subject: 5 Ways to Stop Panic Attacks [print this page] If anxiety and panic attacks have been preventing you from living your life as you should, then it is time to confront it head on. You owe it to yourself to look for a course of action to control or end the attacks. Here are five ways that can help you to stop panic attacks.
1. Avoid Trigger Situations
Recognize what causes your panic attacks and steer clear of circumstances that can trigger them. If hordes of people causes you to start panicking, then avoid places with huge crowds where you are likely to experience an attack. Oftentimes, prevention is better than a cure.
2. Laugh your Heart Out
It can be difficult to think about laughing when you're in the middle of a panic attack, but this age old combatant against stress can potentially end any attack. Ask someone with you family members or friends who are familiar with your condition to tell you a really funny joke mid-attack which is sure to make you giggle and calm you down. Although this is a very simple method to stop panic attacks, it can be tough at first and may make you feel awkward. But, applying it each time you have an attack will make it easier and you can benefit a lot from it.
3. Seek Help
Don't deal with your panic attack on your own, especially, if you have someone with you who can help to calm you down during an attack. Once you feel that those familiar panic signs are starting, take a moment to stop, breathe deeply and seek your companion's help. Sit down if you can, close your eyes and breathe deeply. Tell yourself that the attack would soon be over and you can go on with life normally. It can be difficult to calm yourself down when you are in this state, but once you admit that you are having a panic attack and recognize that you need a little bit of time to calm your nerves, the attack will soon be over and done with.
4. Shift the Focus Away From Your Attack
If you are by yourself and trying to stop a panic attack, converse with yourself in your head. You may find this absurd and it might make you feel a bit crazy, but this shifts the focus away from your attack and on to something else. It can be that new perfume which you really like or what you'd like to eat in your favorite restaurant. You can talk to yourself about anything. The important thing is to concentrate on something else other than your attack.
5. Focus on a Task
If you're having a panic attack, focus on doing something small, yet achievable. If you're at home, you can try to fix those magazines in the magazine rack, or if you're outside, you can walk over to a chair or a bench so you can sit down. Another thing you can do is to send someone, who knows about your condition, a text message and inform him or her about your attack. You can then exchange messages. Doing small things will usually help to calm you down because it will take the focus away from your attack, and accomplishing something no matter how small can make you feel much better.
You can apply these five ways to stop panic attacks whenever and wherever you are. No matter how helpless and lost you are, remember that you have the capacity to stop your panic attacks. If you find that these methods do not work for you, don't lose heart, there are other tips, treatment and therapy options that can help you control your anxiety and panic attacks.
