Understanding Anxiety and Treatments For Panic Attacks

Can you think of any people that you have met who have absolutely no stress or anxiety in their lives? There are probably not very many, or none at all. The world, as it is today, gives us many more reasons to be anxious than in times past. While it is perfectly normal to feel anxious at certain times, it is not normal to suffer with anxiety to the point where it becomes debilitating, and that's where understanding anxiety and treatments for panic attacks come in.

Even the most grounded person can experience anxiety attacks. There are many physical ways that anxiety can manifest itself. A person suffering an anxiety attack can almost be crippled from things such as vomiting and diarrhea, or difficulty breathing and sweating. Preventing anxiety from becoming the rule, rather than the exception, then becomes the question.

First, Take Care of You
Prevention is always better than finding a cure, so stopping attacks before they start is key. It almost goes without saying that keeping yourself in good physical condition is the first step. Not only are you healthier physically if you eat right, stay fit, and get plenty of rest, but being healthy and fit causes you to have more confidence in yourself, thereby decreasing a tendency to become overly anxious in certain situations. (A good example of 'certain situations' is when women experience lower self-confidence and stress at the beginning of summer, when they have to put on that swimsuit for the first time, but have gained a pound or two over the winter.)

Do You Know What Sets You Off?

Determining what your triggers are is also very important. If there are situations that you know cause you to be anxious, you can try to avoid them, if that's possible, or you can find a way to prepare for them in an effort to reduce anxiety you know you will feel. Public speaking is an anxiety trigger for literally thousands of people, and is a good example here. So, if you can avoid triggering anxiety, if you know that standing in front of a group of people will do that, then avoid it. So maybe you have to speak publicly for your work, and in that case, you will need to find a way to prepare for the anxiety you can expect to have. Many people suffer from this same trigger, which has spawned organizations like Toastmasters, which can help you overcome this type of anxiety trigger; and if it is one of yours, you should consider going to meetings as part of your anxiety attack treatment plan.

Put Together a Routine to Soothe Yourself
Hot baths naturally relax the body, and are a common preventive measure. It may sound rather simplistic, but it does work for millions of people. (There is a reason why folks flock to hot springs around the globe!) Try relaxing in the tub every night before bed - dim the lights, light a few candles, play soft music, use aromatherapy (lavender is known for its calming affects), and clear your mind of all troublesome thoughts. Try making such a ritual part of each day to allow yourself that one small bit of time to allow yourself to be soothed.

You can incorporate meditation into your routine as well, and can combine meditation with your bathing ritual. Meditation can really help you reduce stress and anxiety levels, and it is free to learn any of the countless methods that are available to you. No-mind meditation is a method whereby you force everything out of your mind - if you have nothing to worry about, even for a few moments, your body will reward you with a peaceful reaction.

We all recognize, however, that you won't always be able to stop in the middle of certain activities to meditate or bathe, so you will need to find another way to gain tranquility, and breathing exercises are a good choice in these instances. Again, the methodology here can vary greatly, and you may have to experiment with a few different breathing techniques before you find the one that works for you. Why not take a moment to try one of the most basic of breathing techniques right now - while slowly counting to ten, breathe in through your nose, and then out through your mouth.

Is it Time Get Treatment and/or Medication?
Maybe you have tried all these things with no change. If that's where you are, then maybe you should think about professional treatment or a patented treatment program, with or without medication, either over-the-counter or prescription. You can check out methods that have great reviews, such as Panic Away, The Linden Method, Holothink, or Easycalm. You can get free trials of most of them, which will allow you to find out which one is more likely to work for you. It will be well worth the money you spend on one, if it works for you.

As to medications, researching them to find the right one can be an anxiety trigger in and of itself. While there are a great many available by prescription, there are also hundreds more that can be purchased over-the-counter. Some prescribed medications can actually increase your risk of having suicidal thoughts, and some herbal remedies can also have ill effects, so it is advisable to really research this area. You are strongly advised to seek the counsel of a psychiatrist, psychologist, or medical or osteopathic doctor on this subject, if you have reached the point where you feel you must seek medicinal relief.

There are some states in which medicinal marijuana is legal, and in those states many folks have found that it helps them with anxiety, but it is still illegal in most states, and self-medicating is not always the best idea. Plus, if you don't have a prescription for it, using can put you at risk of being in trouble with the law, and you certainly do not need to add that kind of anxiety to your life if you already suffer from anxiety attacks.

The Magic Combination For You Might Take Some Experimentation
Finding one or a combination of one or more methods that work for you is the overriding goal here. You have anxiety that is unique to you, and that means that even though your friends, neighbors and family members may have found what works for them, the same things will not always work for you. The good news, though, is that it is possible to develop an anxiety attacks program for yourself that incorporates healthy living, meditation and/or breathing techniques, and even therapy and medication, until you have lessened your anxiety to the point where you are no longer suffering. You can get there - remember that, and under no circumstances should you give up before you do.