by trashpaintedgold

Stop the Panic! Isn’t It Time You Started Living?

Article by Richard J. Kennedy

Do you suffer from regular panic attacks which hinder your ability to live a full and complete life? Do you worry constantly and irrationally about having another attack, so much that you refrain from particular activities, avoid certain situations and close yourself off from the people around you? Would you like to stop the panic and start living your life again? If so, you are one of the millions of frustrated people struggling with panic disorder, and here we will discuss some strategies that can help you deal more effectively with your symptoms.

What is a Panic Attack?

Panic attacks are most aptly characterized as very intense and irrational bouts of fear or worry, which come on suddenly and usually peak after about 10 minutes. Physical symptoms will usually be present, including chest pains, shallow breathing, sweating and shaking.

After years of research the exact cause of panic disorder is still not known, however there do seem to be certain biological and environmental factors present in most anxiety cases. Factors such as stress, the sudden loss of a loved one and even alcohol abuse can increase the likelihood of panic attacks and other anxiety-related conditions.

Panic Treatment: How to Stop the Panic and Reclaim Your Life

Panic disorder can be very serious, but it doesn’t have to control your life. There are things you can do today which can help you manage your symptoms more effectively and even prevent panic episodes altogether. But before we discuss the specific techniques, let us first examine the primary reason for recurring panic and anxiety attacks.

Remember when you had your first panic attack? Remember the sudden and paralyzing fear you felt-afraid you were dying or losing your sanity-and the physical symptoms that made you think you were having a heart attack?

The frightening and debilitating symptoms of an attack can leave an indelible mark in the mind of panic attack sufferers. So intense is this memory, in fact, that the fear of experiencing another episode can become the primary cause for future panic events. This cycle of fear is the number one reason why people experience recurring panic attacks, and it is this cycle that must be addressed before panic attacks will subside.

Stop the Cycle of Fear

Many people become so afraid of experiencing another attack that they actually instigate one, and with each successive attack this cycle can become more and more problematic. To break this cycle you must first face the things that are frightening you. To illustrate exactly what is meant by this let’s take a look at an example:

Suppose you experienced your first panic attack while driving your car. It was sudden, frightening and completely unsuspected, and perhaps so severe that you now hesitate to get back behind the wheel. You begin to associate the panic attack with the act of driving until even the thought of having to drive produces panic like symptoms.

While some treatments-medication, therapy, meditation-can help you cope more effectively with your anxiety symptoms, there is no medical treatment that can cure your fear and stop this unbearable cycle. Only you can do this.

Naturally, giving up on driving entirely is not a viable option, nor is it a healthy one. To break this cycle of fear, start gradually and ease yourself back into a driving routine. Drive for a couple of blocks or so and increase your driving distance with each time out. If you do experience a panic attack, simply tell yourself that it will soon pass and that you are going to be okay.

This same strategy can be used regardless of the place or circumstance that causes you trepidation. Face your fears directly and gradually you will learn to stop the panic and get your life back.

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