Jun 22 2008
Coping With Panic Attacks
Do you suffer from panic attacks? If so, you may want to try these tips to help you get through them.
1. Breathing exercises: Breathing exercises gets more oxygen into your body, which allows you to relax. Additionally, concentrating on your breathing will help you difuse the panic you are feeling.
An easy breathing exercise is to take a deep breath in through your nose. Then, take a deep breath out through your mouth. Repeat the deep breathing exercise until you feel calmer and more relaxed.
2. Think objectively: Sometimes panic attacks come on for seemingly no reason at all. When this happens, try thinking about the situation you are in objectively. Is there really a reason to be scared? Are you in an emergency? Most likely, the answers to these questions will be, “No.”
When you are in a safe place and there is logically no reason to panic, remind yourself of this. Keep telling yourself that you are safe and that there is no reason to be afraid. This may help you calm down and be more relaxed as well.
3. Relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques are exercises meant to help you relax your body and mind. There are several different relaxation exercises out there, but perhaps one of the most popular ones is Progressive Muscle Relaxation.
In progressive muscle relaxation, you tighten, then relax one muscle group at a time. For instance, begin with your face; tighten all of you face muscles by scrunching up your nose, squeezing your eyes shut, and tightening your jaw muscles. Hold the tightened muscles for ten seconds, then relax all of your face muscles for ten seconds.
You can obtain more detailed instructions for progressive muscle relaxation here.
Panic attacks are difficult experiences to have, but you can utilize these techniques to help you get through your anxiety more quickly and effectively.
Do you have other techniques you use or know of for coping with panic attacks? Please share your thoughts with me below in the comments section!
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Here’s a theory…
Would immediate exercising engaging large muscle groups (like rapid stair climbing) help? With the question, “Are you in an emergency?” I thought of the fight or flight response. Seems to me that if you were to have an additional release of adrenaline (the stress hormone) it might help. On the other hand, I don’t have any practical experience in this area and my comment my be totally ludicrous. Just wondering…
Jen @
www.happyfibrofamily.today.com