How To Stop Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are associated with intense and sudden feelings of fear, anxiety and overwhelm. This happens due to the quick and sudden release of adrenaline into our body. The release of adrenaline helps the body respond and prepare to face dangerous situations. Even though this is in essence a survival mechanism, it can be negative if this response happens too frequently and unnecessarily.
Panic attacks can seemingly come from out of nowhere. You may be doing something very common that you do all the time, such as buying groceries, driving or just taking a walk. Then suddenly you are hit by a panic attack. Your hands start to shake uncontrollably, your breathing becomes shallow and quickens and you feel your heart beating faster and faster.
The mind will start to believe that the worst things possible will happen regardless of how unlikely it is. Images of the plane crashing, the elevator failing or other crazy situations will fill the mind. Feelings of paranoia and suspicion will also take over.
With panic attacks seemingly appearing out of nowhere and there being nothing specific that triggers it, panic attack sufferers live in fear as they dread that it might strike anytime, no matter where they are.
The most effective way to stop panic attacks is to face it head on. Don’t fight against the panic attack, instead let it come, befriend it and allow it to run it’s course. In other words, weather the storm of the panic attack. There are 2 reasons why taking this approach is good;
First, it is because panic attacks feeds on fear. The more you resist and fight against a panic attack, the stronger it becomes because you are giving it energy from the fear you exhibit. The only end result you get from resisting a panic attack is the panic attack will become more intense and last longer.
When you resist something, it will usually only make things worse. Take the example a roller coaster ride. If you go along with the movement of the roller coaster, it will feel exhilarating. That is why people love to lift up their hands when the roller coaster dives downwards sharply. However, when you try to resist and go against the roller coaster, you will feel even more frightened and tense.
Second, every time you avoid or try to run away from a panic attack, you are only escaping from it until the next time it happens. However if you face the attack head on, accept it and go through it, you will experience the realization that there actually was no real danger at all. You will realize that you have not been harmed in any way whatsoever.
Through coming out of the panic attack unscathed and unharmed you will understand that these panic attacks are just the product of the illusions of danger in your mind. You will know that there actually is no real danger at all. This will give you a sense of relief and the experience will give you confidence to face subsequent panic attacks. By doing this, you are overcoming panic attacks.