Panic attacks gone forever!

Learn To Stop Panic Attacks in their Tracks!

So many people seem to be panic attack sufferers that I decided to do a little checking on what this involves. I located some really informative stuff from some experts in the field.

Panic is the body's normal response to danger. But now imagine this same feeling of panic with no apparent cause. Dr. R. Reid Wilson says: "Panic attacks are produced when panic deceives the brain into thinking there is imminent danger. Here you are, standing in the aisle of the grocery store, not bothering a soul. Flip. On goes the Emergency switch. 'Red alert! All systems prepare for battle!'"

Only those who have experienced such attacks can fully grasp their intensity. American Health magazine describes it as "an adrenaline rush that screams through your body for five minutes or an hour or a day and then departs as quickly and mysteriously as it came, leaving you limp, exhausted and dreading the next one."

Panic attacks usually begin in young adulthood and affect more women than men. What causes them? There is no clear answer. Some say that sufferers are biologically predisposed because of an abnormality in the brain's limbic system. Many feel that this condition can be inherited, while others claim that the brain's chemistry is altered by stress-inducing factors.

The following suggestions seemed very helpful and cost nothing to try:

Calm breathing.

Panic attacks are frequently accompanied by hyperventilation. To relax your breathing, try this exercise: Lie on your stomach. Count to six as you inhale; count to six as you exhale. Next, try the same deep breathing while sitting down. Then, try it standing up. Breathe deeply from the diaphragm, and practice this daily until it becomes natural. Some benefit by imagining beautiful surroundings while doing this exercise.

Calm thinking.

'What if I collapse?' 'What if no one is there to help me?' 'What if my heart gives out?' Catastrophic thoughts fuel panic. Since these thoughts are usually of future disasters or past attacks, try concentrating on the present situation. "To focus on the immediate is instantly calming," says Dr. Alan Goldstein. Some suggest that you wear a rubber band around your wrist. When catastrophic thoughts arise, snap it and tell yourself: "Stop!" Interrupt anxiety before it has a chance to escalate into panic.

Calm reacting.

If panic befalls you, don't fight it. It's just a feeling, and feelings need not harm you. Imagine that you are at the ocean watching the waves. They rise, they peak, and then they dissipate. Panic flows in the same fashion. Instead of fighting the wave, ride it out. It will pass. When it is over, do not overreact or overanalyze. It is gone, like a sneezing spell or a headache.

Panic is like a bully. Provoke him, and he will attack; do not provoke him, and he may go away. Dr. R. Reid Wilson explains that calming skills "are not designed so that you can better 'fight' panic or 'banish' panic at that moment. Instead, consider them ways of passing the time while panic tries to pick a fight with you."