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How to Deal With Anxiety and Panic Attacks

panic disorder symptoms — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:57:42 +0000

When you have your first anxiety attack, it can be very unnerving. You don’t know what is going on. Your heart starts racing and pounding, you feel like you are losing control and you don’t know why, you suddenly feel like you need to flee to the safety of your home and you are out in public. This just makes you feel worse.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stresses of life. Fight or flight syndrome is normal to human nature but it can turn into a ongoing condition. to where it takes over a person’s life. About 5 percent of the population will experience anxiety attacks at some point in their lives.Severe stress such as the loss of a job, death of a loved one, divorce can trigger them. Also life transitions like college, having a baby, getting married and getting a job seem to be connected.

So, how do you know when it has become a problem? Some of the symptoms of anxiety are:
*troubled sleep
*troubled eating habits
*difficulty concentrating
*panic attacks

Panic attacks are a common condition that where a person has has ongoing anxiety and it has progressed to a point where they are having worse symptoms on a regular basis. It also can be brought on by episodes of intense fear. Panic attacks can happen anywhere and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few days in length. They can also happen when a person is asleep.

About 5 percent of the population will experience panic attacks at some point in their lives. Severe stress such as the loss of a job, death of a loved one,divorce can trigger them. Also life transitions like college, having a baby, getting married and getting a job seem to be connected. Often times anxiety attacks turn into panic attacks, which are more intense, yet typically only last up to a few hours at the most. In order for Panic attacks to be diagnosed as such, one must have them at a certain frequency. Drugs, alcohol, caffeine, ephedrine, stimulants, over the counter pills, and diet pills can all induce sudden states of anxiety or panic attack. Also being in a certain place or situation can trigger panic attacks.

Some of panic attack symptoms are:
* worry; worrying about relationships, employment, etc.
* shortness of breath or suffocation
* a racing heart
* feeling insecure
* cold and clammy hands
* feel like you’re losing it
* difficulty swallowing; choking sensation, throat tightness
* dizziness
* unable to focus; lacks concentration
* irritability
* headache
* chest pain; tightness in chest
* nausea
* avoidance; wanting to be alone
* fear of losing control or of catastrophe
* body temperature changes
* shaking/trembling
* numbness
* raised blood pressure
* insomnia
* consumed with issue at hand
* fatigue
* can’t stand or sit in one place, have to keep pacing around or getting up
* tingling in the hands and feet

Women tend to have anxiety and panic attacks more than men. Some people are affected by frequent panic attacks, which is known as panic disorder. Many of the symptoms that happen during a panic attack are the same symptoms that accompany many of the diseases of the heart, lungs and nervous system. These similarities can make the person having the attack even more fearful in thinking that they may have one of these dreaded conditions.

There are several medications that will help make panic attacks less severe or they can stop them all together. Paxil and Zoloft are just two of these medicines that have been used for Anxiety and panic attack disorders. Klonopin is also another medication approved for such use. These are all in the antidepressant family. Cognitive Behavioral therapy can help people learn to deal with anxiety and panic attack symptoms.

Natural cures for anxiety panic attack symptoms is another form of treatment that a person could look into. There is relaxation and biofeedback training, which induces a state of tranquility and calmness, focusing on yourself and your bodies energy. A lot of ancient and eastern exercises or martial arts for example are geared toward this. Yoga is a good example, and Tai Chi is an excellent example.They help focus the mind into relaxed states that can help the sufferer get some much needed relief.

Here’s how you can use your imagination in treating panic disorders:

1) Imagine your panic disorder as a creature that is ugly, awkward, small, and weak. Give panic a different name that will signify your power over it. For this example, let’s say you named it something such as tiny You want tiny to be gone out of your life because you are strong and mighty. Now every time Tiny comes around, do what you can to kick it out. It doesn’t deserve to be anywhere around your presence.

Every time you think bad thoughts or negative thoughts, horrible images in your mind, get rid of them. Tiny will love it and loves to make you suffer from those terrifying pictures in your head because it feels more in control of you. Are you going to allow that dummy to dominate you? No way! So you have to get angry enough to stomp those images out of your mind to defeat that weak little tiny. Think of tiny raising its hands in surrender because it can’t do anything against you.

Once those images go away, tiny will go with them. Slowly, you’re treating panic disorders. When you have acquired domination over your panic attacks and anxieties, celebrate your success!

2) Pep up your self-talk.

Tell your brain and subconscious that you are able and ready to stand up to any panic attack or anxiety that may come. Tell them to “Bring it on!”

Your thoughts should also be doubled with the right emotions. If you say to your mind you can conquer your fears and anxieties, but you still feel deep inside that you can’t control it, the negative emotions win. Your thoughts and emotions must work together in harmony to overcome panic attacks.

