Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Steps for Coping
Anxiety and panic attacks affect many Americans today, and for some, the symptoms are severe enough to get in the way of daily activities and affect the overall quality of life. Anxiety begins as a normal and healthy response to dangerous situations in life, and is described by health care professionals as the "flight or fight" response to emergencies. However, when anxiety becomes an issue at other times of life, it can sap you of energy and keep you from enjoying activities and events in your life. Panic attacks are a form of anxiety, and are characterized by numerous symptoms that can hit out of the blue with no apparent rhyme or reason.
Symptoms like flushed skin, sweating and shaking can be an embarrassing problem when they occur in public. Other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, a pounding heart and chest pains can make you feel as though you are going to have a heart attack or even die. These attacks are generally not serious from a physical standpoint but can be quite debilitating from a mental and emotional one. That is why it is important to learn to recognize the symptoms, find the best treatment options and learn other coping mechanisms for anxiety and panic attacks that will allow you to enjoy a higher quality of life despite your condition.
Treatment of Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Your doctor is the best source for treatment options for anxiety and panic attacks. Usually, the best course of action is a combination of medications and counseling. This treatment program will need to be administered over the long term, since it does not cure the condition. However, it can effectively control the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks so that you can return to a relatively normal lifestyle. There are also coping mechanisms that you can use at home to help you regain control over your condition and your mental state.
Learning to control your worry is an effective way of managing anxiety and panic attacks. Choose a single time and place to dwell on your anxieties and worries during the day, and try to limit the time frame to approximately 30 minutes. Once your time is up, try to let go of your anxiety and get on with your day. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing and stretching exercises can also help you to keep your anxious thoughts in check. Exercise, a healthy diet and avoidance of substances like caffeine and alcohol can also be ways to cope with anxiety and panic attacks. With the proper methods and help from your doctor, your anxiety and panic attacks can become a much smaller problem and you will be able to move on with the rest of your life.
