Panic Away - Dealing With Panic Attacks Effectively

Panic Attacks Described:

Panic attacks (or sometimes otherwise referred to as panic disorder) generally takes the form of, from a few seconds or a few minutes of intense fear. This usually comes at you right out of the blue, and you never know when it will happen until it does. Symptoms include but are not limited to:

- Pounding, racing heart

- Dizziness

- Chest pains

- Nausea

- Light-headedness

- Breathlessness

- Tingling or numbness in the hands and feet

- Hot flushes

- Smothering

- Fear of losing control

One of the most typical feelings is that of having a heart attack.

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic attacks are a medical condition and it basically means that these attacks are recurring, not just a once off. It has been misdiagnosed regularly and people have been told that they have a heart valve problem, thyroid problem or hypoglycemia.

Who Does This Problem Affect?

This illness will affect between two and four out of every hundred people of all ages, races, sexes and classes at some or other stage of their lives, and recent research has pointed to a heredity factor.

Is it Possible to Treat Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are a very treatable condition and treatment generally requires a holistic approach of self help and or therapy together with lifestyle changes. Drugs are available for the treatment of this condition however, the effects of medication for panic attacks is a short term solution and can cause drug dependency problems.

What Can I Do Myself to Reduce Panic Attacks?

There are a number of steps that you can take to reduce the symptoms of panic attacks. Reduce the intake of caffeine and stay away from proprietary cold and flu medication as well as diet medications.

If you feel the onset of a panic attack and find yourself breathing too fast, breathe into a brown paper bag or cupped hands and try to breathe as slowly as possible. The dizziness symptom of an attack is generally caused by breathing in too much oxygen, making you lightheaded.

Make some lifestyle changes, exercise more regularly, this has a controlling effect on the release of adrenaline into the body, eat regularly to ensure stable blood sugar levels.

Don't bottle it all up inside, find someone to talk to, someone you can confide in and look into self help programs. Don't try to fight a panic attack as this will exacerbate the symptoms.

Learn some relaxation techniques and practice them so that they come automatically to you whenever you feel an attack coming on. Focus outside of your self by listening to music or doing something pleasant, the panic will subside.

Tell your self that the symptoms are just temporary, they are only caused because your nervous system is over stimulated and you are not in any medical emergency.

Reduce all exposure to unnecessary stress. Tell others what you need and don't be shy to be honest with them about the way you feel. To this end, it might be helpful to join a self help group if your support system at home is not very stable.