Anxiety Panic Attacks
Panic Attack Symptoms
How to Know if
You are Having a Panic Attack…
Anxiety panic attacks are more common than you may think. Unfortunately most people who experience them are embarrassed or they think that no one else would understand.The truth is that many people experience different levels of anxiety. Some feel mild anxiety and some suffer from prolonged and intense anxiety, known as panic anxiety disorder. However, no matter how much anxiety you feel, the anxiety symptoms are real for you—and they are a problem. They can interfere with your ability to function, to remember things, to make decisions and they can be the reason that you avoid social situations, or refuse to leave the safety of your home.
While panic attack symptoms may mimic other conditions, this is what it feels like to have a panic anxiety attack…
Worrying about panic attacks can cause a panic attack to occur!
Behavior Modification can stop panic anxiety attacks...
Anxiety and Panic Attacks
How Do They Feel?If you are reading this page because a loved one suffers from these symptoms and you are trying to understand or help, it's hard to appreciate what they go through. Just try to imagine what it feels like to experience one, if you can…
Dealing with Anxiety
When You Have a Panic AttackDealing with anxiety panic attacks can be very difficult. Here’s what it might feel like if you were out and about doing errands--and you had a panic attack…You are standing in line at the supermarket. It’s been a long wait, but there is only one more customer to go, before you make it to the cashier. But wait, what was that sensation? You feel an unpleasant feeling forming in your throat, your chest feels tighter, and now, you experience a sudden shortness of breath. Your heart skips a beat. You think to yourself, “Please, God, not here.” You quickly scan the territory (the area around you)—is it threatening? You see four unfriendly faces in line behind you, one person in front. Pins and needles seem to prick you through your left arm, you feel slightly dizzy, and then you have an explosion of fear--as you dread the worst. You are about to have a panic attack! There is no doubt in your mind now that this is going to be a big one.
Dealing with Anxiety
Deep Breathing ExercisesYou think to yourself, "Okay, focus. Remember what you have been taught." It is time now to apply the coping techniques you have learned. You begin the deep breathing exercise your doctor recommended. In through the nose, out through the mouth. You try to think relaxing thoughts, and continue breathing in, (think "Relax," ) and then breathe out. But it doesn’t seem to be having any positive effect; in fact, just concentrating on your breathing is making you feel more panicky, self-conscious and more uptight.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation
For Anxiety Panic AttacksStill standing in the checkout line at the supermarket, you decide to try progressive relaxation. You tense both shoulders, hold for 10 seconds and then release. You try it again. There is still no difference. In fact, the anxiety is getting worse, and the very fact that you are out of coping techniques (which aren’t working anyway) worsens your panic. If only you were surrounded by your family, or a close friend were beside you, so you could feel more confident in dealing with this situation. By this time, the adrenaline is really pumping through your system, your body is tingling with uncomfortable sensations, and now the dreaded feeling of losing complete control engulfs your emotions. No one around you has any idea of the sheer terror you are experiencing. For them, it’s just a regular day at the supermarket and another frustratingly slow wait in the checkout line.
Your Final Option
For Overcoming Anxiety AttacksYour last (and most basic) coping skill is just to escape. You will resort to flight. You excuse yourself from the checkout line. You, are, of course, a bit embarrassed, as it is now your turn to pay. The cashier is looking bewildered as you leave the items you were intending to purchase, on the counter--and you head quickly toward the door. This is no time for excuses—you need to be alone. You leave the grocery store and get into your car to ride it out alone. Could this be the big one? The one you fear will push you over the edge, mentally and physically. You sit in the car alone, and ten minutes later, the anxiety panic attack subsides. It’s 10:30 a.m. How are you going to make it through the rest of the day?
Overcoming Anxiety Difficult at First—But VERY Possible!Do you (or perhaps someone you know) ever experience this kind of scenario? If so, you may have started to panic—just while you were reading my story. Of course your story might be somewhat different. Or you may recognize that an anxiety panic attack is coming, in a different way. Or you may have different symptoms. The place may be different, and your triggers (or what causes you to be anxious) may be different—the dentist’s office, having your blood pressure taken, speaking on the phone or meeting someone new… Even so, a panic attack is a panic attack! While you may feel like you are the only person in the world to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, you have lots of company. In the United States alone, it is estimated that almost 5% of the population suffers from some form of anxiety disorder. For some people, it may be infrequent panic attacks, that only crop up in particular situations--like when they are asked to speak in public. However, for others, anxiety attacks can be so frequent that they keep the affected person from leaving his home. When you have frequent panic attacks, doctors refer to them as being an anxiety disorder.
Stop Anxiety Panic Attacks
Overcoming the AnxietyIf you think you may have a full blown anxiety disorder, you should consult with your doctor. However, if you have mild anxiety symptoms (and they don’t affect your life constantly), then you may be able to get permanent relief by using a self-hypnosis program or behavior modification program (designed by a specialist who is qualified). Therapists have been using hypnosis and behavior modification for years for anxiety panic attacks—successfully. Mike Brescia has created a program for Think Right Now, entitled Dissolving Panic & Anxiety Now, that has been quite popular and has shown to be very effective. The program uses behavior modification, which is the therapy of choice for anxiety, for many therapists and psychologists.
Get more info on Mike Brescia's overcoming anxiety program here.
You might also like:
Anxiety Panic Attacks to Definition of Anxiety
Anxiety Panic Attacks to Easy Stress Management
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
|
