A panic attack is usually frightening and debilitating. The sufferer, especially if they haven’t experienced a panic attack before, often doesn’t know what is happening to them, let alone how to deal with it. The very word panic sums it all up – a partial dictionary definition for panic is “an irrational or hysterical fear, often without cause.” It is this extreme and irrational nature of panic that makes it so devastating when it occurs, and it can arise very quickly so the poor victim has little chance to prepare for it. The task of overcoming panic attacks is not an easy one but it helps to understand a little about the problem so as to find a way to alleviate it.

Here are six ways in which you can help yourself to overcome panic attacks:

1. One of the common symptoms of a panic attack is a dreadful feeling that you are alone in feeling the way that you do and that you will never feel any different. Thinking this way only makes the panicky feelings worse and can, in fact, be the cause of a panic attack in itself. Although at the time it is hard to think rationally, it is worth bearing in mind that about five people out of every hundred will have some sort of panic attack during their lives.
2. If you’re lucky you might not be susceptible to repeated attacks and you might just have to deal with anxious feelings which don’t develop any further. For many people, however, panic attacks can become a recurring nightmare. It seems as if the very fear of having a panic attack brings on the feelings of fear and desperation. Should this be your experience then seek professional help as soon as possible. A psychologist or other therapist can help you to understand the nature of the problem and will suggest how overcoming panic attacks can be established.
3. Try to remember that, although panic attacks are extremely alarming and distressing, they are themselves not harmful. It is how you react to them that can create a harmful situation and will also probably determine whether you’re likely to have frequent attacks or not. If this is borne in mind it should be simpler to cope with the situation, especially if you’ve suffered a panic attack previously. You will know that if you have recovered before without any ill effects then you do so again.
4. Don’t try to work out the problem on your own. If you can’t obtain professional advice then talk to a trusted friend. It is amazing how sharing a problem like this will seem to lessen its impact on you. Overcoming panic attacks is much easier if you have help.
5. As we said earlier, panic attacks affect many people and they are not a sign that you are abnormal or going mad. As a matter of fact they are quite the opposite. A feeling of fear and panic is a normal and natural response when faced with a threatening situation. It only becomes a problem if it occurs at times when there is no real threat or when it occurs frequently for no reason at all. The one thing you mustn’t do is to feel ashamed or that people will laugh at you or think worse of you. This sort of thinking can inhibit you from talking about the problem and, as we have said, this is the best way to begin overcoming panic attacks.
6. If you have seen a physician about panic attacks you may have been given some medicine to help you cope with them. Drugs can play a very useful role in overcoming panic attacks and you should be careful to make sure that you take them as directed.

As we have seen panic is a natural reaction of the body to a perceived threat. It is part of our defence system and it is only when panic occurs when there is no threat, or lasts for a long time after any threat has been dealt with, that it can cause problems. Overcoming panic attacks begins with the process of understanding them and accepting that you are normal. Don’t try to cope alone – seek help. No one will consider you an oddity and you will probably be surprised how helpful just talking with someone else and sharing the problem can be.

For more information and help in overcoming anxiety and panic disorders please take a look at my book, Cure Anxiety and Panic Attacks Fast, by clicking here.

Everyone suffers from feelings of anxiety from time to time and generally this doesn’t cause too much harm. However, when anxiety attacks symptoms become more severe than usual or last for a considerable time, then it might be time to seek help from a doctor or other health care provider.

Symptoms of anxiety can differ considerably from individual to individual but there are some that tend to crop up in most people. They can be very worrying when they first appear so to help you identify when you might be experiencing a bout of anxiety that is more than normal, here is a brief guide to the most typical anxiety attacks symptoms.

To start with let us consider symptoms that make you feel different in a physical way. Some examples of these are:

• shortness of breath
• tremors of the hands or stomach muscles
• a weak feeling in the legs
• a tight feeling in the chest
• dry mouth
• tingling in all parts of the body

These physical anxiety attacks symptoms can be very frightening and act a bit like a double-edged sword;   they are brought about by feeling anxious and they in turn make the anxiety worse because of worry that they may be a sign of something wrong. This is particularly so for the person who has never experienced a severe anxiety or panic attack before.

For the majority of people it helps if they can sit or lie down somewhere quiet, breathe deeply and slowly and make an effort to relax. Gradually the symptoms that you feel will begin to reduce in intensity and the panicky feeling will subside. If you find that the physical manifestations of the anxiety stay with you after the anxiousness has disappeared, you would be wise to consult your doctor.

Not all anxiety attacks symptoms are physical in nature, however. Almost invariably people with extreme anxiety will have thoughts that tend to aggravate the condition. These can include: feelings of fear with no obvious cause; the thought that you are losing your mind; the thought that you will always feel the way that you do; an exaggerated sense of self; and so on. As with the physical symptoms, these thoughts and feelings are self-perpetuating and make the anxiety even worse, a real vicious circle. The main thing to bear in mind at times when you may be struck by similar anxiety attacks symptoms is that you will get better and the panic will subside. If you’ve experienced these situations before then it is a little easier to accept this as you know that you have recovered before, once the anxiety has reduced.

Although these anxiety attacks symptoms are frightening and worrying, in themselves they are relatively harmless and, to some extent normal, as they are your body’s natural reaction to something that has caused you distress. It is when the symptoms don’t go away with the anxiety, or when the anxiety lingers on long after the initial cause has disappeared, that there is reason to be more concerned and consider seeking professional help.

For more information and help in overcoming anxiety and panic disorders please take a look at my book, Cure Anxiety and Panic Attacks Fast, by clicking here.