If you suffer from panic attacks, you know how terrifying they can be and how they can negatively impact your life and your activities. Learning to effectively manage and contain your panic attack is an important goal. This guide provides some guidelines on how you can control panic attacks and it will be easier for you to fully live your life.
Make sure that you get enough sleep when you suffer from panic attacks. When you aren’t sleeping properly, you are more likely to suffer an attack, and less likely to handle it well. Aim for eight solid hours of shut-eye each night.
If you start to feel the symptoms of a panic attack developing, do something relaxing, such as listening to music. Listen closely to the lyrics. If the song is calm and peaceful, you’re sure to find something in it to inspire you. By focusing on the music, you allow your body to forget about the panic and relax.
If possible, distract yourself when you feel the beginnings of a panic attack. Any distraction, whether it is your shoes, a piece of music, or a crossword puzzle, can help. Do whatever you can to get your mind off of the feeling of panic. This strategy can help to prevent a full attack and get you feeling calm again.
When having a panic attack, a mistake lots of people make is to allow the episode to take over their whole body. Instead of fighting the attack, you should just let it run its course. Visualize that the feelings are in a flow that is moving around you as opposed to going into your core. Most importantly, focus on your breath. Breath slowly and relax yourself as much as possible. With a little time, your excitement level will dissipate and your body will relax.
It’s better to accept a panic attack than it is to try and fight it. Realize that your feelings, although uncomfortable, are not permanent and will soon pass. Trying to fight off an attack can sometimes make the symptoms worse, while by working through it and using calming techniques, you will realize that it will pass.
Getting professional help is best, but confiding in a good friend or relative, especially if they have dealt with the same challenges, can also be beneficial. Of course, a professional psychologist or counselor can diagnose causes and suggest effective treatments.
Now that you know a little more about managing panic attacks, you should have a heightened sense of confidence and be able to take some time to enjoy life. It is common for people to have panic attacks, but once you know how to deal with them, they do not have to take over your life.
