Posts Tagged ‘Panic Attack Symptoms’

The Different Psychological And Physiological Panic Attack Symptoms

Panic attack symptoms are usually a good sign of another more serious panic disorder. Based on the latest tally, panic attacks account for no less than 3 million Americans diagnosed or affected by it each year. At least 20 million Americans are expected to suffer from such attacks at any point of their lives.

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Effectively Dealing With Panic Attacks

Learning how to deal with panic attacks is a good thing to know because even with effective medical treatment, there is still a chance that patients could experience the occasional attack. There is also an added benefit to learning how to deal with panic attacks. By effectively dealing with panic attacks, patients might even be able to head off an attack.

Relaxation techniques are one effective way to deal with panic attacks. Use of meditation, muscle relaxation, visualization (guided imagery) and relaxed breathing are all relaxation techniques that can help patients deal with panic attacks.

In order to make the most of relaxation techniques as a way to deal with panic attacks, you should relax both your body and mind. True relaxation is an internal action of peacefulness. Learning true relaxation techniques as a way to deal with panic attacks can help deal with panic attack symptoms like headaches, hyperventilation, and teeth clenching.

To relax begin by blocking out the world and concentrating on your body. Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes. Let your jaw drop and keep your eyelids relaxed and heavy, but not tightly closed.

Use concentration to mentally scan your body and begin the relaxation process that will help you deal with panic attacks. Begin with your toes, work up through your legs, buttocks, torso, arms, hands, fingers, neck and head. As you focus on each individual part, imagine your tension melting away.

Next tighten your relaxed muscles in each section of the body for a count of five or more. Relax those muscles and move to another muscle section. As you do this let the thoughts go through your mind (sometimes it’s very difficult to block them), but don’t focus on them. Tell yourself you’re relaxed and calm and perfectly at piece. Breathe slowly and imagine you’re in one of your favorite places. Do this for five to ten minutes a day.

Other ways to deal with panic attacks include not indulges in what you think could happen. Tell yourself to deal with whatever needs to be dealt with when the time comes. Accept your panic attack. Don’t fight it. Rate it and wait it out using any relaxation techniques that you’re able to do.

You can also deal with panic attacks by using your mind and voice to talk yourself through a panic attack. These are called coping statements. When you use coping statements as a way to deal with a panic attack, speak out loud and use a firm and gentle tone.

Some coping statements that can help you deal with any panic attacks are:

• What’s happening to me might seem overwhelming. But I’ve caught myself in time and refuse to focus on the things that make me feel overwhelmed. In this way my anxiety will shrink and disappear.

• This may be hard now, but it’ll get easier as time goes by.

Above all, the best way to deal with panic attacks is to be practical and patient. Be committed to your recovery, but don’t become a recovery perfectionist.

The Key to Curing Panic Attacks

Copyright (c) 2008 Steven Magill

You would be surprised at how many people visit the emergency room because of a heart attack when the reality is they are only experiencing a panic attack. That will give you an idea of how intense the symptoms of a panic attack can be.

First let’s look at the different physical symptoms that indicate you might be having a panic attack.

Shortness of breath

Trembling or shaking

Sweating

Tightness of the chest

Inability to focus or sit still

Chills or hot flashes

Not only do people experience physical symptoms with panic attacks, but there are psychological symptoms as well. Here is a list of the most common psychological symptoms people experience when having a panic attack or experience while expecting a panic attack to happen:

Fear of losing control

Fear of dying

Agoraphobia or fear of public places

Feelings of unreality

Depression

Potential tendency to turn to substance abuse

For people dealing with recurring panic attacks it can be difficult for family members or loved ones to fully understand what you are going through if they have never experienced a panic attack before.

Sometimes you may feel like you are forced to face the panic attacks alone because your closest friends and family may think you are simply trying to get attention or may quickly lose patience with you because they don’t see it as a big problem.

It’s important to understand that you are not alone in your dealings with panic attacks or anxiety disorder. Many people commonly experience these types of symptoms throughout their lives. Some more than others, but you are not as alone as you may think you are when dealing with these type of problems.

Rest assured panic attacks are not as life threatening as some people think them to be. The cure for panic attacks lies in how you handle the panic attack symptoms. Controlling your thoughts is the key to controlling the power the symptoms have over your mind and body.

If you are unsure whether or not the symptoms are from a panic attack it is a good idea to visit your doctor to get checked out. Even if you are absolutely sure you are experiencing a panic attack it doesn’t hurt to have a doctor investigate the symptoms you are experiencing.

Most importantly remember that panic attacks can be treated without the use of medication, and most people just need someone to help guide them in the right direction.