| In considering self help treatment for anxiety attacks, | | | | some you can't control, so don't try. But there others |
| the first thing you need to do is get a proper diagnosis | | | | you can control and so you need to get rid of these |
| from a healthcare professional. Once diagnosed, you | | | | stressful situations. |
| can then decide on your treatment. And more and | | | | For example, if certain people not important to you are |
| more people are turning to self help treatment for | | | | stressing you out, stay right away from them. If there |
| anxiety attacks, rather than using mind-numbing drugs. | | | | is a relationship that causes you anxiety and stress |
| Here are 5 things to help you treat your condition | | | | almost daily then you need to seriously consider if it's |
| without drugs. | | | | worth continuing. If there are situations like driving to |
| 1 - Understand What Causes Anxiety Attacks | | | | work that constantly stress you out, can you use |
| Anxiety attacks are triggered when someone with | | | | public transport? can someone drive you? etc. |
| already higher-than-normal levels of anxiety suffers a | | | | The workplace is a great source of stress. Are you |
| peak of additional stress. This can be something as | | | | working hard rather than working smart? Do you |
| simple as driving in heavy traffic, shopping in a | | | | continually take on more than you can reasonably |
| crowded environment, being in a crowded lift, preparing | | | | handle? Do you work voluntary overtime in order to |
| for an exam, etc. What happens is that this additional | | | | pay for things that really aren't that important in the |
| 'spike' of stress adds to your overall anxiety levels and | | | | scheme of things? Try to reduce you hours and don't |
| pushes you 'over the top'. | | | | take on more work than you can handle. |
| Your unconscious mind wrongly perceives this as a life | | | | 4 - Be Positive During An Anxiety Attack |
| threatening situation and, as it is primed to do, sets in | | | | A positive attitude is just so important when you have |
| motion a serious of chemical and other physical | | | | anxiety and suffer anxiety attacks. Especially during an |
| changes to your mind and body to help you either fight | | | | attack, a positive reaction to the onset of an attack |
| the 'danger' or run away to safety. This is called your | | | | can seriously limit its length and intensity. Anybody who |
| body's 'fight or flight' response and has been with us | | | | has suffered an attack knows that it isn't easy to do |
| since primeval times. | | | | this, but those that have managed know that it is true. |
| But of course there is no external threat, all you've had | | | | You now know that an anxiety attack cannot harm |
| is a rise in anxiety. But your unconscious mind doesn't | | | | you. You now know what the symptoms are and |
| have time to check out the reality, it just assumes the | | | | what causes them. In other words you have all the |
| worse case scenario (which it's programmed to do) | | | | information you need to meet your next attack |
| and triggers it's fight or flight response. The chemical | | | | head-on with a positive attitude. |
| and physical changes result in the symptoms you | | | | 5 - Eliminate Your Fear Of Another Anxiety Attack |
| experience during an anxiety (panic) attack. | | | | This is the most important thing you'll learn in coping |
| 2 - Get To Know the Symptoms Of An Anxiety | | | | with anxiety attacks. Remember above you learned |
| Attack | | | | how a rise in stress on top of your already high |
| The following are typical symptoms to be aware of:- | | | | anxiety can trigger a 'fight or flight' response which |
| tight chest / throat, dizziness, nausea, hyperventilation, | | | | causes you to experience the symptoms as an |
| rapid heart beat, difficulty breathing, tingling fingers, | | | | anxiety attack? Well your 'fear' of having another |
| sweating, trembling, feeling of being detached from | | | | attack acts in the same way... |
| surroundings, feeling of impending doom. | | | | Everyone who has suffered an anxiety attack has a |
| It is important to remember that these are just the | | | | conscious or subconscious fear of another. And no |
| symptoms associated with your body's flight or fight | | | | wonder the symptoms are terrifying! But this fear |
| response to a 'percieved' dangerous situation that | | | | builds on your already higher-than-normal anxiety levels, |
| doesn't in fact exist. So you aren't having a heart | | | | so raising your overall anxiety even higher. By itself, or |
| attack or about to die. Try to remember this if you | | | | in conjunction with an everyday stressful event, this |
| begin to feel the onset of symptoms. Even repeat it to | | | | fear can trigger your body's fight or flight response, so |
| yourself. It will help to reduce the intensity and length of | | | | producing an anxiety attack. |
| the symptoms. | | | | This vicious cycle of; anxiety > anxiety attack > |
| 3 - Always Avoid Stress Where Possible | | | | fear > more anxiety > anxiety attack > more |
| There are certain things in life which you can't avoid, | | | | fear > even more anxiety > anxiety attack > |
| but you must avoid unnecessary stress. Stress occurs | | | | and so on, must be broken to prevent further anxiety |
| through people, relationships, situations, etc. There are | | | | attacks and cure your general anxiety. |