Say Goodbye to Your Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can be extremely frightening. They’re also quite debilitating and can cause sufferers to miss untold days of work. Even worse, just the thought of having an attack fills people with dread and constant worry about when the next attack will begin. More than three million Americans have been treated for this problem, and they report that their worry about when or where their next attack will occur is actually their greatest fear. These people live their lives in constant fear and believe that nothing can be done to help them.
Methods to Treat Panic Attacks: Control Them with Your Thought Processes
Panic attack sufferers don’t need to be so disheartened, however; in fact, many people respond very well to the treatments. They can be treated with several methods, including changing the thought processes, behavioral modification, medications and herbal remedies. One of the ways you can ease this is by using the way you think. It’s vital to identify what is happening to you during an attack. You might believe you’re having a heart attack or you might think you can’t breathe. You might even feel your heart will explode from the panic you’re feeling.
None of those things will actually happen. Many people have gone to hospital emergency rooms convinced they were dying but found out that these feelings are actually symptoms of attacks. You need to figure out what’s triggering the onset of your attacks. For example, are you more likely to have the problem if you’ve been dreading something like speaking in public?
Once the triggers are identified, most people tend to avoid putting themselves in situations that cause their panic attacks. This strategy can backfire, however: your fear will become worse and you’ll have an even bigger problem when the triggering situations do occur. Instead, after you identify a trigger, you might be able to talk yourself through the situation so you don’t experience a full-blown attack.
You might be able to prevent the onset of a panic attack by telling yourself you know what’s causing you to experience the fear, and you aren’t going to deal with it at the moment. This is one way you can use your thought processes to ease yourself out of the problem.
People also use exercise to try to avoid having an attack in the first place. Obviously exercise is good for you physically, but it also lowers your stress levels and can help prevent the onset of attacks. You can also control them by getting interested in something like a book or a television show. When your mind is interested and occupied, you’re less likely to think about whether you’re about to suffer another attack.
Methods to Treat Panic Attacks: Behavior Modification
You might wonder how behavior modification could affect your panic attacks. In fact, it can not only help your attacks, it can also help you feel better and improve your health. As mentioned earlier, exercise can be a diversion, but it can also constitute behavior modification. Many people simply don’t get enough exercise, and it’s one of the most effective ways you can reduce your stress. Even as little as 30 minutes of exercise per day can be beneficial.
You can also help yourself by changing your diet. Some foods and beverages are known to contain ingredients that have been proven to trigger panic attacks. Caffeine is one of these substances. You might be surprised at the results if you stop drinking beverages that contain high amounts of caffeine.
Learning how to breathe to relax is yet another way you can help control your panic attacks. There are relaxing breathing techniques and exercises that teach you how to control your breathing and your mind. Relaxing your muscles helps alleviate your stress, which we know contributes to the occurrence of attacks.
Methods to Treat Panic Attacks: Herbal Remedies
When used to help cure panic attacks, some herbal remedies provide excellent results. Many people are unable to take the prescription anti-depressants often used to treat attacks. They experience unwanted side effects that prevent them from taking these drugs.
Kava kava, a plant which contains kava lactones, is one of the herbal remedies that are often used to treat attacks. Kava lactones act on the neurotransmitters within the brain and can help with attacks. Lavender is soothing and good for keeping stress levels down because of its sweet aroma. Lemon balm has restorative effects that can soothe frazzled nerves and help you relax. Many people find that passion flower relieves the symptoms of their panic attacks. However, never take passion flower if you’re taking thyroid medicine; it can cause an adverse reaction.
St. John’s Wort is yet another herbal remedy that’s long been in use. Often taken for depression, St. John’s Wort has also been found to help alleviate attacks. Unlike prescription anti-depressants, St. John’s Wort is a natural remedy and it does not have the same set of side effects. Fatigue, dry mouth and some stomach problems are the only side effects of this herbal remedy.
There are many ways to deal with panic attacks. The mind is a powerful thing, and some panic attack remedies capitalize on its abilities by getting your thought processes synchronized with the rest of your body. Often, this is the key to stopping your panic attacks permanently.