How to Control Your Anxiety

Anxiety brings different physiological and psychological symptoms. The following article will provide you some techniques on how to cope with panic attacks.

Rapid heartbeat, upset stomach, choking sensations, numbness in extremities and feelings of
"going crazy" are just few of the possibly many more signs and symptoms of panic attack. These
attacks characterized by an intense anxiety without known cause can strike suddenly, out of the
Blue. With its sudden occurrence and brief duration, panic attacks are great terrorists. They
leave their sufferers terrified and infused with the lasting fear of having another panic episode.

It may look as if it is difficult to get a grip of you during a panic attack. Fortunately,
you do not have to live another day fearful of losing control for there are particular techniques
you can apply to help you handle your anxiety and your physical symptoms.

Techniques to Cope with Panic Attacks

1. Learn about Panic
The best way to defend yourself from panic is to learn what panic is. Reading medical books,
searching the internet or joining forums can help you better understand your condition. Simply
knowing its etiology, manifestations, its treatment and management therapies can help you relieve
your fear. Having personal knowledge on all these things can help you combat the feelings and
sensations of panic by applying what you have learned.

2. Let Loved Ones Know
Letting your loved ones know that you have a problem can go a distance towards helping you live
with panic. Telling someone you are sick and having someone who understand what you are going
through as well as remind you what medications to stay on and therapy schedules to go to can
immensely decrease your fear and your idea that you are all alone in this battle.

3. Control breathing
Practicing to control your breathing can also help relieve the symptoms of panic. Hyperventilation
that occurs during a panic attack can lead to decreased oxygen concentration in the body that
causes light-headedness and tightening of the chest. Controlling your breathing to calm yourself
down when feeling of panic sweeps you help avoid the sensations created by panic.

4. Lifestyle Changes
A few lifestyle changes need to be implemented as well. Avoidance of caffeine and smoking needs to
be done for these two trigger panic attacks in people who are predisposed. Getting at least 6 to 8
hours of sleep is also advised to help your body recover from the stresses of daily life.

5. M.D. Consultation
Going to a physician or psychologist is also a recommended step. They are the licensed
professionals who can better assist you in determining and diagnosing the root of your fear. They
can put together an individualized treatment plan to help you cope with panic. They do not only
prescribe you with anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants but also schedule you for a
cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is one of the best strategies for managing panic and anxiety.
CBT will help you control and restructure your thoughts for these thoughts trigger the physical
reaction caused by a panic attack.

But we still need to remember that prevention is better than cure. We can avoid anxiety from attacking us and affecting our lives. What better way to do that is identify the event or activity which triggers us to feel anxious so that we can do away of those scenarios thus eliminating anxiety. It is basically a lot easier than all of these interventions. So start now and live a better life tomorrow.