Am I Having a Panic Attack?

When it comes to patients who suffer from panic attack disorder, therapy and prescription medications can be highly effective in treating the disorder. However, there are also effective self help techniques that a person can engage in as well.

• Learn about the disorder. – Educating one’s self about the different aspects of the condition can allow a person to learn how to deal with each of them as they arise. The multiple sensations and experiences that a person feels during an attack can be rather disorienting. Furthermore, as the individual begins to perform research, he or she will learn about the resources that are available for individuals with this condition.

• Avoid the use of nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine products. – Because they serve as stimulants, tobacco and caffeine products can antagonize the symptoms of a panic attack. They also serve to keep the central nervous system in a heightened state of alert, which may make an individual more susceptible to a panic attack. Caffeinated beverages include carbonated sodas and coffee. There are also certain medications, like diet pills and cold medication, which also contain stimulants. Alcohol is actually considered a depressant for the human body, but many individuals who suffer from panic attacks use alcohol to self medicate. This can allow alcohol to become a physical or psychological coping technique, which encourages dependency.

• Breathing techniques. – During a panic attack, hyperventilation often occurs. This form of irregular breathing can intensify the symptoms that a person feels during an attack, like light-headedness and the tightness of the chest. On the other hand, deep breathing techniques can force a person’s body to relax. This coping technique can allow an individual to relax their body in a variety of situations when they begin to feel stress.

• Practice relaxation techniques. – Certain forms of exercise, like yoga and meditation, can actually strengthen the body’s ability to relax, which is essential in combating the negative symptoms that a panic attack produces. In addition to promoting relaxation, these techniques can also increase a person’s overall well being if they are incorporated into a person’s daily routine.

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