subject: Learn How To Manage Stress [print this page] How To Manage Anxiety Attacks How To Manage Anxiety Attacks
Have you ever experienced a situation whereupon you develop terrible sweats,maybe your heartbeat becomes rapid along with a shortness of breath? You were probably in the process of having an anxiety attack. If you do start to suffer from anxiety attacks, learning to manage it is the first step to overcoming it.
Anxiety can show itself as extreme reactions to fearful situations. When someone follows you into a dark alley, those anxious feelings of a racing heartbeat and sweaty palms gives way to heightened senses and a rush of adrenalin that can save your life. This is the fight or flight syndrome.
In the case of more frequent anxiety attacks, the fearful feelings are extreme panic of a specific situation and not the situation itself. Getting caught in traffic can cause an anxiety attack over what might happen when you get to work late. Starting a new job can be very stressful and can bring on anxiety attacks. You at first don't know anyone and fear of that unknown can send you into a panic.
We all experience panic attacks or anxiety in small ways. Like the fight or flight example, it can save your life. In new conditions, we get panicky but when the outcome we fear fails to happen, the anxiety stops. For someone with chronic anxiety, this is not the case.
Every situation that brings anxiety is not life-threatening. More than likely it is an extremely stressful situation that has brought on the anxiety as a way of dealing with it. Unchecked anxiety of this type can lead to intense depression.
If you suffer from anxiety attacks on occasion or a more frequent anxiety disorder, there are steps you can take to have power over your anxiety .
1. See a professional. This is always a good first step. Self-diagnosis of any type of physical or mental condition is unwise and can be dangerous. A professional psychologist can help you be aware of your anxiety and prescribe medication or other effective techniques.
2. Get a good night's sleep. During the sleep cycle, your body mends itself. You feel more rested after several hours of restorative sleep, reaching the REM stage. Most people need eight hours a night which varies within an hour or two each way.
3. Exercise on a consistent basis. Exercise helps you to use oxygen more effectively. It helps to get more oxygen to the brain. It also raises focus which may help you see solutions to problems rather than simply worrying about them.
4. Meditate. Meditation is more than chanting mantras. Yoga is an exercise that involves quieting the mind and controlling your breathing. Simple mediation such as taking 5 minutes to clear your mind on a daily basis can work wonders in the fight against anxiety.
5. Manage the worry. When you feel your pulse start to quicken, count backwards from ten. As you count, focus on the situation. What has actually happened? Resist the urge to read anything more into the situation.
6. Don't use alcohol. You could possibly think that the glass of wine is relaxing your tension but alcohol is a depressant. In anxious conditionsyou couldrely too heavilyon it and gain a further problem in the process.
7. Find some stress-free activities. Stress can rob you of your energy. On a regular basis, do something you enjoy such as gardening, painting, reading or listening to music.
Anxiety can enter your life at any time. It's normal. When the anxiety becomes frequent you could be at risk for more serious conditions. If you feel your anxiety is starting to take over your life or increasingly causing you problems, seek professional help without delay. There is no reason you should suffer this terrible condition in silence.
