, often leading to a disabling phobia like agoraphobia, where a person is terrified to leave their own home.

.

It may sound irrational to a person who has never experienced a panic attack, but when one occurs, it is mood-altering and can be, in some cases, life-altering. If you have ever felt that alarming feeling of fight-or-flight when faced with sudden danger, this is what a panic attack is like for people. Imagine living in a

constant state of fight-or-flight. Adrenaline constantly pumps through your body, you breathe faster, your heart pounds harder, you are hypervigilant, you are indecisive to the point of immobility.

While in fight-or-flight mode, you have 2 options in dealing with the fear, fight or flee. A person overwhelmed with fear and anxiety often finds it easier to flee from it. This is often an inward flee, where one feels safer and more secure. Avoiding the fear is a coping mechanism. It’s a form of self-protection.

.

If you’ve never addressed your panic attacks before, for whatever reason—fear of doctors, medication, or someone finding out—then putting it off will only make it worse. You are not alone. Many people feel just as you do.

.

Therapy is a good way to deal with anxiety. A professional can help you sort out the causes and remedies. Chances are good that they will refer you to a support group that you can attend to help ease your feelings of shame and isolation.

.

Other things you can do for yourself, right in your own home, include meditation, relaxation with soothing music, exercise, talking to a supportive friend on the phone, using guided imagery to help calm your feelings.

.

It may be that you’ve dealt with panic attacks all of your life and you are used to them, but it doesn’t have to be this way. You can take control of your life today and do something about it. You must make up your mind to be the master of your own life. You can even choose how to react to certain situations.

.

This may be a new idea to you, but with practice and the right therapist, you will see a change in the way you handle strong emotions when they arise.