Stopping Panic Attacks In Their Tracks

By Paula Adams

Experts do not know exactly what causes panic attacks. When our body perceives danger, it reacts by either preparing to run away or dealing with the situation. This is called the "flee or flight" response. When this happens we get a burst of energy, our heart rate increases and we breathe heavily. A panic attack occurs when this situation is triggered when there is no real danger. Many people feel helpless when it comes to panic attacks but you can be successful in stopping panic attacks.

During a panic or anxiety attack the sufferer has an intense feeling of fear or terror. Besides the racing heartbeat and troubled breathing, the sufferer may have chest pain or tightness of the chest. Many people experiencing a panic attack for the first time end up in the emergency room thinking that they are having a heart attack.

You can suffer a panic attack anywhere. It starts to build slowly with a feeling of impending doom and overwhelming fear. No place is safe, you can be in your car or sound asleep. You can be in the middle of a relaxed conversation when it happens.

There is evidence that panic attacks can run in the family. You could be more susceptible than others because someone in your family suffered from anxiety disorder, depression or bipolar disorder. Stopping panic attacks is possible, you do not have to continue to suffer.

Major life stresses or physical illness initially seem to be what causes panic attacks. Also there are some medications that may trigger the attack. Once a person has their first attack, subsequent attacks may be brought on just from the fear of having another. There are programs to help reduce the fear associated with having another attack - stopping panic attacks before they start.

Some other possible causes of panic attacks are:

- Depression

- Drug or alcohol abuse

- Too many cigarettes or coffee

You can learn how to stop panic attacks, even if you don't know what actually caused it. Keep in mind that people don't die from panic attacks. Once it starts you need to start breathing deeply and think calming thoughts. You body is trying to fight an ill-perceived threat. It can be a rough 10 or 20 minutes, but you can make it through. Read on to find out how stopping panic attacks before they started is possible.

To conquer your ailment, you must try to find out exactly what causes your attacks. Most people believe that stress plays a large role in triggering panic attacks. Nobody knows your body better than you do. If stress is the major cause of your panic attacks, you need to get a handle on what truly stresses you out. It may not be what you think. Do some soul searching and talk to your medical provider about how you can lower your stress levels. Look at what's going on in your life that might be creating stressful situations and find ways to eliminate or reduce them.

If you let them, panic attacks can interrupt your normal daily routines. Learning to overcome the feelings that trigger the attack will help in stopping panic attacks for good. - 30437

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