subject: Coping With Panic Attacks And Anxiety: Seven Things You Must Learn [print this page] Suffering from anxiety can compromise quality of life. Fortunately, overcoming panic attacks or coping with anxiety attacks is possible if you gain and use the right type of knowledge to combat your anxiety disorders. Below are some of the key things you must learn about your anxiety disorders in order to successfully cope with them.
Your anxiety disorder- what it is: How much do you know about your anxiety disorder? Given that your anxiety disorder can be chronic and can interfere with social functioning, it is important that you read as much as is possible about it. By learning as much as is possible about your anxiety disorder, you will be empowering yourself. Some people with anxiety disorders totally depend on psychologists and other practitioners for information about their anxiety conditions. This is okay but inadequate. You need to take responsibility for improving your own mental health by proactively learning about overcoming panic attacks and coping with anxiety attacks. Further, when you are actively involved in understanding your anxiety condition, you are more motivated and the benefits of any anxiety control strategies you may take are much greater.
Identifying the stressors that worsen your anxiety: Eliminating, avoiding or managing the stressors that aggravate your anxiety can improve the quality of your life. Examples of some stressors include job stress, inadequate sleep, loneliness and poor social relationships.
Anxiety reduction techniques: There are many of them. Some are more effective than others. Learning such anxiety reduction techniques and how to use them is very important. Examples of anxiety reduction techniques that come to mind include the slow breathing technique, structured problem solving, exposure and nurturing a positive outlook about the world in which you live.
Life style changes you must make: You must learn about some foods and beverages you must not consume because of their caffeine content. Also learn about the dangers of smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs in worsening anxiety disorders.
Role of medication: Some medication, for example, asthma medication increase the heart rate and thereby precipitating panic attacks in predisposed people.
Role of exercise: You must also learn about the importance of exercise in reducing heart rate and how it can help you cope with stresses of daily life.
Helpful resources: Besides your local GP or therapist, do you know who else in your area or from the web provides self-help material on anxiety disorders. You need to know which clinical agencies, health professionals and self-help groups specialize in the management of your anxiety disorders and make use of the information and other services they may offer.
If you want to get better or overcome your anxiety, you need to act- by learning and applying as much knowledge as possible about your anxiety disorder. Don't passively take any medication you are given. Medication has no long-term benefits for you; only the short-term benefits. Also do not forget about the side-effects associated with using anti-anxiety medication.
