Controlling Panic Attacks Is Easy – If You Know How
Most people fear panic attacks because they are sudden and totally overwhelming. However, you do not need to fear these attacks. They are often normal and healthy manifestations of self-conservation. What you need to do learn about controlling these panic attacks is how you can prevent them.
Short-Circuiting Panic Attacks Is Easy
In order to master anything, you should first learn about it in depth. Similarly, in order to be able to control panic attacks, you will need to understand why they occur, what are their symptoms (warning signals), and how such an attack takes place. In other words, you will need to understand thoroughly the intricacies of panic attacks. As you go into it, you will find that a panic attack is nothing but a reaction of self-conservation. No more, no less.
The intensity of the symptoms of this attack would widely depend upon your nature, your perception of the danger and the immediate obvious route of escape. Once you understand the physiology of this reaction, it will be easy for you to identify ways and means for controlling panic attacks effectively. Some examples are given below for your guidance:
1. Identify the major stress factors in your life and learn to bust them before they reach saturation point.
2. Learn to relax your mind and body through exercise, a pleasant hobby, sleep, meditation, periodic medical check ups, etc.
3. Understand your limitations and accept them. This is a very important factor for controlling panic attacks, since often people tend to over-stretch their capacities and hence, invite undue stress. This is applicable to all facets of life, i.e. work, personal relationship, financial situation and so on.
4. Ask for help when you feel that you have reached the boundary of your imagination and/or capacity. Asking for help is another excellent way of controlling panic attacks. You could approach your spouse, children, friends or God – you never know what a request can unfold for you.
5. Join a laughter club. It has been found that laughing (as anything that brings direct feeling of pleasure to the mind) is an excellent stress buster. In case it is not possible to join a club, you could start it on your own; just put aside a few minutes (start with two minutes and extend it until you reach ten minutes) every day to smile; gradually change the smile into laughter. Laugh aloud for a few minutes and you will feel re-charged emotionally.
There are many other ways for controlling panic attacks. The basic ingredient in all the methods remains that it should give you a sense of well-being by minimizing stress to the largest extent possible.