Can you stop panic attacks?

Good morning, many of you who know me well are aware that over the years I have suffered at some times more than others with panic/anxiety attacks, and also over the years the cause of these have varied too.  It seems my body or psyche is not happy unless it has something to stress itself over.  Over the years I have tried therapy, medication, they have worked for a time but reappeared somewhere further along the line.  We all have something deep inside of us know of something that gives us joy and the confidence we once lacked.  Mine turned out to be fitness.

 

Many years ago I could go into any night club in the country and be fine, but ask me to go into a fitness class,as much as I deeply wanted to, I would mentally go to pieces....but I persevered over the years to the point where this has totally reversed.  Throw me into a gym situation now, no problem.  Ask me to meet friends in a social setting in a club, you might as well ask me to strangle a kitten, it is that problematic and horrific for me now.  We all change but the key for me now is to find balance between how I overcame what frightened me then to that which  frightens me now.  It is going to be interesting trying to figure it out.
Below is an article I found on 3 ways to stop or alleviate stress & anxiety, thanks to twitter/Ryan Light.
 

There are millions of people in this world who suffer from anxiety attacks, and if you happen to be one of those people, then you understand how devastating these attacks can be. Some people feel as if they are having a heart attack or as if they can not breathe when these attacks happen. Panic and anxiety disorders actually occur more frequently then a lot of people realise, and they can be very terrifying for the victim. There is a bright side to all of this because you can find out how to cure anxiety attacks naturally without having to resort to prescription medications.

If you want to cure your panic attacks, then you have to start by understanding your fears. You’ll need to find out what is triggering your fears to accomplish this. The most commonly reported triggers are stress and traumatic life experiences. If you want to eliminate your panic and anxiety attacks then you will need to identify your fears. After you have identified your fear you will be able to focus on your problem. It is also a good idea to keep your anger under control because the root of a panic attack comes from its psychological nature. By maintaining proper self control, as well as calm thinking, you can learn how to reduce your chances of having a panic attack.

To stop anxiety attacks requires real hard work on the part of the person suffering from it. It may be helped by a variety of techniques and methods such as medications and the like but the real struggle comes from controlling the negative beliefs and thoughts that cause symptoms to occur. Needless to say, you have plenty of options when it comes to treating panic attacks. You may receive prescription medications that are designed to eliminate the symptoms you are experiencing. Or you may have the option of choosing between several different alternative solutions which come with fewer side effects.

Breathing techniques

Many breathing methods and techniques have been proposed to help bring a stop on anxiety attacks. Physicians and patients believe that proper breathing is instrumental in overcoming the symptoms and in keeping the symptoms at tolerable intensities. During a state of calm, a person’s breathing is deep, slow and comes from the lower part of the lungs. During tense situations such as episodes of panic attack, breathing becomes fast and shallow, leading to a host of symptoms familiar to sufferers of anxiety attacks. These are dizziness, confusion and nausea. By practising the proper way of breathing, you will be able to ease the tension in your muscles, lower your heart rate, improve your blood’s circulation, and restore the sense of peace and relaxation in your body and mind.

There are many options of techniques that could help with the symptoms of anxiety attacks. One is abdominal breathing or deep breathing. In this technique, proper amount of oxygen circulates in your body thanks to your lower lungs which have more room for air than the upper lungs. You can tell whether you are breathing using this method when your abdomen looks bigger when you breathe in and smaller when you breathe out. Once you have mastered this method, you can move on to other breathing techniques that are designed exactly for restoring calm to your body.

Lifestyle changes

Anxiety attacks aren’t always rooted on negative thoughts; they could also be caused by poor habits, demanding schedule, prolonged exposure to stressful tasks, lack of sufficient sleep or exercise, and sometimes even from too much caffeine. The bottom line is, lifestyle is critical to the occurrence of anxiety attacks. If you worry excessively, a self-inventory may be called for. You may also restore balance into your life by finding someone you can talk your problems with, by reducing the amount of stress at work or at home, and by organizing your life so it becomes more enjoyable.

Prescription medications

The most common medications prescribed to patients of anxiety attacks are benzodiazepines, antidepressants, beta-blockers, mild tranquilizers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and anticonvulsants. For a comprehensive information regarding prescription medications for anxiety attacks, contact your doctor.

Whichever option you choose to stop anxiety attacks, remember that no amount of medication, lifestyle modification or relaxation technique can heal you overnight. Work is needed so you can fight of the triggers and the sensations that these created. Real cure comes from adopting healthier habits and ways of thinking to eliminate thoughts and habits that have caused the symptoms to appear in the first place.

Til next week
Michael B