Overcoming Panic Attacks

Overcoming panic attacks can often be difficult.  Panic attacks are when you experience unpleasant emotions and physical sensations when confronted with a fear or some form of stress.  They can be extremely uncomfortable, debilitating, or mild, and can also be accompanied by depression and hopelessness. 

The actual attack will generally last from 10 minutes to an hour, but some people can feel the aftereffects from a panic attack for days.  The sensations vary from person to person, but some common ones are palpitations and racing of the heart, difficulty breathing, clamminess, sweating, flushing, hot flashes, and shakiness.  Any sensation that might accompany extreme fear that occurs without the presence of an incident to explain fear reactions could be a panic attack.

Panic attacks can be intensified when the person experiencing them begins to fear them and their occurrence.  Panic attacks can be severe enough that the person feels like he or she is dying or going crazy.  One way of overcoming panic attacks is to seek help from friends, family, and your doctor to help deal with them, especially if you begin to avoid activities or the panic attacks begin to affect your quality of life.

Overcoming panic attacks requires people who have panic attacks to realize that the sensations, no matter how severe or harmless to them, will pass.  If you have symptoms that could be from a panic attack, it is important that you see a doctor to rule out any serious health problems, and then you can work on overcoming the panic attacks. 

Repetitive activities such as knitting or any diversion that takes your mind off the discomfort can be a positive step in overcoming panic attacks.  Panic attacks are very real and are usually uncomfortable experiences, but they are not harmful, and can be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy, medications, or both.  Nobody has to live with chronic panic attacks, and help is available.

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