Tips For Riding Out A Panic Attack

A panic attack can last anything between 10 minutes and half an hour, although it might seem like years and years have gone by during the attack. Or it feels as if it will never end. The important thing to keep in mind though is that these attacks do NOT last forever.

Here are some tips on how to handle yourself during a panic attack. Of course, to cure anxiety is a different story – these tips are there to get you over an individual attack with the least amount of stress.

One of the most important things to do during a panic attack is to try and relax. This is not easy to achieve since obviously if you are not in control of the situation or yourself, how are you going to get yourself to relax? This is one of the conundrums of panic attacks.

One of the aspects of relaxing is to breathe. You need to get some practice in with breathing techniques so that you are familiar with the techniques when you experience an attack. Yoga is a very good discipline that teaches breathing techniques and it is worth investigating for overcoming anxiety.

Keep on remembering that the attack will be over soon. Just ride it out, in other words. These attacks normally do not last longer than an hour. Don’t obsess about the time passing though, since that can add to your anxiety. Just be aware of the fact that the attack WILL pass.

Try to distract your mind by either thinking positive thoughts, or then by trying to eliminate negative, panic inducing thoughts. Do NOT think thoughts such as the following: I am going to die, I can’t breathe, I can’t see, this time it is a heart attack… If you cannot actively think positive thoughts, try to distract yourself or at least empty your mind.

Try and confide in a friend, family member or colleague. Even though you might feel ashamed of what is happening to you, you will be surprised at how keen friends and family are to assist.

Often people who suffer from anxiety want to be alone during an attack, but they also want to know that there are people close by who could potentially help them if things get out of hand. It can be a tremendous comfort to know that you have a trusted friend or colleague at your work place or school that knows what might happen to you and that you can turn to when you feel a panic attack coming on. You might want to explain to this person that you just want him or her to be ‘there’ for you when it happens to you, and what they can do to help – either by just being close by, or by taking you to a private environment, or talking to you soothingly – whatever works for you at that time.

The most difficult thing about panic attacks is that you never know when one might hit you next. These tips can help in the short term, but to cure panic attacks you need something more. There ARE natural solutions for panic attack treatment – why don’t you check them out on our website!