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Treating Panic Attacks

panic disorder symptoms — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:34:52 +0000

Panic Disorder Symptoms – Treating Panic Attacks With Meditation

If you suffer from anxiety or experience panic in your day to day life there will be times that you know you just want to slap yourself silly for thinking the way you do. This is not the way you should be treating anxiety by yourself, and no, you do not make yourself more anxious than you already are. This solves nothing. The most common point or fact about treating anxiety is to know that most of your anxieties will never ever happen, and it is the same with fears. This is a proven fact that ninety nine percent of your worries and anxieties never happen. So why worry? Be happy, even if it is for a short while.

A State Of Calm

During all your uncertain times in coping with panic attacks, one thing emerged as absolute truth. It is impossible for your body to have panic symptoms while you are calm. Panic cannot coexist with calmness. Panic cannot compete with calmness. Once calmness enters the arena, there is no other option for the panic but to retreat. The goal then, simply put, is to strive to remain calm under all circumstances, thereby abating any panic symptoms that might arise. To accomplish that, you need to become so knowledgeable about the experience of feeling calm that we are able to return to that state at will if we have left it. You need to intimately know what calmness feels like.

What is a calm?

A relaxed body? Specifically, what are the elements of being calm? The main elements of a calm body are slow, evenly-paced breathing, a steady, slow heart rate, good blood pressure and relaxed muscles throughout the body. By consciously slowing your breathing, your heart rate and blood pressure will lower as a result. This can be applied at all times, regardless of panic attacks.

Conquering Panic Not Always A Quick And Simple Process

Treating panic is not just a quick and simple process, countless time have to be attended to get to the state of calm.

In most cases treating panic means learning to be calm and not passing your panic or anxiousness onto others, especially children. Some people don’t take lightly to others having panic attacks or anxiety attacks, as it is difficult for them to see what all the fuss is about. While these other people see what the immediate problem is, they get in and sort it out as if they were a bomb squad force, they don’t have time to worry about what doesn’t need attention, only the immediate, and then step back. Focus is what it is all about.

Unless you are in the midst of an attack you may think you are fairly relaxed, but this is usually a bad assumption. How large a role might relaxation play in your recovery? How does one really relax – is there something you are missing? You may be a very patient person, but do not confuse patience with being relaxed?

In what way is meditation related to relaxation? Your preconceived notion about meditation may be a picture of someone sitting in lotus position, counting breaths or chanting a mantra – not appealing to many. Although some people do count breaths or recite mantras, there are also those who choose more active ways to meditate, visualizing various scenarios or exploring different topics. There are as many ways to meditate as there are people who meditate. When I learned that a prominent psychiatrist who specializes in using meditation with people who experience panic attacks.

Meditation Can Lead To A Quick Recovery From Panic Attacks

Often someone experiencing a panic attack will first notice their breathing is fast and shallow only while in the midst of the attack. Unaware that their breathing had become uneven long before the attack actually happened.

Sometimes we discover that what needs to be healed is not necessarily what we originally set out to heal. Instead of the quality of my life returning to what it was before the panic symptoms could no longer be ignored, its quality surpassed all my expectations, and through meditation, doors opened I did not know existed. I will carry forever the skills I learned, and with these, a peacefulness and a trust in myself I never thought possible. Altered breathing contributes to an attack, accelerating it, sending the body into a response mode to compensate.

Using Meditation Tapes

While listening to meditation tapes you will learn the importance of first slowing your breathing, then mentally scanning your body, searching to locate any muscles that have tension in them. I can now find muscles that previously I was unaware of and release the tightness with or without using the tapes now.

The Key

The key is to practice breathing slowly and evenly, with awareness, throughout the day, not just when we are experiencing panicky feelings. To practice primarily when we are not feeling anxious, becoming so mindful of our breathing that we instantly notice when something within the body begins to change, even slightly. It is only through awareness of our breathing that its tempo can be controlled.

Relaxing the body, however, is only part of calmness. The mind needs to be calm as well. A quiet, uncluttered, focused mind plays an enormous role in calmness. The body reflects what is in the mind and it is the mind which continually feeds the body its tension. To stop the cycle we need to pay attention to both. Learning breath control can be the tool to stop the mind from racing. As we focus on our breath, the mind will slow down just as the heart rate and blood pressure do. With a quiet mind, you can begin to actually hear your thoughts. When your thoughts are slow enough for us to follow, you can hear your voice, your unique individuality. Through this voice important information can be heard.

Mastering calmness takes time and practice. It requires mastering breath control and although breath control is the key to bringing calmness to the body and mind, calmness also requires being mindful – really aware. To be mindful is to be totally conscious of what you are doing, saying, thinking and feeling. It means facing and examining fears as well as painful memories. To be mindful is to recognize both the strengths and weaknesses on which you can build confidence, trust in yourself. It also means learning not to judge yourself or others, but learning instead to observe. Once you know how to calm both your body and mind through breath control, when a panic disorder symptom is felt, it will serve as a reminder to bring calmness back into your mindset.

