Panic attacks and anxiety
63Anxiety and resulting panic attacks
Anxiety and resulting panic attacks
With documented illnesses forever on the rise, it doesn't seem so incredible to see that anxiety disorders have become more popular in recent years. A high number of the population, much greater than one would think, suffers from some form of anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic conditions that cause the person to react to certain situations, usually involving great stress, in an abnormal manner.
If the anxiety is not brought under control, a panic attack usually occurs in response to the unpleasant stimuli. Some symptoms of a panic attack include an increased adrenalin rush, sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, and trembling. At this time, the person experiencing the panic attack is enshrouded in a kind of mental chaos. All sorts of terrifying thoughts race through the mind, like the loss of control, desperate feeling of urgency, and thinking that others are reacting in a negative way to the panic attack which seems to intensify the effects.
What to do if you experience a panic attack
There are temporary solutions to a panic attack like paper bag re-breathing. If you are hit with a panic attack, breathe into a paper bag in order to focus on your breathing instead of the attack itself, much like a nauseated passenger on a plane would. Try to focus on the present instead of worrying about ‘what if' scenarios. Keep yourself grounded on what is going on and try to mentally talk yourself through it. If nothing else helps, perhaps some time alone in a quiet place will help gently ease you out of the panic attack.
If none of these solutions seems to help or you feel that your panic attacks are seriously affecting your life in a negative manner, the best thing to do is consult your physician for information on different methods of handling your anxiety.
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yep and get help if your anxiety disorder is affecting your life. Great hub.
Donna
Anxiety is a most uncomfortable emotion. Perplexing and yet unavoidable. It is good to know that doctors understand and recognize anxiety as an illness.
For me anxiety is NOT an emotion - it is a physical reaction my body just HAS all by itself - I can fly out of bed from a dead sleep in a major attack without even having had time to have a thought.
This is not an emotion.
Never having experienced one, it is interesting to find out more about them.
The heightening speed and demands on the mind and body of our "Information/Internet Age" has made this an issue that is a growing problem. Thanks for lending your voice and internet presence and bringing this to our attention Monitor.
Thank you for your comments Deanaathub and Wormis, I know it takes time to look up and read all the terrific articles on hubpages and so I really am thankful your came to mine. Wormis is right on the money when he discusses speed at the core of panic attacks. Many people are simply going into overload. If I was to make a prediction about modern information it would be that we will see a lot more work being done on the subject of the mind and i this case panic attacks.
Some people say that it is not man made technology that is the wave of the future, but our studies into the mind and what it is capable of in terms of personal creation, self healing, etc.. We have all heard the study that says that we only use 10% of our brain. That 90% is the most valuable untapped resource available to all of us.
Some people say that it is not man made technology that is the wave of the future, but our studies into the mind and what it is capable of in terms of personal creation, self healing, etc.. We have all heard the study that says that we only use 10% of our brain. That 90% is the most valuable untapped resource available to all of us.
Great hub!...I had to comment (actually my first comment here). I'd also like to add a little trick for people that do read this hub that may have a need. Some panic attacks can be prevented by a simple technique taught by my Psychology professor recently. If you know you're entering a situation that might provoke a panic attack, such as a Psych test (lol) take the time to breathe beforehand. What I mean is, take 5 minutes and take in deep, deep breaths, hold them for five seconds, slowly exhale them all out so it takes just as long as it did to take in the air. Pause and repeat for five minutes. From what I remember, this tells your brain that you are not in a panic "fight or flight' situation because you are cool and calm, your not using all the oxygen in your blood stream because you've "stored" it up by the breathing technique. I even keep taking deep breaths afterwards every so often till the test or whatever event is a trigger for me. It's made my life a lot better since. It's not a cure all mind you, but I've easily reduced my anxiety attacks a great deal.
papasmurf 3 years ago
I guess we all experience anxiety in certain situations, but like you said, it is important to control this anxiety before it escalates into a panic attack. Recognize it early and bring it under control before it begins to control you.