If you’re dealing with panic attacks, the chances are good you feel like the world is closing in on you much of the time. Some people experience these attacks infrequently, while others deal with them on a daily basis. No matter how often they occur, it can be devastating when they do. That’s why it’s so important to seek treatment as soon as possible.

Panic attacks generally come on suddenly in the form of intense anxiety. You become fearful and feel very unwell and uncomfortable. There are many different symptoms that occur as a result of having a panic attack — and these depend on both your physiology and mindset.

When you’re having a panic attack, your body releases adrenaline because you mistakenly believe you are in harm’s way. You probably feel very scared and upset. Unfortunately, these attacks can last anywhere from under a minute to well over a half hour.

Some people who are having a panic attack mistakenly believe they need to go to the hospital. That’s because it can feel like you are having a heart attack or other form of health problem. The silver lining here is that a panic attack cannot truly hurt you. The downside is obviously that you FEEL like your body is under attack and you’re in danger.

There is no singular reason why panic attacks occur. Sometimes it is passed along within families. If someone else in your family gets panic attacks, the chances of you getting them increase. There are also illnesses that can cause the instance of panic attacks to increase in certain groups of people. An example of this is post traumatic stress disorder. Even hyperthyroidism can cause panic attacks!

In addition to these biological reasons, panic attacks can occur as a result of things that have happened to you in the past. Perhaps something scared you in a certain situation years ago, and now you are fearful in similar situations.

Panic attacks can also occur as a side effect of certain medications. Ritalin is one drug that can lead to panic attacks in some people. The SSRI group of antidepressants have been known to increase anxiety.

Understanding what may be causing your panic attacks is one of the first steps you can take in dealing with them. There are no two ways about it — panic attacks can be devastating and interfere with nearly every aspect of your life. By taking action today, you can start to lead a normal life again. anxiety attacks symptoms

It’s best to education yourself on successful strategies to end panic attacks. Here are 4 steps you can use to end your panic attacks as soon as you feel one coming on.

When you feel a panic attack starting, the first thing you need to do is acknowledge its presence. anxiety attacks symptomsThis will allow your mind to start taking control instead of letting the fear response take over completely. By acknowledging its presence, you are asserting some power — something that many panic attack sufferers have difficulty doing.

After you have acknowledged the presence of your panic attack, you need to relax. This might seem out of place at this point in time, but it will be a lot easier to do after you have acknowledged your panic attack. At the same time you are relaxing, you need to envision the absolute worst thing that could happen as your panic attack is occurring. Think of the thing you are fearful of and what the worst consequence could be.

You will probably find that the worst consequence is something you CAN handle. Some people’s worst fear will be death. If that it is the consequence you fear the most, you need to switch to using some coping statements instead. You’ll need to remind yourself strongly that no one has ever died from a panic attack. There is absolutely no reason to think that you will die from a panic attack. By facing your worst fear, and using coping statements, you will be able to stop your negative thinking and start feeling a sense of peacefulness where the fear used to be.

This will help you to realize that you are a strong person who can overcome these panic attacks. Accept how you feel and stop trying to win the battle against panic attacks. Thinking of this as a battle immediately puts your defenses up –anxiety attacks symptoms which is not a good thing when you’re having difficulty coping. Instead, acknowledge your panic attack, see that it is coming on, think of the worst thing that can happen, use your coping statements, and you should be able to more easily get over your panic attacks.

Keep in mind that this exact plan will not work for everyone. However, it will for many sufferers. Put it into practice and even write down the steps so you can pull them out whenever you feel the panic coming on. Soon enough, you may naturally be able to cope, and you’ll have a lot less difficulty with panic attacks.anxiety attacks symptoms