For others to learn this method would be quite difficult if they are continually treating panic attacks by themselves, as they have learned over the years how to have an panic attack by literally seeing it happening, therefore proper guidance is advised.

Calm And Self Control

Staying calm and having self control is the first basic step, for treating panic attacks, breathe and focus on things that need to be done, not what could happen. If you are feeling anxious it is only you who is allowing the anxiety to get the better of you.

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Help For Anxiety and Panic Attacks

panic disorder symptoms — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:17:00 +0000

It is not wise not to seek anxiety attack help, especially if you have been noticing that you are becoming anxious more often than is good for you. If you put off seeking anxiety attack help you will contribute to the worsening of your condition which would then lead to more and unnecessary hardships. Even if you are normally in good health you should as soon as you experience an anxiety attack seek help because otherwise the condition can become chronic.

See Your Doctor

The first step in seeking anxiety attack help is to consult with your doctor at the very earliest because they will then run a few tests (medical) to find out what is the real reason for your anxiety. You will also be called upon to discuss matters with your doctor in a frank and forthright manner regarding among other things, your personal lifestyle, and other situations that could potentially cause you to feel anxiety. In addition, the doctor must also be able to rule out other health conditions including but not limited to depression that is often a cause for feeling anxiety.

For more immediate anxiety attack help you should also consider using certain medications that can cure anxiety and which may be prescribed by a physician. In addition, you might also be recommended undergoing therapy or even counseling, especially after the causes of your anxiety have been successfully determined.

It is also possible to do your anxiety attack help by yourself and it often involves nothing more serious than learning to breathe deeply and well and to also try meditation as a means of curing your anxiety. In addition, proper anxiety attack help requires that you change your diet to one that is healthy and along with this change in diet you should also get sufficient amount of rest and you also need to pay attention to exercising on a regular basis and what’s more do your best not to get into any anxiety causing situations. Even lowering your consumption of alcohol and caffeine can be considered as anxiety attack help methods.

Anxiety is a condition that can dishearten the sufferer and also cause much concern among family members and others that enjoy a close relationship with the sufferer.

Self Help For Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Taking remedial steps such as seeking help will certainly help everyone concerned.

Self help for anxiety and panic disorders is very popular. Many people cure their anxiety attack and panic attack symptoms without needing to take medications. There are several good natural as well as permanent cures available that anyone can try with good expectations that the problem will disappear once and for all.

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Examining The Causes of Anxiety and Panic Attack

panic disorder symptoms — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:13:30 +0000

Anxiety and Panic The Role Your Mind Plays

For someone who has had a real loss, like the loss of a spouse or some other significant life change, they can be prone to an anxiety or panic attack.

If a person has a phobia, they can have a panic attack in reaction to exposure to the thing they are fearful of.

Once someone has had a panic or anxiety attack, they are more likely to have another panic attack in a similar situation. It is as if their body learns to put the two things together that (for example) being in that situation means they are in danger or under stress and must have another anxiety attack.

What Happens

Having a panic attack is a very frightening thing leaving the sufferer scared, upset, and uncomfortable. Usually it happens all of a sudden, with no warning. The body just suddenly releases many hormones. It is as if the body is in the middle of fight or flight syndrome, with huge amounts of epinephrine released. (Epinephrine is also known as adrenaline, the key hormone in fight or flight syndrome.)

So what does a panic or anxiety attack feel like? It is marked by an intense feeling of fear sometimes to the extent that the sufferer feels they are having a heart attack or are going crazy! They can last from just a very brief few seconds to half an hour or longer.

Regardless of how long the anxiety or panic attack lasts, more important is the cause. While any certain cause of an anxiety or panic attack may be difficult to identify, there are causes that are typical. If you want to stop your anxiety attacks, looking at these potential causes might help you find relief.

The Role The Body Plays

Some conditions of the body can lead to having panic attacks. Hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, labyrinthitis, Vitamin B deficiency, post traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder are all things that can affect the body and also trigger a panic or anxiety attack.

There are also things that some people take into their body that can contribute to the likelihood of having an anxiety attack. These are caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Other drugs, such as Ritalin, anti-depressants, marijuana, and all of the SSRI drugs can cause attacks, as well.

Having Anxiety or Panic Attacks Could Be In Your Genes

Some people have a predisposition to panic attacks in their genetic makeup. However, the opposite is also true if there is no family history of anxiety or panic attacks, a person can still develop it.

The environment in which one grows up can also contribute to a tendency toward panic attacks. Studies have found that a person who is taught to be over cautious in the world or who has a very passive style of communication are more likely to have panic or anxiety attacks.

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