Saturday, March 28, 2009

How to Stop a Panic Attack

By Irene Mmari

The problem with panic attacks is they can originate from anywhere, at anytime although experts do know they are generally the result of anxiety, but why this affects the individual the way it does remains a mystery. Here we'll take a look at what causes or triggers these panic attacks and how to control the anxiety that they derive from, then once you learn these natural methods to control your panic attacks, their causes will be far less important to you.

Being aware of a situation or condition that preempts the anxiety will mean that eventually, no matter how many times you are subject to the panic attack trigger, the anxiety that is normally felt will no longer be there. Controlling anxiety and stopping panic attacks needs to be for good because no one should suffer from uncontrollable anxiety.

The biggest reason fro a panic attack is usually guilt over something but it can also have roots in frustration over circumstances or situation as well as fear or depression about something. All of these emotions come from one source or generalized place in the brain and they can be categorized as general anxiety attributes and people with GAD (general anxiety disorder) are all too familiar with these feelings.

Most often seen in the work environment, general anxiety disorder can be caused by pressures at work which are also linked to depression so the person should avoid any position where this may be a cause. Stress can big a big factor in the cause of panic attacks and when stress happens in a work environment, anxiety is the result and an attack often follows.

The attack results in a person feeling extreme fear and the breathing becomes very rapid with a fast pulse in a condition called hyperventilation where it is not uncommon for thoughts of their own mortality to be overpowering. If the person can be taught to control their breathing, the panic attack soon dissipates and all this requires is focus from the mind.

It is an easy matter to teach someone breathing exercises which will need to become an automatic response whenever a panic attack occurs. The breathing exercise relies on a regular two seconds breathing and two seconds breathing out, all the time ensuring the stomach is pushed out.

At no time must you think that because you have to consciously control your breathing that you are not in complete control. It is important that the focus of this be on controlling the hyperventilation and not actually the breathing and if this can be done the attack will ease very quickly. If for some reason this method is not working then a doctor's advice and attention needs to be sought so the condition does not persist.

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